Steve Jobs' 8th-grade science project is up for auction, and it comes with a warning
An artifact from the beginnings of Steve Jobs’ interest in innovation is now up for sale 8th-grade nearly 15 years on from his death.
The co-founder of Apple left behind an enormous legacy in the tech industry, and now a science project he worked on in the eighth grade could be yours… but it comes with a warning.
As reported by 9to5Mac, the listing describes the item as a science fair project ‘personally-built’ by Jobs back in 1968, featuring a display board titled, ‘What is the SCR?’.
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The board also comes with a ten page report by the entrepreneur, with the auction listing explaining: “ The display is built from plywood and measures approximately 32.5˝ x 18˝ x 7.5˝, and features three explanatory panels: the left side boasts a wooden model of ‘a typical silicon-controlled rectified with its four alternate layers of P- and N-Type semiconductor material’; the center features two test circuits, one ‘designed to demonstrate the basic principals and characteristics of the silicon-controlled rectifier’ and one ‘designed to demonstrate how the silicon-controlled rectifier is used in its most widely accepted application; motor speed control, light dimming, etc.’; and the right panel featuring a diagram and description of a typical 25-amp silicon-controlled rectifier.
“A power cord in the rear is connected to the second circuit. In the lower right, a label reads: ‘Submitted by Steve Jobs, Cupertino J.H., 8th Grade’.”
As of writing this, the highest bid is currently $8,475, with it expected to climb to over $20,000 before it is sold.
It appears Jobs left no stone unturned with his project, even issuing a warning to the judges to unplug the project after analyzing it.
He wrote: “Judges, if you wish to see this operate, please plug in Circuit II and oscilliscope and unplug, please unplug!, after using. The oscillipscope should already be set for two to four stationary cycles, but if necessary, judges, please make proper adjustments.”
In Jobs’ report, he went on to say: “For my science project I have selected to do research and experiment with the silicon-controlled rectifier. I am making a circuit that demonstrates the basic properties and characteristics of this semiconductor. The silicon-controlled rectifier is the most widely used of a family of four-layer semi-conducter power devices that exhibit regenerative or latching-type switching action. The silicon-controlled rectifier is widely known as the SCR. International standards describe the complete family of semiconducter regenerative switches under the name Thyristors.”