Huge Apple Computer, Inc. ‘rainbow logo’ display that hung above the main reception desk at Apple’s high-tech Macintosh manufacturing factory at 48233 Warm Springs Boulevard in Fremont, California. The hand-painted wooden logo approximately measures 44˝ x 51˝ x 3˝, which includes the ‘floating’ green upper leaf section. Although it’s uncertain when this display was first hung in the Fremont offices — the facility opened in January 1984 — the display was taken down from its wall when the plant was moved closer to its distribution center in Elk Grove, California, in 1992. In fine condition, with scattered scuffs and marks, and some chipping to the paint, the majority occur along the rounded edges.
An impressive Apple Computer display piece that welcomed countless visitors to Fremont’s 120,000-square-foot Macintosh factory. Steve Jobs became inspired to build an automated Apple factory after a visit to the Alps Electronics plant in Furukawa, Japan, in 1983. Less than a year after this trip, his ‘factory of the future’ opened its bay doors and began production — the highly automated manufacturing facility was designed to produce up to one million units of the $2,495 Macintosh every single month.
Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the current owner: “In the year 1992, following a series of events, including seismic activity in 1989, Apple Computer, Inc. resolved to cease operations at their Fremont facility and transfer the Macintosh assembly line to Elk Grove, California. As the owner of Chay and Harris Painting, the company Apple contracted for maintenance painting services at their Macintosh Assembly Plant, I was present in the Fremont offices during this transition period. It was there that this particular Apple ‘rainbow’ logo/sign, which had been prominently displayed above the main reception desk, was relegated to a neglected corner of the facility.
Recognizing the significance of the piece, I inquired about its disposition with the head facilities engineer. With his consent, I took possession of the Apple logo/sign. From that point, it was displayed for 35 years at Chay and Harris Painting in Mountain View, California, a testament to our ongoing service relationship with Apple Computer, Inc. Upon the sale of Chay and Harris Painting in 2017, the logo/sign was moved to my personal storage in Los Altos, California. Given the absence of a suitable location for display and after considerable deliberation, I have decided to sell this emblematic piece of Apple’s history. This statement serves as a record of the logo/sign’s provenance and my custodianship thereof.”
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