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Scarce, early Commodore KIM-1 single-board microcomputer produced by MOS Technology in 1976 (shortly before the company was fully absorbed by Commodore International), widely recognized as one of the earliest commercially available personal microcomputers intended for education, engineering, and hobbyist experimentation. The board measures approximately 8.5˝ x 10.75˝ and features the then-groundbreaking MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor clocked at 1 MHz, along with 1 KB of onboard RAM, a built-in six-digit LED display, and a 24-key hexadecimal calculator-style keypad for direct machine-level program entry.
The KIM-1 includes onboard monitor firmware in ROM, two cassette tape interface ports for program storage, and edge connectors designed to allow the board to be expanded with external memory, I/O cards, and peripheral hardware—an approach that would influence numerous early microcomputer kits. The board’s printed circuit layout bears the MOS Technology logo and "KIM-1" silkscreen identifiers, with component placement closely following the earliest engineering documentation created under the direction of Chuck Peddle, the same engineer responsible for the PET 2001 and for championing the 6502 architecture.
In contrast to later integrated 'appliance' personal computers, the KIM-1 was shipped essentially as a bare board supplied with documentation, schematics, and example programs, inviting users to build their own cases, power supplies, and expansion systems; this example is mounted to a rack-style plate along with a power supply, switch, and plugboard. This hands-on approach made the KIM-1 extremely influential among early computer clubs and academic electronics laboratories, where it served both as a learning platform and as an affordable development system during a time when microprocessor-based computing was still in its formative stage. In overall very good to fine condition, with some bends to pins and warping to the mounting plate.
