Matchbook with matches
YEAR: 1973
ITEM: Paraphernalia
COMPANY: LaSalle Extension University
COUNTRY: USA
IN OUR COLLECTION: Yes
Matchbook with matches that was advertising a mail order course for Computer Programming! The front of the matchbook read,
Experienced Men Earn $7,000 - $12,000 per year
Programmers were notorious smokers...well, to be fair, almost half the adult population smoked cigarettes in the 1970's (about 42%).1 So it wouldn't be surprising to see an ashtray and book of matches next to most computers of that time. In fact, the famous "Sage Weapons Director" which was used to locate and, hopefully, intercept missile attacks, had a built in ashtray and lighter right next to the screen.
1https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/16/archives/percentage-of-adults-smoking-cigarettes-declining.html
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Documents
Documents for this item have not yet been scanned or not yet posted. There are a lot of pages...contact us if you have an immediate need. (Although there are not a lot of "immediate needs" for a 70+ year old computer!)
If you know the location of any other of these items, please let us know by contacting us at Director@TheComputerChurch.com .
OUR DEFINITIONS OF RARITY
One of a Kind: Only known existing item.
Exceedingly Rare: Only 2 to 10 known to exist.
Very Rare: Only 11 to 25 are known to exist.
Rare: Only 26 to 50 are known to exist.
Difficult: Difficult to find.
Available:Can be commonly be purchased.
Unknown: We cannot make a determination.
(For comparison: Many people consider the Apple-1 computer to be rare. As of 2025 there are 92 confirmed and probable Apple-1 computers.)
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