John Titor, the Haber family, and the IBM 5100: how to monetize a time machine (2 photos)

In November 2000, a user named TimeTravel_0 appeared on American forums. He soon introduced himself as John Titor, a soldier from the year 2036. His mission sounded like the premise of a low-budget sci-fi film: steal an IBM 5100 computer from 1975.





IBM 5100

Visitor from the Future

Why would a soldier of the future need an antique PC? According to John, in his time, a problem arose with the programming code of older systems (Unix), which only this "grandfather of laptops" could solve thanks to a secret APL/BASIC emulation function. This, in theory, was unknown to NO ONE except a small circle of IBM engineers in 2000.

Traveler's characteristics:

Born: 1998 (children obviously grow up faster in the future).

Transportation: A stationary, half-ton time machine built into a Chevrolet Corvette. It looks like a safe that really wants to be a car. Two magnetic containers with boronized microenemas inside were used for stabilization (honestly, the description of the device reads more like the instructions for a Soviet washing machine).



That very time machine

A time machine or an IKEA cabinet?

John Titor generously shared the plans for his C204 Gravity Distortion Unit.

The device took up half the trunk of a car and required calibration in six dimensions.

Key operating rules:

Consider the Earth's rotation (otherwise you'll exit the car somewhere in outer space).

Stock up on chips (travel takes time, and food is scarce in 2036).

Debunking: Who's Laughing Last?

John Titor's story has officially been recognized as one of the internet's most ingenious hoaxes. Why did it work so well?

A Family Business in the Name of Chrononautics

And now for the main point. If you think this is just an internet tall tale from an anonymous source, then welcome to the reality of the Haber family. They turned out to be the main beneficiaries of this legend.

The revelation seems more prosaic than time travel:

An investigation conducted by private investigator Mike Lynch, commissioned by a television channel, has shed light on the identity of John Titor. The expert's key conclusion is clear: the Titor family never existed, and the name itself is merely a pseudonym. However, the detective's work yielded other results as well. He was able to establish a connection to the "John Titor Foundation," which publishes and sells literature about this mysterious figure. The foundation is owned by attorney Larry Haber. Of greatest interest are his associates, in particular his brother, Richard Haber, an IT specialist known online under the pseudonym John Rick Haber. It would seem that he is an obvious candidate: his involvement in high technology and knowledge of the existence of a rare IBM-5100 computer make him the prime suspect. However, this theory remains controversial. Firstly, he is not the only IT specialist in the family. Secondly, a combination of circumstantial evidence points to another relative—Maury Haber. He was the most likely candidate identified by researcher John Razimus, who provided the public with a number of compelling facts.

He studied the John Titor phenomenon for twelve years. But first, a few words about Maury Haber. He works for a company where he maintains his own blog about computer technology. John Razimus compared the writing styles of John Titor and Maury Haber and discovered an incredible coincidence. The two characters not only use the same words, but entire expressions are identical, and their entire writing style is absolutely identical. Another coincidence: Titor frequently mentioned Stephen Hawking, and, miraculously, Maury Haber has read the scientist's works and is well versed in quantum physics.

Ultimately, another brother, Arthur Haber, couldn't stand the constant questioning and accidentally let it slip that the entire John Titor story was a fabrication by his family and a hoax. However, Maury Haber still denies everything. This isn't surprising, as Larry Haber's foundation is still active, his book is quite expensive, and there are plans to make a film about John Titor. It's simply not profitable for them to admit to their own lies.

The Foundation and Books. In 2003, the John Titor Foundation was registered. The Haber family began actively selling literature. A book with "secret information" sold for between $600 and $900. Meanwhile, an exposé book cost next to nothing—around $12. A business model comparable to "selling snow to Eskimos, but at a higher price."

IT connection. One of the Haber brothers turned out to be a programmer. And here the puzzle fits perfectly: who else could have known about that hidden function of the IBM 5100 if not someone well versed in the architecture of the machines of that era? This explains the technical credibility of the myth.

Hollywood plans. The family planned to make a documentary and continued to fuel interest by presenting old forum correspondence as new revelations.

In essence, the Haber family created the perfect franchise. They took a real technical detail (an IBM 5100 bug/feature), wrapped it in the guise of the apocalypse and the American Civil War, and then collected donations from gullible fans for years.

The Haber family proved the most important thing: you don't need a quantum engine to travel through time. All you need is an old laptop, imagination, and PayPal for donations. It seems like the future is already here, it's just commercial.