How do I identify which BBC Micro I have?
Paul Brett
I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying the
model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette. All
other ports are missing (optional?)
There is an orange sticker on the underneath which has the letters ICL in a
box, and also SERIAL NO 005410.
If I need to crack it open and supply photos, let me know.
Thanks in advance for any help received.
Paul.
John Cartmell
Paul Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
Looks perfect to me - ignoring the use of Microsoft software of course! Do you
want to give lessons to some of the others around? ;-)
> I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying the
> model.
[Snip]
Take a look at:
http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/Computers.html/
The site is sometimes a touch tardy and some of the links appear to have gone
haywire!
If you can't access that site just tell us the colour of the case/keys and
describe any names/writing on the case - "BBC Micro" generally refers to the
8-bit BBC A&B and Master computers - but may also refer to the early 32-bit
RISC OS machines.
There are illustrations of some of the machines on the covers at
www.acornuser.com
BTW If anyone knows why Chris' site causes problems then could you let
me know. I frequently struggle to access it using NetSurf and Chris
doesn't understand why there is any problem. It's a great site and I'd
be unhappy to see it underused if I'm not the only one struggling.
--
John Cartmell jo...@finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 or 0161 969 9820
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
Rik Griffin
"Paul Brett" <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
>
> I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying
> the model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette.
> All other ports are missing (optional?)
It's probably a BBC Model A then. If you turn it on (assuming it works!) it
should report how much RAM is fitted, "A"s had 16K and "B"s had 32K.
--
Rik Griffin
Standard disclaimer, not speaking for anyone but myself, blah blah
(Reply-To may be broken: use rik dot griffin at denbridge marine dot com)
Chika
Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the only
folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later with Model B
assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange sticker (I have ICL
machine 000947), and they were only assembling Model A versions, hence the
lack of all the extra ports which could all be added through upgrade.
Almost certainly this is an Issue 3 board.
I'm not sure when OS 1.2 was first fitted as standard (mine was supplied
with OS EPROM 0.10, but was upgraded shortly after OS 1.2 was made
available). Beyond that, you can find out a certain amount by booting the
machine (if it boots) to save the problem of opening it. It isn't unusual,
however, for Model A machines to be only partially upgraded, and some of
this is easier to identify by lifting the lid.
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... How's this for diplomacy? Shoot them all! --Kirk
Chris Evans
> First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
>
> I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying the
> model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette. All
> other ports are missing (optional?)
BBC Model A
It will be 16K unless upgraded, you will also find no connectors fitted
underneath at the front for Printer, UserPort, 1MHz Bus, Disc Drive or Tube.
> There is an orange sticker on the underneath which has the letters ICL in a
> box, and also SERIAL NO 005410.
An early one there, first year of production at a guess!
> If I need to crack it open and supply photos, let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help received.
>
> Paul.
>
>
>
Chris Evans
--
CJE Micro's / 4D 'RISC OS Specialists'
Telephone: 01903 523222 Fax: 01903 523679
ch...@cjemicros.co.uk http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN
The most beautiful thing anyone can wear, is a smile!
Jules
> In article <45d197f8$0$8757$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>, Paul
> Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
>> First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
>
>> I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying
>> the model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette.
>> All other ports are missing (optional?)
>
>> There is an orange sticker on the underneath which has the letters ICL
>> in a box, and also SERIAL NO 005410.
>
>> If I need to crack it open and supply photos, let me know.
>
>> Thanks in advance for any help received.
>
> Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the only
> folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later with Model B
> assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange sticker (I have ICL
> machine 000947), and they were only assembling Model A versions, hence the
> lack of all the extra ports which could all be added through upgrade.
> Almost certainly this is an Issue 3 board.
Interesting. How many issues of model A were there then?
I've got a pair of ICL ones myself, but they're issue 2 boards (serials
3xx and 5xx) and fully populated with connectors. I don't remember it
looking like the connectors were added later, so I assume they were always
model B machines.
The cases on mine are *very* orange. Plus the ICL machines are apparently
notorious for failed connections between ICs and sockets (certainly was
the case with one of mine; the other I've never got around to getting
running so haven't diagnosed the fault with it)
Paul Brett
"Chris Evans" <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote in message
> BBC Model A
>
> It will be 16K unless upgraded, you will also find no connectors fitted
> underneath at the front for Printer, UserPort, 1MHz Bus, Disc Drive or
> Tube.
Definitely no connectors, just the edge of the PCB with 'edge' copper
strips. It does report 32K though, so I was partially convinced it was a
'B'
> An early one there, first year of production at a guess!
Any guess as to the approximate ebay value? I'm not going to sell it,but
I'm just curious.
It is fully working, although the RF signal is a bit noisy on my modern TV,
I get a great picture using the Video Out BNC connection.
Paul.
John Cartmell
Paul Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> Any guess as to the approximate ebay value? I'm not going to sell it,but
> I'm just curious.
As plenty are probably still hidden in school cupboards the answer should
probably be nothing - but this month's Qercus reports an Atom at £70 with
seven days ago (how much did it eventually fetch?) and an A4 at £50 (inc
postage).
Last I heard CJE and CTA both had BBC Bs and Masters available - though how
much they'd charge to check that they were fully functional is another matter.
Would the A be worth more on rarity value? ;-)
Chika
> > In article <45d197f8$0$8757$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>, Paul
> > Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> >> First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
> >
> >> I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in
> >> identifying the model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out
> >> and Cassette. All other ports are missing (optional?)
> >
> >> There is an orange sticker on the underneath which has the letters
> >> ICL in a box, and also SERIAL NO 005410.
> >
> >> If I need to crack it open and supply photos, let me know.
> >
> >> Thanks in advance for any help received.
> >
> > Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the only
> > folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later with Model
> > B assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange sticker (I
> > have ICL machine 000947), and they were only assembling Model A
> > versions, hence the lack of all the extra ports which could all be
> > added through upgrade. Almost certainly this is an Issue 3 board.
> Interesting. How many issues of model A were there then?
> I've got a pair of ICL ones myself, but they're issue 2 boards (serials
> 3xx and 5xx) and fully populated with connectors. I don't remember it
> looking like the connectors were added later, so I assume they were
> always model B machines.
Issue 2? I wasn't aware they ever made it to production, but I could be
wrong. ISTR the last ordinary BBC board was an issue 7; this was before
the B+ and the various Masters. The only difference between the A and the
B was the amount of components installed - the A needed extra sockets
soldered in to accept the extra chips plus the various connectors, but
were usually provided in such a state that this could be done without
replacing the board (I even recall doing some of the work myself, though I
tended to only do the connectors. I left the sockets to someone else - big
mistake! But that's another story!)
> The cases on mine are *very* orange. Plus the ICL machines are
> apparently notorious for failed connections between ICs and sockets
> (certainly was the case with one of mine; the other I've never got
> around to getting running so haven't diagnosed the fault with it)
Sounds about right. They also tended to leave the factory with solder
"balls" in them which, if you weren't careful, could do a fair amount of
damage if they rolled to the wrong spot, and some boards left the assembly
with some cracks in the tracks on the board, so flexing the board slightly
could make a difference to whether it would work or not. Mine turned up
with part of the space bar missing (I made a replacement part from part of
an aluminium plant label - my father was keen on dahlias) and a tendency
to crash after about half an hour, a fault that I cleared with a heavy
clout to the machine!
I haven't booted it in about 8 years now, however, since it is stored in
my father's attic along with my A3000.
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Visa, Visa, Viso -> I shopped, I shopped, I ran out of cash.
Chika
Vigay <invalid-em...@invalid-domain.co.uk> wrote:
> Yes. i've got some here, which people are welcome to collect from
> Hampshire for free. I think I've got about 4 BBC Bs in Solidisk cases
> (ie. desktop case with separate keyboard and integral disc drive.
I still have one of those cases myself, though I wasn't too keen on it. I
preferred the bridge arrangement I got for my A3000.
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Open mouth, insert foot, echo internationally.
Jules
> In article <45d1d088$0$8744$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>,
> Paul Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
>> Any guess as to the approximate ebay value? I'm not going to sell it,but
>> I'm just curious.
>
> As plenty are probably still hidden in school cupboards the answer should
> probably be nothing - but this month's Qercus reports an Atom at £70 with
> seven days ago (how much did it eventually fetch?)
Was that a totally unexpanded machine or not? Presumably it was
assembled rather than still a kit?
I doubt there are many of the ICL-built model A/B machines around to be
honest. See other post about reliability; doubtless they've all but been
tossed out long ago. That doesn't mean the survivors would sell well,
of course :-)
John Cartmell
Jules <julesric...@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > In article <45d1d088$0$8744$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>,
> > Paul Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> >> Any guess as to the approximate ebay value? I'm not going to sell it,but
> >> I'm just curious.
> >
> > As plenty are probably still hidden in school cupboards the answer should
> > probably be nothing - but this month's Qercus reports an Atom at £70 with
> > seven days ago (how much did it eventually fetch?)
> Was that a totally unexpanded machine or not? Presumably it was
> assembled rather than still a kit?
I'm hoping we'll have the answer to that - and the final price paid for it -
in next month's issue.
[Snip]
Alan P Dawes
Rik Griffin <nos...@denbridgemarine.com> wrote:
> In message <45d197f8$0$8757$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>
> "Paul Brett" <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> > First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
> >
> > I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying
> > the model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and
> > Cassette. All other ports are missing (optional?)
> It's probably a BBC Model A then. If you turn it on (assuming it works!)
> it should report how much RAM is fitted, "A"s had 16K and "B"s had 32K.
This is really no guide as Acorn overestimated the demand for As and
underestimated that for Bs so As were often partially or fully upgraded by
dealers to B. The most popular upgrade being the increase of ram to 32K.
However due to the lack of sockets we already know that this one started
out as a model A.
Alan
--
--. --. --. --. : : --- --- ----------------------------
|_| |_| | _ | | | | |_ | alan....@argonet.co.uk
| | |\ | | | | |\| | | alan....@riscos.org
| | | \ |_| |_| | | |__ | Using an Acorn RiscPC
Pete Turnbull
> On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:44:47 +0000, Chika wrote:
> > Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the only
> > folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later with Model B
> > assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange sticker (I have ICL
> > machine 000947), and they were only assembling Model A versions, hence the
> > lack of all the extra ports which could all be added through upgrade.
> > Almost certainly this is an Issue 3 board.
Not quite right, the earlier Issue 1 boards were made by someone else, so
were some of the Issue 2 boards (AFAIR), and all were made in both Model
A and Model B variants. ICL certainly made Model Bs.
> Interesting. How many issues of model A were there then?
Every Issue was made in both variants (Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4,
and Issue 7 -- 5 and 6 were never released to production).
> I've got a pair of ICL ones myself, but they're issue 2 boards (serials
> 3xx and 5xx) and fully populated with connectors. I don't remember it
> looking like the connectors were added later, so I assume they were always
> model B machines.
> The cases on mine are *very* orange. Plus the ICL machines are apparently
> notorious for failed connections between ICs and sockets
And for damaged tracks where the router (used to trim off the excess wire
ends after wave soldering) shaved things a bit too close. I've seen two
like that pass manufacturing inspection but fail later in the field.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Qercus editor
wrote:
> Jules <julesric...@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:44:47 +0000, Chika wrote:
> > > Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the only
> > > folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later with Model
> > > B assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange sticker (I have
> > > ICL machine 000947), and they were only assembling Model A versions,
> > > hence the lack of all the extra ports which could all be added through
> > > upgrade. Almost certainly this is an Issue 3 board.
> Not quite right, the earlier Issue 1 boards were made by someone else, so
> were some of the Issue 2 boards (AFAIR), and all were made in both Model A
> and Model B variants. ICL certainly made Model Bs.
From Acorn User issue 1 - July/Aug 1982:
"Acorn currently use two manufacturing plants in the UK. ICL at Kidsgrove are
largely responsible for manufacturing the model B and Cleartone in Gwent for
model A computers. Cleartone have recently been taken over by AB Electronics.
A third UK plant is starting production of both models this month."
At the time they had delivered 7,000 model B computers with outstanding orders
for 12,000 more.
[Snip]
--
John Cartmell - editor AT qercus.com www.qercus.com www.acornuser.com
Qercus/Acorn User: reporting on computers & computing since 1982
Qercus/Acorn User, 30 Finnybank Rd Sale M33 6LR == 0845 006 8822
Chika
> > On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:44:47 +0000, Chika wrote:
> > > Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the
> > > only folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later
> > > with Model B assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange
> > > sticker (I have ICL machine 000947), and they were only assembling
> > > Model A versions, hence the lack of all the extra ports which could
> > > all be added through upgrade. Almost certainly this is an Issue 3
> > > board.
> Not quite right, the earlier Issue 1 boards were made by someone else,
> so were some of the Issue 2 boards (AFAIR), and all were made in both
> Model A and Model B variants. ICL certainly made Model Bs.
They did, but not at first. I forget why Timex took so long to come on
line, but it wasn't until they did that B's started to appear. You are
right that ICL did produce B's later, especially when the demand for A's
slackened off.
> > Interesting. How many issues of model A were there then?
> Every Issue was made in both variants (Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue
> 4, and Issue 7 -- 5 and 6 were never released to production).
Given that the board issue didn't really affect which machine they went
into, apart from when the A was discontinued (so *all* boards from that
point on were B's), I'm not surprised. I was offered an issue 7 board in
exchange by one company during a trip in for socketing and upgrading for
its disc system, but they were asking a bit much for it, hence I still
have the original board. I still have the original toroidal transformer
and, given that it hasn't been powered up in so long, I have some doubts
as to whether it would run now.
Having said that, my father has recently been taken into hospital. His
stroke, a recent hip op following a fall and the advances of dementia mean
that he is almost certain to be heading to a home on release, which means
that my family home is almost certain to be sold (I can't afford to take
it on and my sister is unlikely to want to up stakes and move back). That
means that I may have to find another home for the two systems stored
there.
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Censorship is something غغغغغغ غغغغ I do غغغ like!
Chika
<edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> In article <eqv587$k09$2...@netty.york.ac.uk>, Pete Turnbull
> <pn...@york.ac.uk> wrote:
> > Jules <julesric...@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > > On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:44:47 +0000, Chika wrote:
> > > > Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the
> > > > only folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later
> > > > with Model B assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange
> > > > sticker (I have ICL machine 000947), and they were only assembling
> > > > Model A versions, hence the lack of all the extra ports which
> > > > could all be added through upgrade. Almost certainly this is an
> > > > Issue 3 board.
> > Not quite right, the earlier Issue 1 boards were made by someone else,
> > so were some of the Issue 2 boards (AFAIR), and all were made in both
> > Model A and Model B variants. ICL certainly made Model Bs.
> From Acorn User issue 1 - July/Aug 1982:
> "Acorn currently use two manufacturing plants in the UK. ICL at
> Kidsgrove are largely responsible for manufacturing the model B and
> Cleartone in Gwent for model A computers. Cleartone have recently been
> taken over by AB Electronics. A third UK plant is starting production of
> both models this month."
> At the time they had delivered 7,000 model B computers with outstanding
> orders for 12,000 more.
I was going from memory, but I have no memory of Cleartone/AB Electronics
at all. This sounds, however, like it was a long time after the B's
started to be manufactured. I forget why the B was delayed, but I know
that the folk at my college were somewhat annoyed that I got my A so long
before their B's turned up. The result was that my A ended up taking the
trip into college quite a few times so my lecturers could have a play on
it!
Meanwhile, I had to muck about on their 21MXE... not really a fair trade!
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Noah! Come quick! There's water in the basement!
charles
Chika <miy...@spam-no-way.invalid> wrote:
> In article <eqv587$k09$2...@netty.york.ac.uk>, Pete Turnbull
> <pn...@york.ac.uk> wrote:
> > Jules <julesric...@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > > On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:44:47 +0000, Chika wrote:
> > > > Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine. At the time, the
> > > > only folk assembling Beebs was ICL (Timex, ISTR, joined in later
> > > > with Model B assemblies), which is usually signified by the orange
> > > > sticker (I have ICL machine 000947), and they were only assembling
> > > > Model A versions, hence the lack of all the extra ports which could
> > > > all be added through upgrade. Almost certainly this is an Issue 3
> > > > board.
> > Not quite right, the earlier Issue 1 boards were made by someone else,
> > so were some of the Issue 2 boards (AFAIR), and all were made in both
> > Model A and Model B variants. ICL certainly made Model Bs.
> They did, but not at first. I forget why Timex took so long to come on
> line, but it wasn't until they did that B's started to appear.
Can't be correct. My model B was one of the very first BBC's to be sold.
In reality, the contract for manufacture was split between a firm who could
make the initial batch (at a high price) and others who could produce down
to a price.
--
From KT24 - in "Leafy Surrey"
Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11
Qercus editor
Quite the opposite. It's within a few months of their first manufacture. The
As were released in 1981 and the Bs later that year / early 1982. The report
was written in the first half of 82.
> I forget why the B was delayed, but I know that the folk at my college were
> somewhat annoyed that I got my A so long before their B's turned up. The
> result was that my A ended up taking the trip into college quite a few
> times so my lecturers could have a play on it!
One of the delays was with fault correction of the ULAs as explained by Andy
Hopper (see New Year's honours list and Qercus 280) in Acorn User 2 September
1982.
> Meanwhile, I had to muck about on their 21MXE... not really a fair trade!
Paul Beverley got in trouble with Sinclair over the way he expressed it in
that same issue of Acorn User:
"I shall be working on the BBC machine and the kids can use the Spectrum!"
Chika
<cha...@charleshope.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > They did, but not at first. I forget why Timex took so long to come on
> > line, but it wasn't until they did that B's started to appear.
> Can't be correct. My model B was one of the very first BBC's to be
> sold.
Sure? I can recall the griping at the time about the delay in the supply
of B's, and not just from the folk at the college either. The various mags
that were about at the time were full of such complaints, as I recall.
> In reality, the contract for manufacture was split between a firm who
> could make the initial batch (at a high price) and others who could
> produce down to a price.
I do recall the palaver about the pre-order price, especially as I got my
order in before Acorn put the prices up by UKP50 (they honoured all orders
at the lower price if they were already in, as mine was). The price rise
was blamed on production costs as I recall it. Luckily it didn't do too
much damage to sales of the Beeb, but it was hardly the first time that
Acorn flubbed up a new machine release!
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Your cat's missing? Have you checked my bumper?
Chika
<edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> > > At the time they had delivered 7,000 model B computers with
> > > outstanding orders for 12,000 more.
> > I was going from memory, but I have no memory of Cleartone/AB
> > Electronics at all. This sounds, however, like it was a long time
> > after the B's started to be manufactured.
> Quite the opposite. It's within a few months of their first manufacture.
> The As were released in 1981 and the Bs later that year / early 1982.
> The report was written in the first half of 82.
I forget the exact date, but my A turned up some time in September 1981. I
had been waiting for some time (I rather think they were doing something
similar to what they later did with the StrongARM upgrades when they first
came out, but I couldn't say for certain) so I was without a home system
for a few weeks... that's if you really want to include the ZX81 as a
system, of course!
> > I forget why the B was delayed, but I know that the folk at my college
> > were somewhat annoyed that I got my A so long before their B's turned
> > up. The result was that my A ended up taking the trip into college
> > quite a few times so my lecturers could have a play on it!
> One of the delays was with fault correction of the ULAs as explained by
> Andy Hopper (see New Year's honours list and Qercus 280) in Acorn User 2
> September 1982.
That rings a bell. Trouble is that all the various mags I have from around
that time are buried in various boxes in my father's attic. I may have to
see if I can resurrect them some time!
> > Meanwhile, I had to muck about on their 21MXE... not really a fair
> > trade!
> Paul Beverley got in trouble with Sinclair over the way he expressed it
> in that same issue of Acorn User: "I shall be working on the BBC machine
> and the kids can use the Spectrum!"
Not surprised. I always got a giggle out of that whole situation,
especially after Uncle Clive produced that strange thing that looked like
a PDA on steroids that ran BBC Basic... and what he said about it!
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... (A)bort, (R)etry, or (I)nfluence with hammer.
Qercus editor
Chika <miy...@spam-no-way.invalid> wrote:
> In article <4eb518c2...@charleshope.demon.co.uk>, charles
> <cha...@charleshope.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> > > They did, but not at first. I forget why Timex took so long to come on
> > > line, but it wasn't until they did that B's started to appear.
> > Can't be correct. My model B was one of the very first BBC's to be
> > sold.
> Sure? I can recall the griping at the time about the delay in the supply
> of B's, and not just from the folk at the college either. The various mags
> that were about at the time were full of such complaints, as I recall.
Acorn User 3 - October 1982
(How can you tell I've been working through these old issues! ;-)
"Lousy delivery"
"Some of our readers are none too happy with Acorn Computers and Vector
Marketing. 'Good on initial sales literature, lousy on delivery,' was how one
long-suffering would-be user described the organisation."
(cont with "Acorn User will pass on complaints")
"This pressure should result in remedial action."
"There is, however, no truth in rumours of a Would-be Acorn User magazine
being launched..."
In the same issue:
"Model A is available on three weeks delivery"
"Model B orders should have been despatched by September 15. Thereafter four
week delivery."
There were more delays on Econet and second processor with production of
16-bit 2nd processor given as due to start Feb 1983.
[Snip]
Qercus editor
Chika <miy...@spam-no-way.invalid> wrote:
> > One of the delays was with fault correction of the ULAs as explained by
> > Andy Hopper (see New Year's honours list and Qercus 280) in Acorn User 2
> > September 1982.
> That rings a bell. Trouble is that all the various mags I have from around
> that time are buried in various boxes in my father's attic. I may have to
> see if I can resurrect them some time!
Take a look at www.acornuser.com and let us know if there are any articles
you'd like to see republished on line.
Chris Evans
I don't think Model B's came that much later.
I saw the BBC at the PCW show 1981 (Novotel Hammersmith) I think I may have
had to wait for an order form to be sent to me, but I remeber that they
wouldn't accept orders before I think the date was 27th September 19810
(can't be correct as that is a Sunday) I sent my order for a B off two days
after the date, after giving myself time to convince the wife that I should
spent 400 GBP which would have been about a months salary!
My BBC B arrived 10th April 1982 (I remember the date as it was Easter Saturday)
IIRC No/Only a hand full of BBC were shipped in 1981 I am pretty sure my
first one was made by ICL!
n.b. I had already started CJE Micro's up, I recieved my first order for a
cassette lead on 28.2.1981!
Chika
<edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> > Sure? I can recall the griping at the time about the delay in the
> > supply of B's, and not just from the folk at the college either. The
> > various mags that were about at the time were full of such complaints,
> > as I recall.
> Acorn User 3 - October 1982 (How can you tell I've been working through
> these old issues! ;-)
> "Lousy delivery"
> "Some of our readers are none too happy with Acorn Computers and Vector
> Marketing. 'Good on initial sales literature, lousy on delivery,' was
> how one long-suffering would-be user described the organisation."
That sounds familiar. I still have some of that initial literature
somewhere.
> (cont with "Acorn User will pass on complaints") "This pressure should
> result in remedial action." "There is, however, no truth in rumours of a
> Would-be Acorn User magazine being launched..."
Ah, I remember that! I was a little surprised to receive the first issue,
all unannounced (at the time, I was mostly reading Practical Computing and
Personal Computer Weekly) with the "rainbow horizon" screenshot on the
cover. Missed the second issue, though.
> In the same issue: "Model A is available on three weeks delivery" "Model
> B orders should have been despatched by September 15. Thereafter four
> week delivery."
I also vaguely remember that statement.
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Brought to you by the Mother of all Messages
Steven Pampling
<alan....@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> This is really no guide as Acorn overestimated the demand for As and
> underestimated that for Bs so As were often partially or fully upgraded
> by dealers to B. The most popular upgrade being the increase of ram to
> 32K.
One cowboy in Coventry took model B boards, fitted internal updates and
then packaged them into B+ cases.
He got found out when the local college (now Coventry University) opened
them up to fit some ROMs and discovered a distinct lack of available
sockets...
Peter Newble
<edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> Take a look at www.acornuser.com and let us know if there are
> any articles you'd like to see republished on line.
The best of Acorn Abuser's Diary would be a start (not to mention
the updated adventures of Hermann the German).
Chika
<ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <4eb516f1...@no.spam.here>, Chika
> <URL:mailto:miy...@spam-no-way.invalid> wrote:
> > I was going from memory, but I have no memory of Cleartone/AB
> > Electronics at all. This sounds, however, like it was a long time
> > after the B's started to be manufactured. I forget why the B was
> > delayed, but I know that the folk at my college were somewhat annoyed
> > that I got my A so long before their B's turned up. The result was
> > that my A ended up taking the trip into college quite a few times so
> > my lecturers could have a play on it!
> >
> > Meanwhile, I had to muck about on their 21MXE... not really a fair
> > trade!
> I don't think Model B's came that much later.
The delay was noticeable, but I doubt too many folk were that unhappy
about it once the supplies kicked in.
> I saw the BBC at the PCW show 1981 (Novotel Hammersmith) I think I may
> have had to wait for an order form to be sent to me, but I remeber that
> they wouldn't accept orders before I think the date was 27th September
> 19810 (can't be correct as that is a Sunday) I sent my order for a B
> off two days after the date, after giving myself time to convince the
> wife that I should spent 400 GBP which would have been about a months
> salary!
Wasn't that the date before which you could order the A for UKP235 and the
B for 335? They slapped the extra 50 on after that. I sent my order in
shortly after I sold my ZX81 (with wobbly RAM pack) to somebody in Ilford.
He wanted to catalogue his cactus collection, from what I remember of him!
Ah well... rather him than me! The ZX81 wasn't exactly the best at file
handling!
> My BBC B arrived 10th April 1982 (I remember the date as it was Easter
> Saturday)
> IIRC No/Only a hand full of BBC were shipped in 1981 I am pretty sure my
> first one was made by ICL!
I remember that the ICL machines all had orange serial number labels,
though the early ones had *only* the number while later ICL labels had a
rather weak version of their logo on it as well. The other line used a
white label.
> n.b. I had already started CJE Micro's up, I recieved my first order for
> a cassette lead on 28.2.1981!
Heh! I raided Tandy for the bits and made my own! :)
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Even a blind pig stumbles across an acorn now and again.
Rodney Blackall
Paul Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
> I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying
> the model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette.
> All other ports are missing (optional?)
Wasn't there some key-press combination that revealed the OS mark? Probably
an ASKEY call which helped you vary a program to cope with different
variants of machine.
PRINT ASKEY(0) ?
--
Rodney Blackall (retired meteorologist)(BSc, FRMetS, MRI)
Buckingham, ENGLAND
Using Acorn SA-RPC, OS 4.02 with ANT INS and Pluto 3.03j
druck
> Wasn't there some key-press combination that revealed the OS mark? Probably
> an ASKEY call which helped you vary a program to cope with different
> variants of machine.
>
> PRINT ASKEY(0) ?
INKEY(-256) to get the OS number, *FX0 to print the version.
---druck
--
The ARM Club Free Software - http://www.armclub.org.uk/free/
The 32bit Conversions Page - http://www.quantumsoft.co.uk/druck/
Ian Patterson
> In article <45d197f8$0$8757$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>,
> Paul Brett <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying
>> the model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette.
>> All other ports are missing (optional?)
>
> Wasn't there some key-press combination that revealed the OS mark? Probably
> an ASKEY call which helped you vary a program to cope with different
> variants of machine.
>
> PRINT ASKEY(0) ?
>
Ian
Chika
Barry Allen (news) <evan...@onetel.net.uk.invalid> wrote:
> In article <53hol9F...@mid.individual.net>, Ian Patterson
> <ian.pat...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> > Rodney Blackall wrote:
> > >
> > > PRINT ASKEY(0) ?
> > >
> > This is Arthur 0.9, Ithangyew!!!
> I think you have to be of a certain age to get the joke Ian.
Oh, what a glorious thing to beeeeeee.... :)
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... I am. Therefore, I think. I think.
Jules
> I was going from memory, but I have no memory of Cleartone/AB Electronics
> at all. This sounds, however, like it was a long time after the B's
> started to be manufactured.
I've certainly seen early Cleartone systems around.
Semi-related question, but does anyone know if the original prototype BBC
micro (as shown to the BBC) was preserved - or did it get broken up for
parts? It would be an interesting bit of history to find!
Qercus editor
I've read many of the published histories recently - and I cannot remember
that being mentioned. If you find out I'd be interested to hear the details.
Chika
<julesric...@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > I was going from memory, but I have no memory of Cleartone/AB
> > Electronics at all. This sounds, however, like it was a long time
> > after the B's started to be manufactured.
> I've certainly seen early Cleartone systems around.
Not saying that they didn't exist, just that I never heard of them. Were
they the folk that made that shipment that was supposed to go to the US
but ended up being sold over here?
> Semi-related question, but does anyone know if the original prototype
> BBC micro (as shown to the BBC) was preserved - or did it get broken up
> for parts? It would be an interesting bit of history to find!
Didn't it go round the various mags at one point?
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Haste la vista, baby!
Stuart
Qercus editor <edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> > Semi-related question, but does anyone know if the original prototype
> > BBC micro (as shown to the BBC) was preserved - or did it get broken
> > up for parts? It would be an interesting bit of history to find!
> I've read many of the published histories recently - and I cannot
> remember that being mentioned. If you find out I'd be interested to hear
> the details.
One guy who might have an idea would be Richard Russell who posts to
comp.sys.acorn.programmer.
--
Stuart Winsor
From is valid but subject to change without notice if it gets spammed.
For Barn dances and folk evenings in the Coventry and Warwickshire area
See: http://www.barndance.org.uk
Qercus editor
Chika <miy...@spam-no-way.invalid> wrote:
> In article <pan.2007.02.15....@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk>, Jules
> <julesric...@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:38:10 +0000, Chika wrote:
> > > I was going from memory, but I have no memory of Cleartone/AB
> > > Electronics at all. This sounds, however, like it was a long time
> > > after the B's started to be manufactured.
> > I've certainly seen early Cleartone systems around.
> Not saying that they didn't exist, just that I never heard of them. Were
> they the folk that made that shipment that was supposed to go to the US
> but ended up being sold over here?
> > Semi-related question, but does anyone know if the original prototype
> > BBC micro (as shown to the BBC) was preserved - or did it get broken up
> > for parts? It would be an interesting bit of history to find!
> Didn't it go round the various mags at one point?
It's certainly not here! ;-)
John Cartmell
Stuart <SW_N...@dsl.pipex.com> wrote:
> In article <4eb5974c...@qercus.com>,
> Qercus editor <edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> > > Semi-related question, but does anyone know if the original prototype
> > > BBC micro (as shown to the BBC) was preserved - or did it get broken
> > > up for parts? It would be an interesting bit of history to find!
> > I've read many of the published histories recently - and I cannot
> > remember that being mentioned. If you find out I'd be interested to hear
> > the details.
> One guy who might have an idea would be Richard Russell who posts to
> comp.sys.acorn.programmer.
I owe him an e-mail. I intend to ask! ;-)
--
John Cartmell jo...@finnybank.com 0845 006 8822 or 0161 969 9820
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing
Steven Pampling
Barry Allen (news) <evan...@onetel.net.uk.invalid> wrote:
> In article <53hol9F...@mid.individual.net>, Ian Patterson
> <ian.pat...@btinternet.com> wrote:
[Snip]
> > > PRINT ASKEY(0) ?
> > This is Arthur 0.9, Ithangyew!!!
> I think you have to be of a certain age to get the joke Ian.
Oh dear.
I appear to qualify.
Chika
<edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> > > Semi-related question, but does anyone know if the original
> > > prototype BBC micro (as shown to the BBC) was preserved - or did it
> > > get broken up for parts? It would be an interesting bit of history
> > > to find!
> > Didn't it go round the various mags at one point?
> It's certainly not here! ;-)
You mean you didn't dig it out when you were digging through all those old
back issues? ;)
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Help! I'm parked diagonally in a parallel universe.
Qercus editor
Chika <miy...@spam-no-way.invalid> wrote:
> In article <4eb5b47a...@qercus.com>, Qercus editor
> <edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> > > > Semi-related question, but does anyone know if the original
> > > > prototype BBC micro (as shown to the BBC) was preserved - or did it
> > > > get broken up for parts? It would be an interesting bit of history
> > > > to find!
> > > Didn't it go round the various mags at one point?
> > It's certainly not here! ;-)
> You mean you didn't dig it out when you were digging through all those old
> back issues? ;)
I'm afraid that what we acquired from tau Press was *very* limited. I have had
to put together the paper archives piecemeal. I have unearthed a box of
Desitiny CDs though! ;-)
Steven Pampling
Interesting spelling. Are you related to any of the staff in our
"Communications" department?
Wonderful people who produce gems such as "people with night shits" [1] and
"converse water"[2][3]
[1] from the context we guess it may have been night shifts but you never
know.
[2] They talk sh** and the management take the pee so I suppose talking
water is the next in line.
[3] I thought this one was worth a giggle and remembered to forward it home
for Chris to read.
Qercus editor
> Interesting spelling.
I'd just emerged from braving the 'warehouse'. All should be forgiven! ;-)
There was a box of Destiny CDs too...
Steven Pampling
Qercus editor <edi...@qercus.com> wrote:
> In article <4eb5f3ec2est...@dsl.pipex.com>, Steven Pampling
> <steve.p...@dsl.pipex.com> wrote:
> > > I have unearthed a box of Desitiny CDs though! ;-)
> > Interesting spelling.
> I'd just emerged from braving the 'warehouse'. All should be forgiven! ;-)
Just a happy thought. I've just a (slightly alcoholic) session with one of
the HR guys and character assassinated a large portion of the managerial
staff (mostly I just agreed :-)
> There was a box of Destiny CDs too...
"...your Destiny is..."
(Sorry drink less, talk less, so the wife says...)
A.Lefevre
"Paul Brett" <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
>First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
>
>I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying the
>model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette. All
>other ports are missing (optional?)
>
>There is an orange sticker on the underneath which has the letters ICL in a
>box, and also SERIAL NO 005410.
>
>If I need to crack it open and supply photos, let me know.
>
>Thanks in advance for any help received.
>
>Paul.
Have been struggling to remember details of mine. It must have been in July
or August 1981 there was an offer to BBC staff of a small number with some
preferential deal, either a reduction in price, or first delivery, can't
remember which. As I was just going on holiday didn't take it up, on return phoned Acorn but learned that that first quota had been taken, and I would
be on the next batch which I think came in the February of the next year. I
had a model A, but shortly after upgraded it to B, the holders for the
memory chips were already in. The label shows it as
Cleartone Abercorn Gwent serial No 101588. I suspect that the first 1
indicates the maker. It has all the sockets underneath with the exception
of the power out, has the transformer PU, which I never changed. On the back
it has UHF Video Out RGB RS423 Cassette And Analogue in. I'm sure I
remember this has a Mk2 board, but taking the lid off I can't find this.
There is a thick layer of dust, I think the indication may be under the
Sidewise Rom Expansion.
I've been searching, thought I would find the original paper work, but must
have thrown it out some time. What I did find in the box file where I kept
the paper work was a plug for the analogue socket, with a pot connected by
three wires. Now I have something else to test the memory, what was that
for? Must have come from one of the magazines, but the mind's a blank.
Alec Lefevre
--
Sandy Morton
SWAMBO is always correct - if you can get a word in edgeways:-))
--
T h e - e x t e n d e r ! ! ! !
charles
A.Lefevre <le...@freeuk.com> wrote:
> Have been struggling to remember details of mine. It must have been in
> July or August 1981 there was an offer to BBC staff of a small number
> with some preferential deal, either a reduction in price, or first
> delivery, can't remember which.
I think it was a bit of both. £50 off and early delivery. And I think it
was through the BBC Club.
--
From KT24 - in "Leafy Surrey"
Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11
Stuart
charles <cha...@charleshope.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> I think it was a bit of both. £50 off and early delivery. And I think
> it was through the BBC Club.
That, I am sure, is correct.
The BBC was always very tight when it came to staff benefits that other
organisations offered freely to their staff. The "free" Radio Times was
only through the club too.
Steve Fryatt
<news5bb38...@ypical.demon.co.uk>:
> In message <4eb64b05...@charleshope.demon.co.uk>
> charles <cha...@charleshope.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > I think it was a bit of both. £50 off and early delivery. And I
> > think it was through the BBC Club.
>
> Must have been a small take up. Mine was serial No 000383. Power supply
> fastened with wood screws and no drive power outlet.
The linear PSU didn't have a drive power outlet at all, did it? That only
appeared with the SMPS version.
--
Steve Fryatt - Leeds, England
Mike Tomlinson
way.invalid> writes
>especially after Uncle Clive produced that strange thing that looked like
>a PDA on steroids that ran BBC Basic... and what he said about it!
The Z88. They were really nice machines, too.
--
(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste Bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.
David Holden
On 17-Feb-2007, Mike Tomlinson <mi...@jasper.org.uk> wrote:
> In article <4eb51c86...@no.spam.here>, Chika <miyuki@spam-no-
> way.invalid> writes
>
> >especially after Uncle Clive produced that strange thing that looked like
> >a PDA on steroids that ran BBC Basic... and what he said about it!
>
> The Z88. They were really nice machines, too.
Well, I wouldn't describe them as 'nice', 'bloody awful' would probably be
more accurate (by the standards of a few years later), but they were cheap,
rugged, light, easy to use would fit in the smallest briefcase. Remember
that at the time the term PDA hadn't been invented (it was the height of
'Filofax' mania IIRC) and 'portable computer' meant you could lug it about
on one of those trolleys used for suitcases and use it for about an hour
before the batteries went flat while the Z88 would run for several hours on
4 x AA's and it was no problem to carry spares.
They were also about the only machine of the type to be able to ignore
things like spilled coffee, rain and worse. Mine once got pee'ed on by a dog
and only required a rinse under the tap before carrying on as usual.
--
David Holden - APDL - <http://www.apdl.co.uk>
Jules
> I've got a pair of ICL ones myself, but they're issue 2 boards (serials
> 3xx and 5xx)
Forgot to mention, but far as I'm aware that's 3xx and 5xx from ICL only
(and possibly even from just a single batch) - I seriously doubt it's
the 300-and-somethingth beeb ever made :-)
cheers
Jules
Chika
I wouldn't swear that any of the assembly lines used consecutive serial
numbers so, though I have ICL 947, I couldn't swear that this is actually
the 947th machine ever built.
--
//\ // Chika <miyuki><at><crashnet><org><uk>
// \// "Word to the wise guy; be nice or be dog food!"
... Not a computer nerd; merely a techno-weenie.
charles
Chika <miy...@spam-no-way.invalid> wrote:
> In article <pan.2007.02.18....@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk>,
> Jules <julesric...@remove.this.yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:26:20 -0600, Jules wrote:
> > > I've got a pair of ICL ones myself, but they're issue 2 boards
> > > (serials 3xx and 5xx)
> > Forgot to mention, but far as I'm aware that's 3xx and 5xx from ICL only
> > (and possibly even from just a single batch) - I seriously doubt it's
> > the 300-and-somethingth beeb ever made :-)
> I wouldn't swear that any of the assembly lines used consecutive serial
> numbers so, though I have ICL 947, I couldn't swear that this is actually
> the 947th machine ever built.
also it is quite likely that the serial numbers didn't begin with 1. More
likely 100 or possibly 500. Although I did work on a unit where the serial
number was P001 and that was in Dymo tape!
Ron
David Holden <black...@apdl.co.uk> wrote:
>
> On 17-Feb-2007, Mike Tomlinson <mi...@jasper.org.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <4eb51c86...@no.spam.here>, Chika <miyuki@spam-no-
> > way.invalid> writes
> >
> > >especially after Uncle Clive produced that strange thing that looked like
> > >a PDA on steroids that ran BBC Basic... and what he said about it!
> >
> > The Z88. They were really nice machines, too.
>
> Well, I wouldn't describe them as 'nice', <snip>
I have a Z88 with a cracked lcd, it has never worked, I thought I might
get another one day, but what is the main problem, apart from lack of
graphics. Is the BBC Basic on it any good?
Cheers -Ron
David Holden
On 18-Feb-2007, be...@woosh.co.nz (Ron) wrote:
> I have a Z88 with a cracked lcd, it has never worked, I thought I might
> get another one day, but what is the main problem, apart from lack of
> graphics. Is the BBC Basic on it any good?
It's bog standard BBC Basic (Basic 2, I think). The graphics functions
obviously don't work on the Z88 and it's the Z80 version so if you transfer
programs to/from an Acorn they need to be changed to 6502/ARM format. My Z88
link program can do this automatically.
I've still got mine somwhere and they do turn up on ebay from time to time
and normally sell for just a few pounds.
Incidentally, one problem with the Z88 is if you want to use it with
rechargeable batteries AA nicads don't last very long, probably because the
volatage is lower than zinc carbon. I used 5 'D' nicads taped together with
a lead that plugged into the external power socket. This gave the right
voltage and lasted for ages. For use on a bus or train I just used to put
the batteries in my pocket and plug the lead into the Z88.
Paul Brett
news:53t19nF...@mid.individual.net...
>
> On 18-Feb-2007, be...@woosh.co.nz (Ron) wrote:
>
> I have a Z88 with a cracked lcd, it has never worked, I thought I might
> get another one day, but what is the main problem, apart from lack of
> graphics. Is the BBC Basic on it any good?
>
If you're looking for a small slight machine that will do BBC Basic, try the
Amstrad NC100 instead. usually cheaper than the Z88 on Ebay.
Ron
"Paul Brett" <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
Thanks for the tips, David and Paul, I have a Dos based HP pocket
computer that goes, it has compact flash expansion which could be handy,
maybe if there is a BBC Basic for Dos, that would do something similar.
Cheers -Ron
Paul Brett
"Ron" <be...@woosh.co.nz> wrote in message
news:e3fcd1b...@Iyonix.woosh.co.nz...
I have had GW-BASIC running on an Atari Portfolio, so you could give that a
try. Fairly close BBC compatibility (except some graphics modes).
Paul.
Chris Evans
> In message <45d197f8$0$8757$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net>
> "Paul Brett" <paul....@genie.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >First ever newsgroup post, so apologies if I have something wrong.
> >
> >I have bought a BBC Micro, and was hoping for some help in identifying the
> >model. The ports on the back are UHF Out, Video out and Cassette. All
> >other ports are missing (optional?)
> >
> >There is an orange sticker on the underneath which has the letters ICL in a
> >box, and also SERIAL NO 005410.
> >
> >If I need to crack it open and supply photos, let me know.
> >
> >Thanks in advance for any help received.
> >
> >Paul.
>
> Have been struggling to remember details of mine. It must have been in July
> or August 1981 there was an offer to BBC staff of a small number with some
> preferential deal, either a reduction in price, or first delivery, can't
> remember which. As I was just going on holiday didn't take it up, on return phoned Aco
> rn but learned that that first quota had been taken, and I would
> be on the next batch which I think came in the February of the next year. I
> had a model A, but shortly after upgraded it to B, the holders for the
> memory chips were already in. The label shows it as
> Cleartone Abercorn Gwent serial No 101588. I suspect that the first 1
> indicates the maker.
I don't think so, and Production units never started at number 1 but at
something like 1001500.
Acorn started using manufacturer prefixes some years later e.g.
28-ACB20-1002552
It caused a lot of hassle tring to claim for warranty work as different
manufacturer often used the same serial number suffix
e.g. 28-ACB20-1002552 & 33-ACB20-1002552
Acorn also recycled machine before sale e.g. converting a standard A3000
into a 'Learning curve' package. This along with serial numbers not starting
at the same number meant that Acorn admitted that they only could
guesstimate the number of computers they sold.
Chris Evans
--
CJE Micro's / 4D 'RISC OS Specialists'
Telephone: 01903 523222 Fax: 01903 523679
ch...@cjemicros.co.uk http://www.cjemicros.co.uk/
78 Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2EN
The most beautiful thing anyone can wear, is a smile!
A.Lefevre
Chris Evans <ch...@cjemicros.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <0ae73cb64e...@freeuk.com>, A.Lefevre
><URL:mailto:le...@freeuk.com> wrote:
>> [snip]
>> Have been struggling to remember details of mine. It must have been in July
>> or August 1981 there was an offer to BBC staff of a small number with some
>> preferential deal, either a reduction in price, or first delivery, can't
>> remember which. As I was just going on holiday didn't take it up, on return phoned Aco
>> rn but learned that that first quota had been taken, and I would
>> be on the next batch which I think came in the February of the next year. I
>> had a model A, but shortly after upgraded it to B, the holders for the
>> memory chips were already in. The label shows it as
>> Cleartone Abercorn Gwent serial No 101588. I suspect that the first 1
>> indicates the maker.
>
>I don't think so, and Production units never started at number 1 but at
>something like 1001500.
>Acorn started using manufacturer prefixes some years later e.g.
>28-ACB20-1002552
>
[snip]
>
>Chris Evans
>
Sorry, mine really is 101588. Incidentally, the young lad next door had
just come in to show me his new lap-top. "Oh, that's a BBC keyboard.
Where's the rest of it? What, its all in there? That's compact."
His father was still at school when mine was delivered!
Alec Lefevre
--