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Guess the computer

Posted: 06 Mar 2011, 12:28
by hoggy
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Apologies for not turning the flash off - can't believe I didn't notice it at the time...

Posted: 06 Mar 2011, 13:13
by Findecanor
I'm guessing that it is an Apple I. The only ones I have seen pics of before were in wood boxes like this one.
Or is it another early kit computer, or prototype?

Posted: 06 Mar 2011, 15:41
by sixty
Definitely has to be a kit computer, I agree on that. That is about all I know, too old for me!

Posted: 06 Mar 2011, 17:35
by hoggy
Not an Apple I'm afraid. I can see where you're coming from though...

It's a kit. The thing on top is a cassette recorder if you can't make it out.

Posted: 06 Mar 2011, 21:22
by snerual
Hmm, maybe an older Atari. 800 perhaps? It's been too long ago and I honestly don't quite remember what they looked like, but the keyboard looked similar to your kit.

Posted: 06 Mar 2011, 23:10
by hoggy
Sorry, it's not an Atari. Now you mention it the keyboard does look a bit similar...

Posted: 06 Mar 2011, 23:57
by snerual
Yeah it looked somewhat familiar, although the Atari never had those white return and shift lock keys. If it's a kit it can really be anything. I once had a ZX Spectrum 48 that was transplanted in a larger case with a nice big Cherry keyboard on top. I really hated those rubber Speccy keys, so the Cherries made a huge difference when typing endless lists of code. Of course the thing did not look like a Sinclair anymore, so everyone was trying to figure out what computer I had on the desk. Much like yours here.

Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 00:04
by r99t
An old IBM model?

Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 00:32
by woody
It has RESET in a handy position.

Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 08:00
by hoggy
snerual - do you mean like the desktronic keyboard for the speccy? They were bomb - I always wanted one...
r99t - Not IBM, sorry.
woody - At least ctrl is in a good position.

This thing is rare/old. I used to collect 8-bit computers - tatung einstein, open uni hector, mattel aquarias to name a few and I'd never even heard of this one.

It dates to c1980. It was assembled by a university professor and used for his work (can't remember what his field was). It currently lives in a hybrid of mobile racking and public display in a museum in Manchester (North of England).

I've got other pictures - including a model f with it's plastic cover still intact.

Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 13:46
by webwit
I had some desktronics and keyboards like that. The best part being that you put the computer inside the keyboard.

Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 16:45
by snerual
Interesting you mention the desktronic. My Speccy did migrate to a desktronic first, but I ended up with a full size keyboard bolted to a case in the end. Both ends of the keyboard were wider than the case it was bolted onto. It was quite the contraption. Too bad I don't have it anymore. As far as your photo is concerned, I still don't know what it is, so I'll let others take a stab at it.

Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 17:02
by webwit
DK'tronics, not desktronics :)

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Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 20:24
by hoggy
Okay, time for another clue...

It's from the UK.

Posted: 07 Mar 2011, 22:07
by IanM
Compukit UK101

in a home made case?

Posted: 08 Mar 2011, 07:54
by hoggy
Yes. IanM wins!!!

Posted: 08 Mar 2011, 13:17
by webwit
Nice, now post screenshots of you playing games on it.

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Posted: 08 Mar 2011, 16:10
by IanM
hoggy wrote:Yes. IanM wins!!!
Hoorah for me! I'd like to thank my agent, my family, and all the fans who made this possible.

Did you make this one yourself hoggy?

Posted: 08 Mar 2011, 20:54
by hoggy
IanM wrote:
hoggy wrote:Yes. IanM wins!!!
Hoorah for me! I'd like to thank my agent, my family, and all the fans who made this possible.

Did you make this one yourself hoggy?
I found it in a museum. It looks nice enough but I've got enough storage issues...

The staff at museum were really helpful, they spent quite a while trying to dig up some info on it for me (hadn't been properly catalogued yet). One of the staff there (not in that day) had a 3m vertical mouse and a goldtouch keyboard.

Here's a few more pics from the museum -

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Posted: 08 Mar 2011, 22:20
by snerual
Nice! And congrats to IanM.

Posted: 08 Mar 2011, 22:58
by webwit
The best thing about vintage computers is the babes in the promotional pictures.