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vintagecomputer.ca
Vintage computer collector and maintainer of https://vintagecomputer.ca I was previously known as "MrGoodBits" on Twitter. I'll be posting various pics of mostly historical computers from my vintage computer collection.
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One thing I love about #vintagecomputer collecting is reuniting obscure parts to make a more complete unit. Two items arrived today. First is the interface card for a Cyborg ISAAC for the #AppleII. Second is an #IBM Midi breakout box for the IBM PC Music Feature sound card. More to explore soon.

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Microsoft ScanDisk, my old friend... Going through some old MFM hard drives and low level formatting/formatting them and ScanDisk makes a tool to exercise drives now. It used to be a great tool back in the day along with Norton Utilities and PCTools. Remember those early versions?

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

Never thought I’d ever have to bust out this relic from the past. I didn’t keep the BNC crimper or I would have used the crimp BNC connectors like back in the day. Need cables for a little ArcNet experiment soon. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

submitted 12 days ago • 1 comment

Copying files via "sneakernet" between my luggable archiving computer and the Mindset computer with working hard drive! This hard drive will have every Mindset software that existed and maybe a little more.

submitted 19 days ago • 5 comments

Just got a talking #Canon Canola SP1260D Talking calculator. I'll be opening it up in a few days to see what chipset is used. I am a collector of early speech synthesis computer add-ons and devices so this fits right in. Took a super short video so you can hear it talk. #calculator #speechsynthesis

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Got an Amiga? #ComMAYdore

submitted 22 days ago • 3 comments

This is NOT a Commodore 64 with a messed up keyboard. This is a TED Developer Alpha unit (# P15) used to give early access to developers to create software for the TED line of computers including the Commodore 116, C264 and V364 and later production Commodore 16 and Commodore Plus 4. #ComMAYdore

submitted 23 days ago • 2 comments

#Commodore also produced individual chips via the MOS Technology arm. Here is a very early PONG chip used in #videogame consoles in the mid to late 70s. This is the MOS 7600-001 dated 40th week 1976 #ComMAYdore

submitted 24 days ago • 2 comments

First computer I touched was a #Commodore PET. First computer I owned was a Commodore 64. #ComMAYdore

submitted 25 days ago • 1 comment

Here's a no-often-seen Amiga 1000 add-on. This is the Amiga 1060 sidecar that attaches to the side expansion port and give the Amiga 1000 PC XT compatibility. I don't have a hard drive in it at the moment but with plenty of modern options, it would be easy to do. #ComMAYdore #vintagecomputer

submitted 26 days ago • 2 comments

As far a pioneers in the field of #Commodore products, Jim Butterfield is the first person to come to mind. Here are a sample of Jim Butterfield items including an Amiga 3000 that was Jim's daughters computer. Generous as he was, he passed onto a neighbor and I acquired. #ComMAYdore

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment

This is why you inspect a computer and particularly, the power supply before turning on a #vintagecomputer you acquired. That RIFA cap blew out at some point and the smoke show would have continued if plugged in without inspecting first. This is from a DEC VK100 GIGI that I haven't tried yet.

submitted 28 days ago • 1 comment

I haven't seen a MUPET system on eBay in forever but it just sold for a crazy amount. I only have MUPET IIs and the one sold was a MUPET I but it was too rich for me. Here is my MUPET II that allows Commodore PETs to network and share disk drives and printers in an EDU environment. #ComMAYdore

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

Got this very interesting 1984ish single board computer/education trainer called "MARC". I don't know much about it and haven't even turned it on as I would love some docs on it first. @binarydinosaurs.co.uk seems to be a UK/Euro board as it's got a PAL RF modulator. Ever see anything like this?

submitted 30 days ago • 4 comments

My earliest #ComMAYdore PET 2001 is one of the first 100 (serial 10051) and it's actually a pre-production model that Commodore eventually sold. Various differences include no motherboard solder mask and instead of the top holding kickstand is a "scissor" support that was replaced in production.

submitted 30 days ago • 1 comment

There's still lots of "CBM" Time to post your own Commodore #ComMAYdore items this month! Don't forget to use the hashtag #ComMAYdore. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

submitted 31 days ago • 1 comment

Well, I made my first 4 layer board reproduction in KiCad and I have no idea if it will pass the review stage at the PCB maker. Took a lifetime to figure out how to do cutouts. It's a SASI hard disk cartridge for the Mindset computer. Yes, it had a hard drive. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

submitted 33 days ago • 2 comments

Some people may know that #Commodore used to sell calculators. Shown here is the Commodore 512 calculator which was a simple 4 function calculator but those nixie tubes make it special. This is a rebranded Casio model. I had to refurbish the wood look metal plate with real teak veneer. #ComMAYdore

submitted 33 days ago • 3 comments

A very good friend of mine made this #ComMAYdore even better this year. Knowing I like Speech Synthesis on various computers and devices, he sent me a Votrax Voltalker C-64 cartridge w/ SC-01-A. This is awesome just to hold. I'll have to clear off some space to archive the disks and try it soon!

submitted 34 days ago • 0 comments

I am not sure if this is only in Canada as I have a mix of Commodore 64s but with the boxes lined up, you can see how the boxes changed. Very early C64 boxes had a 4040 style dual disk drive on the box. Later ones had the 1541 disk drive on the box when they were available, I guess. #ComMAYdore

submitted 35 days ago • 1 comment

For #ComMAYdore I must post one of the jewels of my collection. The Commodore 65. For #Commodore fans, nothing more needs to be said. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

submitted 36 days ago • 7 comments

Commodore used to advertise that the C64 could run the CP/M operating system. They had a cartridge for it that probably most people have never seen (unless you are a CP/M fan like me). Here is the full set up running CP/M from Digital Research. #ComMAYdore #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

submitted 37 days ago • 3 comments

Did you know #ComMAYdore made a cash register (CCR)? It was only available in a trial market. I saw one on Craigslist but it was too rich for me. I did manage to buy a blank Universal CMOSRAM PET board and the Magic Board that make up the main circuitry. I also know who bought the working CCR...

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments