Spectrum revisions & serial numbers

[Jani Laatikainen]

Hi,

Does anyone here know any details about ZX Spectrum serial numbers?
ie. what does the first three characters tell, I know that S01 is
samsung(korea), and
D01 might be thorn emi by some sources.
I have serial numbers starting with 001, 002, 019, 035 etc.. any idea about
these?
There seems not to be any pattern with mainboard revision and serial
numbers,
but then maybe the boards are changed through the years.
How about machines made by AB Electronics, can I find it out from the serial
number?

I also have two machines (rubber keyed) where the keyboard faceplate is
attached
with clips folded inside the machine, instead of glue. Who did use these,
or were they
standard with late rubber keyed? One
machine with these is made by samsung (ISSUE 3B) and the other is ISSUE 4B,
made in UK.

Then I have one machine where at bottom of the computer, where usually it
says "made in uk",
this has only black rectangle in place, below all the other texts.
Anywhere id does not say
it was made by samsung or any other. Quite certainly it is not made in UK,
as the text
has been removed, but where is it made? Serial number starts with D01, and
it has ISSUE 3 mainboard.
Other machines with serial starting D01 have this "made in uk" -text, so
there is no pattern with this either.


Thanks in advance,
Jani

[Brian Gaff]

I don't know but I had one which said made in Portugal on the bottom. One of
mine was with the clipped metal plate and it was an iss 2 originally, and
when it was repaired it was an iss 3. Strange though to note that I don't
think the pcb numbering had much to do with manufacturer, unless they made
the pcb, which many did not.

There were also subtle changes in the grey/ blueness of the rubber mat I can
recall.

Brian
--
Brian Gaff - ***@blueyonder.co.uk
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.

Post by Jani Laatikainen
Hi,
Does anyone here know any details about ZX Spectrum serial numbers?
ie. what does the first three characters tell, I know that S01 is
samsung(korea), and
D01 might be thorn emi by some sources.
I have serial numbers starting with 001, 002, 019, 035 etc.. any idea
about these?
There seems not to be any pattern with mainboard revision and serial
numbers,
but then maybe the boards are changed through the years.
How about machines made by AB Electronics, can I find it out from the
serial number?
I also have two machines (rubber keyed) where the keyboard faceplate is
attached
with clips folded inside the machine, instead of glue. Who did use these,
or were they
standard with late rubber keyed? One
machine with these is made by samsung (ISSUE 3B) and the other is ISSUE
4B, made in UK.
Then I have one machine where at bottom of the computer, where usually it
says "made in uk",
this has only black rectangle in place, below all the other texts.
Anywhere id does not say
it was made by samsung or any other. Quite certainly it is not made in
UK, as the text
has been removed, but where is it made? Serial number starts with D01,
and it has ISSUE 3 mainboard.
Other machines with serial starting D01 have this "made in uk" -text, so
there is no pattern with this either.
Thanks in advance,
Jani

[Jani Laatikainen]

Strange though to note that I don't think the pcb numbering had much to
do with manufacturer, unless they made the pcb, which many did not.

Probably so, but then I have seen issue 4S used only by samsung, and I'd
like
to think that the 'S' in issue numbering comes from their name.

One question about issue 1 spectrums, did they have keyboard faceplate like
shown in pictures, you know, the one with triangles above number-keys (5-7)?
I have issue one, which has faceplate just like later revisions, was it
changed
during the years, or did it came with that originally? Keyboard is gray, as
it is supposed to be.

[Geoff Wearmouth]

Post by Jani Laatikainen
One question about issue 1 spectrums, did they have keyboard faceplate like
shown in pictures, you know, the one with triangles above number-keys (5-7)?

That well-photographed ZX Spectrum is the wooden prototype model. It
also has the keywords 'OPEN' and 'CLOSE' instead of 'OPEN #' and 'CLOSE
#'. It is owned by designer Rick Dickinson who still has many prototype
models. Some, but not that one, can be seen in this Google Video.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8201369239778996267

--
G.

[zeem]

Post by Geoff Wearmouth

Post by Jani Laatikainen
One question about issue 1 spectrums, did they have keyboard faceplate like
shown in pictures, you know, the one with triangles above number-keys (5-7)?

That well-photographed ZX Spectrum is the wooden prototype model. It
also has the keywords 'OPEN' and 'CLOSE' instead of 'OPEN #' and 'CLOSE
#'.

Did anybody else notice the photos in the (very slim) Spectrum+ manual?
The keywords were a bit wobbly-looking, some keys seemed to have
abbreviated words like "INKY$". And the font was a bit odd.

The picture of a Speccy+ on Old-computers.com (iirc) has odd shift keys.
One says "Shift" and the other has a modern-style upward-arrow symbol.

[TV MAGIC]

Post by zeem

Post by Geoff Wearmouth

Post by Jani Laatikainen
One question about issue 1 spectrums, did they have keyboard faceplate like
shown in pictures, you know, the one with triangles above number-keys (5-7)?

That well-photographed ZX Spectrum is the wooden prototype model. It
also has the keywords 'OPEN' and 'CLOSE' instead of 'OPEN #' and 'CLOSE
#'.

Did anybody else notice the photos in the (very slim) Spectrum+ manual?
The keywords were a bit wobbly-looking, some keys seemed to have
abbreviated words like "INKY$". And the font was a bit odd.
The picture of a Speccy+ on Old-computers.com (iirc) has odd shift keys.
One says "Shift" and the other has a modern-style upward-arrow symbol.
--
Alex Taylor

Anyone got a link to the mentioned "son of the C5" ?!??!?! i'd love to read
more about that.