Summary
Sorcerer personal computer, comprising computer, instruction books, 2 by stringy floppy mass storage drives, stringy floppy wafers, modem, newsletters, 2 by ROMPACS and printer cable. Uses Z80 CPU chip, in original cardboard box. Made by Exidy in California, United States of America in 1979.
This was one of the earliest personal computers on the Australian market. It sold for $995 dollars from Dick Smith stores. Generally used with audio cassette tape for mass storage, the stringy floppies were an add-on for more convenient access.
Each Stringy Floppy wafer consists of a plastic case containing a reel of black magnetic tape backed by a plastic disc. The tape is about 1.6 mm wide. An aperture in one edge of the case allows access to the tape by the read/write mechanism of the storage drive. A second aperture adjacent to the first provides access to a rubber roller as part of the tape drive mechanism. 11 of the wafers are manufactured by Exatron and each has a clear plastic case. 5 of the wafers are manufactured by entrepo and each has a black plastic base and a clear plastic cover. One of the Exatron wafers is in a plastic envelope. Several of the wafers have loose loops of tape outside the wafer case.
Physical Description
List of parts: * keyboard console with power lead, and three connectors * cardboard box containing console with power lead, and three connectors; designed to look like a packing case. * two disk drives: black and grey plastic and metal case with black metal cartridge slot, with cable * two boxes of wafers containing a total of 24 stringy floppy wafers. each wafer consists of a plastic case containing a reel of black magnetic tape backed by a plastic disc. an aperture in the case allows access to the tape by storage drive. * four wallets of wafers containing 16 stringy floppy wafers in sets of four * two rom pacs: black plastic cases, similar to an eight track tape cartridge, with edge connector * two computer connecting cables: connecting cable fitted with a multi-pin connector at each end. * keyboard label * keyboard cover: plastic semi-transparent cover.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Geological School, University of Melbourne (The), by Aug 1992
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Manufacturer
Exidy Inc, Sunnydale, California, United States of America, 1979
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User
Mr Bernie Joyce - University of Melbourne (The), Parkville, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Inscriptions
* Top of cardboard box: SORCERER COMPUTER / Exidy inc. / 290 JAVA DRIVE / SUNNYVALE, CA 94086 / PHONE 408 734 - 9410 / TELEX 357-499 / (sticker) E. B. JOYCE / DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY / UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE / PARKVILLE VIC 3052 / AUSTRALIA / Tel 03 345 1844 * Bottom of console: (manufacturer's label) Exidy inc. / Made in USA / SERIAL NO 01806-296 220v / MODEL NO DP 1000-2 / VOLTS XXX 250 / AMPS / Hz 50XX * Box of Wafers: Printed on 11 wafers: [Exatron Logo] / STRINGY / FLOPPY / WAFER /. Printed on 5 wafers: MICRO / WAFER / [Logo] entrepo * Box of Wafers: Handwritten on the top of the cardboard box: 8 x 20' / + / 2 replacement / 12 wafer / 1/2 of $113.90 / = $56.95 * ROM Pac: on label: WORD PROCESSOR SYSTEM / FEATURES / TEXT EDITING / TEXT FORMATTING / MACRO PROGRAMMING / CONTROL KEYS / [List] / COMMANDS / [List] / COPYRIGHT [symbol] EXIDY INC. 1979 * ROM Pac: on label: STATEMENTS / [List] / COMMANDS / [List] / MATHEMATICAL FUNCTIONS / [List] / STRING FUNCTIONS / [List] / OPERATORS / [List] / EDITING / [List] / Copyright [copyright symbol] By Microsoft 1978.
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Brand Names
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Classification
Computing & calculating, Digital computing, Personal computers
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
320 mm (Length), 480 mm (Width), 130 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Computer Components, Computer Memory Devices, Computers, Computing, Digital Computers, Microcomputer Systems, Personal Computers