VIC 1001 anomaly (AU)

[gungahlin]

Finally scored myself what I thought is a VIC 1001 via eBay AU:

Details:
Case is genuine VIC 1001 (metal badges)
Definitely solid plastics (unlike other later models I also have)
Power input is early 2 prong type
Heavy duty metal shielding (no tin foil covered sheet)
Manufacturing label states VIC-20 Serial number 536702 (made in Japan)
Motherboard ID (c) 1981 Commodore Intl - W - 1894HB (Lower RHS)
Motherboard Serial 353325
All key "large" chips (excluding RAM) are socketed
Keyboard colours are "classic" VIC-20 Brown and Tan "f" Keys
Unfortunately no PSU

However:
Keyboard is "western" (no Kanji characters)
Keyboard is not early PET style either (sorry not sure which of the newer styles)

Whilst I have not totally dismantled the motherboard to check the the underneath soldering on the sockets - from the top it looks like an excellent job or factory installed.

I have not powered the unit up yet as I need to manufacture a DIN to 2 Prong adaptor cable so I can't tell if it has the original or western ROMS. All the socketed MOS chips have a cyan round sticker on them (except the 6561E)

Has anyone come across a similar configuration? I am trying to work out if this was an early machine into Australia that Commodore factory configured / modified for a Western market. The unit also has what looks to be a "reseller" sticker on it from Edible Electronics of Abbotsford, VIC (does that ring a bell for any of the Aussies)

If it will help I can take photos of the unit and its innards.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks

[carlsson]

Read the ROM labels. The numbers are known and each chip has its unique number. If it is a real VIC-1001 the Kernal should be 901486-02 (cmp: NTSC 901486-06, PAL 901486-07). The Char ROM should be 901460-02 compared to the Western 901460-03.

http://zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/firm ... index.html

6561E is definitely a PAL VIC chip. To use it on a NTSC board, I believe both Kernal and some crystal(s) need to be changed. Since Japan is a NTSC country, it sounds very weird if you obtained a PAL VIC-1001.

I always thought the NTSC VIC-20 was released ahead of the PAL model, which makes it even more curious why they would have used a VIC-1001 shell unless it is a post-production job. Is the manufacturing label on the case or on the motherboard?

[eslapion]

I have not powered the unit up yet as I need to manufacture a DIN to 2 Prong adaptor cable so I can't tell if it has the original or western ROMS. All the socketed MOS chips have a cyan round sticker on them (except the 6561E)

AFAIK, this is not a VIC-1001.

This is an early VIC-20 with PET style keyboard.

All VIC-1001, have the 6560 VIC-I chip and are NTSC only.

Most very early PET style keyboard VICs have the same board inside as the VIC-1001. However, unlike the VIC1001, early VICs exist in both PAL and NTSC flavors.

[gungahlin]

I'll have to pull it apart again and take some close up shots.

[a4000bear]

I remember 'Edible Electronics'
They were in (I think) Park St Abbotsford, not far from Victoria St.

I remember going there one day to buy a VIC-20 game, and I saw my first ever C-64 on display. I had to have one!

In regards to your description of your keyboard, the VIC I had was an early 2-pin one, but it had the more recent keyboard. I know a guy who also had a VIC, and who bought it sometime before I bought mine. It had a different keyboard, with very chunky looking keys.