Denial

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

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?

gungahlin wrote: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.

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

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.