Tektronix 6800 'Developer Computer'

Pete Lancashire pete at petelancashire.com
Thu Aug 4 15:18:01 CDT 2016


Just found this .. someone to contact

http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?BoardBucket

http://marc.info/?l=classiccmp&m=117817190126728 (same person)





On Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 12:57 PM, Pete Lancashire <pete at petelancashire.com>
wrote:

> There is a rare chance I might have some information. At Tek anyone could
> order a system, and if wanted one for you own use everything was at cost.
> The chassis you have does not look like the one I use to see the most, that
> chassis has a much simpler front and back that was the same height as the
> sides.
>
> They were made to introduce microprocessors to the engineers within the
> company, "bit bucket" comes to mind but "board bucket" may have been the
> name. There were CPU boards for just about every uP, and a list of
> 'standard' I/O boards, and accessories like 5-1/4" floppy drives.
>
> One thing that help with their internal success was Tek was a very
> vertical company, they made their own metal work, PCBs, transformers, etc,
> and being a major buyer of components the cost for parts was much less. For
> example many Motorola part prices were based on aggregate quantities.
>
> When I started at Tek in 1977 the list of what you could order was quite
> extensive.
>
> Back to what you have. It may predate the buckets. It has been way to long.
>
> As to getting anything from the current Tek, forget it. The company was
> sold and the current owners couldn't give a d*** about the past.
>
> The one board I can make out a P/N on  is an engineering number and those
> archives were dumpstered long long ago.
>
> On the flip side here is what I would do. Contact the Tek Museum (which is
> not tied to Tek in anyway), www.vintagetek.org. And send me an email I
> will see what I can dig up, maybe a couple emails of Ex Tekkies that can
> help
>
> -pete
>
> PS SWTP was the most common O/S for the 6800/6802/6809 buckets.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 4, 2016 at 9:25 AM, Brad H <vintagecomputer@
> bettercomputing.net> wrote:
>
>> Hey guys,
>>
>>
>>
>> In addition to that 6800 SWTPC I got, I also picked up this 'board bucket'
>> from ebay:
>>
>>
>>
>> http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/library/Tektro
>> nix%206800%20Dev
>> eloper%20Computer?sort=3
>> <http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/library/Tektronix%206800%20Developer%20Computer?sort=3>
>> <http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/library/Tektr
>> onix%206800%20De
>> veloper%20Computer?sort=3&page=1
>> <http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/unclefalter/library/Tektronix%206800%20Developer%20Computer?sort=3&page=1>>
>> &page=1
>>
>>
>>
>> It's a 6800 system of sorts and has BASIC and 'DDE' ROMs.  I've tried
>> hooking it up to a terminal but no response.  I think the system isn't
>> fully
>> running.    This is a video I took:
>>
>>
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YSUuF6xTAg
>>
>>
>>
>> Hard to see with the camera, but when you hit and hold reset the little
>> display looks sort of normal.  When you release, it's like some of the
>> segments are half-on rather than fully on or off. I tried pulling RAM
>> boards
>> and such but no action yet.  Step button on the CPU card doesn't do
>> anything.
>>
>>
>>
>> If anyone has seen one of these or has any ideas on getting her working,
>> I'd
>> be most interested.  I sent an email to Tektronix to inquire about it as
>> there are part numbers and stuff on the boards.   Hopefully they can
>> answer
>> questions.
>>
>>
>>
>> Brad
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>


More information about the cctalk mailing list