BillC Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hey, look at what I just noticed on my picture of the bottom of my A400... it's the top of the joy port on the front... That would be the version of the keyboard, since it is imprinted on the underside of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Willy Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 That would be the version of the keyboard, since it is imprinted on the underside of it. I had no idea they made several versions of the B-Key. Learn something new every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Willy Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Could you post, in the serial number thread, a close-up pic of the top of this shot? There appears to be a stamped and silvered number underneath the brown sticker. It might have a proper date code. It looks brown, but it's really a silvered sticker - it's the Mosaic RAM sticker. There is indeed a code in the case under it - which says "Atari / 292". Just a guess, but maybe that means Feb '92... I did buy it the summer of '92. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 There is indeed a code in the case under it - which says "Atari / 292". It looks like the 29th week of 1982, assuming a WWY datecode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Jefferson Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 (edited) I doubt they were manufacturing these in '92 (29th week of 82 as Claus says is more believable.) The stamped numbers could be unrelated to any date, but maybe just a serial number from the case manufacturer, or could be a DOM of the case plastics only? It would be interesting to know how all these DOM and serial numbers work, but I have a feeling that with these early computers the serial numbers are a bit of a mess, at least that's what it's starting to look like. Weren't the 400/800 computers being hand-built in the USA during the early days? I can imagine all sorts of "strange" things going on in the process that might affect the serial numbers and DOM, with all these different serial number stickers, and hand-written stickers. Edited February 6, 2011 by Shawn Jefferson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobus Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 That would be the version of the keyboard, since it is imprinted on the underside of it. I had no idea they made several versions of the B-Key. Learn something new every day. I have two versions of the B Key keyboard - both are labeled version 2.1 so I assume there are more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Anyone have a spare B-Key or other aftermarket full sroke keyboard for sale/trade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 Oh, come now! That's how to make a 400 not a 400. I think the membrane keyboard was brilliant. The raised edges and speaker click made it very easy and reliable. If you poke at your keys then, no, it doesn't work. If you lightly feel each key and then push 'til it clicks, it works beautifully. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I have a B key with missing reset key cap. would happily trade for a 400 membrane keyboard, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobus Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I have a B key with missing reset key cap. would happily trade for a 400 membrane keyboard, PM Sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Willy Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 There is indeed a code in the case under it - which says "Atari / 292". It looks like the 29th week of 1982, assuming a WWY datecode. Impossible - I bought it before the 29th week of 1982. So it's probably not a date code. Yeah, I didn't read that right... 2/92 is WAY after Atari quit making those, so it's not that kind of date code for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Maybe the year isn't what we think it is. If production started in 1979, all those codes could be off by one year (1979=0, 1980=1, etc...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 That would be the version of the keyboard, since it is imprinted on the underside of it. I had no idea they made several versions of the B-Key. Learn something new every day. I have two versions of the B Key keyboard - both are labeled version 2.1 so I assume there are more... My first machine had the lower single color one. I would sure like to get ahold of a replacement for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 (edited) Oh, come now! That's how to make a 400 not a 400. I think the membrane keyboard was brilliant. The raised edges and speaker click made it very easy and reliable. If you poke at your keys then, no, it doesn't work. If you lightly feel each key and then push 'til it clicks, it works beautifully. Even though I cut my teeth on a 400 back in the early 80's, I prefer the full stroke keyboard for ease of use. But I do much prefer the look of the 400's membrane keyboard. I bought my current 400 last year with a Cherry keyboard. I immediately sold the keyboard and replaced with an new membrane keyboard. The machine just didn't look right with those keys sticking out of it. Edited February 7, 2011 by tep392 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Ok well in that case... Anyone got a spare membrane keyboard (I have one dead keyboard out of five machines) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Willy Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Maybe the year isn't what we think it is. If production started in 1979, all those codes could be off by one year (1979=0, 1980=1, etc...) I'll buy that. It actually makes sense. I can see my A400 being made in July of 81, eventually shipping to a store in Texas, then sitting on the shelf until I bought it in June of 82. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam242 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I picked up my 400 in a box of other Atari stuff at a college-town thrift store a few years back... It has a weird (monochrome) composite video out mod, 48K (I think) and had a full-stroke keyboard that I promptly replaced with the original membrane the previous owner had thoughtfully held onto and included in the box. I don't quite know what to make of the label on the bottom. Here's a pic: It also has "8 48 5663" embossed at the very rear middle of the case bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 It also has "8 48 5663" embossed at the very rear middle of the case bottom. This is the first number here similar in format to mine (945 3375). The hand-written paper sticker says 948 5663. Are you sure whether the embossed number starts with 8 or 9? If the early numbers have the format YWW NNNN then yours was made in the 48th week of 1979. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Maybe the year isn't what we think it is. If production started in 1979, all those codes could be off by one year (1979=0, 1980=1, etc...) I'll buy that. It actually makes sense. I can see my A400 being made in July of 81, eventually shipping to a store in Texas, then sitting on the shelf until I bought it in June of 82. I don't buy it. My number (945 3375) and the most recent submission don't fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 I'm not holding my breath for that to happen! Now, now, play nice! Hey, Curt, I'm turning blue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam242 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 It also has "8 48 5663" embossed at the very rear middle of the case bottom. This is the first number here similar in format to mine (945 3375). The hand-written paper sticker says 948 5663. Are you sure whether the embossed number starts with 8 or 9? If the early numbers have the format YWW NNNN then yours was made in the 48th week of 1979. Could be an '8', a '9' or maybe a 'G'... the stamp is weak... Probably a '9' as you suggest. I just don't get the "G" stamped where most owners have a model number. The 400 is especially near and dear to me, as it was my introduction to Atari 8-bits. A friend down the the street had one (with a 410 tape drive), and playing Star Raiders and programming in BASIC was nothing short of magic to me in the early 80s. That's why I de-converted mine back to the membrane keyboard... complete nostalgia. A friend of his was lucky enough to have an 800 with an 810. I was hooked and begged my parents to buy me a 600XL. Sorry if I'm rambling... up late and enjoying a few cocktails. Probably edit this post in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 So far: Atari 400 serial numbers & owners & dates WW/YY: NTSC: --------------------------- 945 3375 ClausB 45/79 948 5663 (WW061/18) adam242 48/79 AV 173873 10/1 (AV 492934 402) jacobus 10/81 AV 030962 331 5863 orpheuswaking 33/81 431 6737 421 Bryan 42/81 or 43/81 481 1259 jacobus 48/81 AV 210552 142 (AV083743) Mirage 14/82 AV 361209 292 (AV 194896 7-12) Chilly Willy 29/82 AV 321493 302 tep392 30/82 AV 163775 91120 392 (AV 511363) edward1024 39/82 AV 461?73 422 Stephen 42/82 AV 485595 472 orpheuswaking 47/82 AV 519454 512 Bryan 51/82 AV 434887 023 orpheuswaking 02/83 AV 459975 023 Spurge 02/83 AV 01799 043 83A jacobus 04/83 AV 02966 063 83A jacobus 06/83 AV 399609 113 Bryan 11/83 AV 418392 123 orpheuswaking 12/83 AV 399234 143 orpheuswaking 14/83 AV 368167 153 (AV397463) BillC 15/83 AV 278113 163 OracleJedi 16/83 AV 430383 173 doctorclu 17/83 AV 523584 doctorclu ??/?? AV 302124 Bryan ??/?? AV 330172 potatohead ??/?? AV 421708 swlovinist ??/?? AV 479540 jsmith73 ??/?? PAL: --------------------------- 051 004998 (351) Rybags G 172 BY 102534 (050 005417) 431 mimo 051 006809 032 skr BY 116316 032 mimo BZ 105407 Sleepy BZ 110353 (082) sup8pdct Notice there are no NTSC datecodes attributed to 1980. Maybe the first two supposedly 1979 dates are really 1980, or else Bryan is right that the years in WWY are shifted by one. Until we are enlightened from on high, we may never know. Curt, are you still there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobus Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I'm not holding my breath for that to happen! Now, now, play nice! Hey, Curt, I'm turning blue! Claus As much as I hate to say "I told you so", I told you so. Promises are one thing, delivery is entirely different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 13, 2011 Author Share Posted February 13, 2011 I'm not holding my breath for that to happen! Now, now, play nice! Hey, Curt, I'm turning blue! As much as I hate to say "I told you so", I told you so. Maybe Curt saw your post and went away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClausB Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share Posted February 19, 2011 945 3375 ClausB 45/79 948 5663 (WW061/18) adam242 48/79 Notice there are no NTSC datecodes attributed to 1980. Maybe the first two supposedly 1979 dates are really 1980.... Atari was founded in 1972. If that was year 1, then 1980 would be year 9, so maybe these two units were produced in late 1980. That fits in my case, since I bought it in December, 1980, and it contains ROM ICs with 7948 datecodes. Any other 400 serial numbers out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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