Need help on two very low serial number Atari 800 computers

[Sean39]

Hi everyone

 

This has me so confused. I have one atari with the serial number

 

2443 but now the date code on the system is 180 which we all know this would be the 18th week of 1980 this is on

the label as well on the case of the computer.

 

 

Ok here is where it come very confusing to me.

My other serial number is 679 but the date code is 091 well that works out to the 9th week of 1981 this is on the label

and the case of the computer.

 

Now how can a lower serial number computer have a newer date stamped on the label and the case than such a much

higher serial number.

 

I am going to post pictures of both labels.

 

You will have to really look at the label with 679 since the label will appear small but zoom in on it and you will be able to see it.(Click on the

picture and you will be able to see it)

 

Now I was a kid when my dad worked with Atari and these serial numbers do not add up or make any sense to me.

I was always taught the lower the serial number the older the machine.

If anyone can make sense of this please tell me.

 

 

Ok if nyone knows please let me know maybe on the older machines you read the date code backwards.,

 

I found some 1981 chips along with the 1980 chips.

if you read the date code backward you will get 081 that then turns out to be the 8th week of 1981. What if we did the same thing with the

date code found on the computer with the serial number 679. Date code on it then becomes the 190 ( 19 week of 1980.)

Please tell me if this makes any sense to anyone who has been collecting these computers for along time.

 

Thanks

Edited April 22, 2016 by Sean39

[Rybags]

Got photo of the top of the case? Supposedly there's 2 "Atari 800" label types. The outlined "800" which we all know and commonly see and a solid 2-tone version.

[Sean39]

Hi

 

here is what the serial number 679 looks like.

 

The Serial number 2443 looks the same way. but needs lots of work to make look good.

It the bad looking computer that needs work.

 

Thanks

 

[Scooter83]

I have an 080 0133 did they reset the number each year early on.... i doubt it but would be logical for the label serial number difference

[Sean39]

Ok let me ask a question

 

I see now with your serial number that 0133 really low. Where did Atari fit in the computers made in 1979 since we all have date codes from 1980.

 

Thanks

[Sean39]

Hi Everyone

 

I am now going to post pictures of the Atari 800 computer inside that has the serial number 679 as well it label on the bottom of the computer.

Also on the Mother board there are capacitors dating from 1979. One for example on the Mother board has a date code of 7917

 

By the way the second picture that looks real thin is a close up of some 1979 chips

 

 

Thanks

Edited April 26, 2016 by Sean39

[BillC]

This 800 wouldn't be 1979 or 1980 vintage despite the early manufactured chips/card edge connectors, it all depends on the inventory levels of these items at both Atari and in the supply chain. A later system can be built with earlier parts.

 

The label has a G indicating it came with GTIA, early 400/800s came with CTIA, I have a 400 from Christmas 1980 that came with CTIA and only 8K RAM.

 

I believe the 091 date code indicates manufacture in the 9th week of 1981.

[Sean39]

Hi Bill

 

Ok So the Atari 800 that at the begining of this Thread that has a Serial number 2443 with a date code of 180 is probably the 18th week of 1980 and

is older than the this one with the serial number 679.

 

So did atari go backwards with their serial numbers.

The one with the serial number 2443 does have a CTIA type card in it.

 

Thanks for the info on the G being GTIA but it has the CTIA in it. I will run my SALT CART again just to be for sure.

[Rybags]

To verify CTIA just use the Basic cartridge.

 

POKE 623,64

 

If the screen remains blue it's old CTIA. Black with chunky multi-luma text means it's GTIA.

CTIA although less capable is desirable as a collectable because of it's rarity.

[Kr0tki]

The label has a G indicating it came with GTIA, early 400/800s came with CTIA, I have a 400 from Christmas 1980 that came with CTIA and only 8K RAM.

 

I believe the 091 date code indicates manufacture in the 9th week of 1981.

I doubt it. Sources indicate that the GTIA started being shipped around November 1981, that's quite a bit later.

[Rybags]

I would theorise GTIA was available earlier, likely Atari following it's normal practice would have had massive stockpiles of CTIA which it had to get rid of, so it'd be likely that for a time there'd have been both types being sold.

 

Also, I can't say I've ever heard of a PAL machine which has CTIA. We've had various threads but has that question been resolved?

 

My PAL 400, originally owned by a friend, I remember purchased probably mid 1981. Serial prefix is 051 which would make sense if it's WWY format - and has the prominent G printed on the label as well.

Edited April 27, 2016 by Rybags

[Kr0tki]

I would theorise GTIA was available earlier, likely Atari following it's normal practice would have had massive stockpiles of CTIA which it had to get rid of, so it'd be likely that for a time there'd have been both types being sold.

OK, actually it makes sense - the aforementioned source (InfoWorld March 1982) mentions multiple cases of black-market computers with the GTIA surfacing before November 1981, this machine might be one of them.

 

The article also repeats the rumor about GTIA being ready for the computer's launch and not shipped from day one only because of the CTIA overstock. I suppose it might be true - the GTIA had to be ready before launch of the 400/800 because the rev. A OS already supports it, and even namedrops it in the source code comments.

 

Also, I can't say I've ever heard of a PAL machine which has CTIA. We've had various threads but has that question been resolved?

No PAL CTIA ever surfaced (the article also mentions that overseas customers got their GTIA-equipped comupters way earlier than the chip's US launch). And since even the Item Master List doesn't contain the PAL CTIA, we can safely assume that it never existed.

[COBRAIP]

I would also think that the earlier model since it was called model "23" with "16K" Ram was produced early and later the G model with the GTIA and 48K was produced. I got the later model.