COMMODORE VIC-1020 EXPENSION CASE
The Commodore VIC-1020 is a rare and intriguing piece of early 1980s Commodore hardware history.
It's a metal expansion chassis designed specifically for the VIC-20, and its main job was to extend the single cartridge slot into five usable expansion slots.
Housed in a sturdy beige metal case that matches the VIC-20's aesthetic, the VIC-1020 not only gave users room for multiple cartridges, like RAM expansions, games, or peripherals, but also featured pass-through power and a clean front-panel design with tidy internal cable routing.
It was especially useful for developers and serious users who needed more flexibility, and it made the VIC-20 feel a bit more like a professional machine.
Though rarely seen today, especially outside Europe and Japan, the VIC-1020 stands as a testament to how Commodore tried to push the VIC-20 beyond its "home computer" label.
For me as a collector, it's a true gem.
COMMODORE PLUS-4
he Commodore Plus/4… a bit of an oddball in the Commodore family, but definitely one with character!
This computer was released in 1984 and was actually intended as the successor to the successful VIC-20 and C64. But instead of building on the C64's popularity,
Commodore decided to go in a completely different direction.
What makes the Plus/4 unique is that it came with four built-in programs: a word processor, spreadsheet, database, and graphics package, hence the name "Plus/4"!
This machine was clearly aimed at business users. Commodore wanted to offer an entry-level computer for office environments.
Under the hood, it runs on the TED chip (instead of the well-known VIC-II and SID chips from the C64), handling both video and sound.
And to be honest: the graphics capabilities are quite decent, but the sound is… well, let's just say "modest."
No booming SID audio here, but you do get clean, colorful visuals.
Unfortunately, the concept didn't really catch on. The Plus/4 wasn't compatible with the C64, which of course was a big drawback for anyone who already owned software or peripherals.
Still, today it's a fun and interesting collector's item.
And s, I finally got one for my own collection too, complete with the original power supply and datasette!
COMMODORE VIC 20 - COLLECTION
Over the past few years I have collected several parts for a Commodore VIC-20. Of course the computer, but also special things such as an expansion board for the cartridges.
As you can see, there is quite a bit of color difference. So it's definitely time for a retro-bright action. For that I have to wait until the sun shines again. Of course I will take new pictures.
The VIC-1010 is an optional expansion to the VIC-20 manufactured by Commodore.
It plugs into the back of VIC-20's expansion port, providing six more ports along the top.
The expension module is quite a rare and special device that I did not known to exist before I found one this is an item the makes the set quite complete.
COMMODORE 128
I now also have the Commodore 128 in my collection. This is the successor of the Commodore 64. According to Wikipedia the Commodore 128 has also broken sales records, but not on the scale that the Commodore 64 has managed to achieve.
Besides this version I also have the other version of it. The Commodore 128 D, which consisted of a desktop-like cabinet containing a disk drive (hence the addition D) and a separate keyboard. See my other pictures. The one I have now in my collection needs some care. I think I will Retro bright this one later this year.
COMMODORE C16
A Computer that I also owned in my youth is the Commodore C16. Like a number of other computers, this is a repurchase after I had previously dumped it to the recycling center over time (how could I…).
WEB-IT
This computer was designed and build by Web Computers International. The Commodore brand was licensed to them by ESCOM. It is actually a small windows 3.11 installed PC.
Built in flash-drive, modem, TV-out, VGA-out, touch-pad with optional pointer. The software was Windows based including a Lotus office suite, Netscape, and a C64 Emulator.
PHILIPS P2000T
A while ago I came into possession of a Philips 2000T computer by chance.
Because it is a Dutch brand, I could not resist the temptation to add it to my collection.
I could not find a suitable cable so I ended up making one myself to connect the computer to my monitor.
finally I could test the computer and yes, after all those years I worked perfectly.
LASER 310
A odd computer in my collection is this Laser 310 computer.
After a seach with Google for the right power adapter I found a 9 volt adaptor that is normally used for the Nintendo (NES), Super Nintendo (SNES) which is a good replacement of the original adaptor for the Laser 310.
So I could now connect it and see how it actually boots. The standard startup screen is Basic V2.0 so simular to the commodore 64 basic.
COMMODORE 64C
In addition to the breadbox model, there was also a more modern version of the Commodore. The 64C.
COMMODORE VIC20
nother computer in my collection is the commodore VIC20, this one I got from a former colleague several years ago.
It is one of the early models with the two pins power supply and the original keyboard font as used on the predecessor the Pet computer.
Over time somehow, I lost the original power supply so needed to look for an alternative.
Browsing on eBay I was able to find and buy a replacement one to make the computer operational again.
It was good to see that after out of use for many many many years it was now back to live again.
Having no software for it at that moment I also started my search on the internet for some game cartridges games to make it complete and thereby extending my collection again.
COMMODORE 128D
Today was a sunny day and I was enjoying a beautiful summer moment in my back-garden with a nice cup of coffee and browsing on the internet.
There I stumbled on an adverb for a Commodore 128D. It was not stored under the best conditions but according to the seller in good working condition.
I took this computer apart and did a good cleaning and retro bright as it was really very very dirty and yellowed. But the fist clean-up looks promising, and I did some further test with the machine, and it is indeed in good working condition and a great addition to my Commodore retro collection.
COMMODORE 64
As many I my interest in computers and programming started when I was a teanager.
In 1984 I bought my first computer, a commodore 64, I know the exact date as I still own it. On the back of the computer still a label of the shop is on the back of it.
At that time in the Netherlands Game-World was a well known electronic store where it all happened.
In 2021 I refound the interest in this retro computer when I was cleaning up
I connected my old computer to see if it was still working. For a few moments it was..
However doing this I learned the hard way It is not the best thing to do.. Thas is connecting an old power supply that was laying around for more than 30 years.. It fried my Commodore.. So this one became my first restoration project.
Thanks to google and al lot of retro fans that share their experience on the internet I was able to find new replacement parts and fix my computer. I did not clean or retrobright this one as I want to keep it as I remembered. So see the image here the one and only original i.e. for me.
I remember the many hours fun day's and night's me programming on this machine.
