Commodore KIM-1

Donor: (Still looking it up...)
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

This is the very first computer that Commodore ever made. It's the single board KIM-1. It has an on-board keypad and 6 digit LED read-out.

Of course, real techies didn't leave their single board computers just sitting out in the open. Oh no. They built really cool cases for them. This particular case featured a flip-top, a card cage for the RAM board, an extension of the keypad and display to the front of the enclosure, a bunch of connections on the back and a terminal hook-up. (And, of course, the required switch to choose between keypad and terminal.) There's also a very manly external power supply.

• Close-up of the faceplate, showing the display and all the cool switches.
• Front of the enclosure. The big "6502" refers, of course, to the famed chip that ran the whole Commodore line up to the Amiga.
• Flipping open the top gives us the following views:
  • Front view.
  • Front view, looking down into the case.
  • Side view, showing the depth of the card cage.
  • Looking straight into the card cage.
  • Underside of the card cage.
• Close-up of the backplate. Audio, video, tape in/out, serial, and power.
• Shot of the back, showing the "6502" on the top.
• External power supply. The handles on the front are not just for show. This thing is heavy!
• Close-up of the front. Yes, you need a key.
• Close-up of the rear. Now those are manly power hook-ups! And talk about cooling fins!
• Here's the whole system. This gives a better idea how large the power supply really is.

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