From: B Degnan (billdeg_at_degnanco.com)
Date: 2008-11-11 04:24:07
Just a quick note...Today I opened a pair of run-of-the-mill CBM 256-80
computers and to my surprise they both had 8088 co-processors
installed! Neither system works, which is why I was opening them to
inspect them, but I have the parts to repair at least one of them. The
famed BX systems were capable of running MS DOS 1.25 and CP/M 86.
What a find, eh?
In the US the CBM 256 "BX" model with the 8088 co-processor was not
officially sold by Commodore. The few 8088 cards that were produced in
test runs only were given to the Chicago B Series User Group for free.
I have a copy of the release letter to prove it. Bruce Faierson, the
2nd president of CBUG and owner of Northwest Music near Chicago,
installed a few CBM 256-80's with these prototype 8088 cards and sold
them in the mid 80's. I have some of his old mailers with the BX ads.
I believe that the two computers I opened today are two of his modified
systems. They're all stock CBM parts with the prototype 8088 cards
installed. Anyway, according to most sources only two or three of the
8088 co-processor cards were known to exist. There is also a special
HI-BOY PLA that is required to run the 8088. I suspect now that there
are still a few BX's hiding in the bushes. Add two more to the list!
If you have a CBM 256-80, open it!
http://vintagecomputer.net/commodore/CBM_256-80BX/
Unfortunately Bruce passed away earlier this year. I spoke him a few
times over the past few years and we traded a lot of emails. He helped
me to build a working hi-profile B system with an 8088 card, and because
of him I was able to learn a heck of a lot about the B Series and IEEE
drives.
If anyone has any additional info that's not covered on the few web
sites that discuss the B Series and the 8088 co-processor, I'd love to
hear about it.
Bill Degnan
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