From: Jack Rubin (jack.rubin_at_ameritech.net)
Date: 2008-11-11 04:32:34
Great find, Bill. Sorry to hear that Bruce passed away but if you need any
help on the ground here in Chicago, be sure to let me know.
Jack
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-cbm-hackers@ling.gu.se
> [mailto:owner-cbm-hackers@ling.gu.se] On Behalf Of B Degnan
> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 9:24 PM
> To: cbm-hackers@ling.gu.se
> Subject: CBM BX256-80 found - w/ 8088 processor card!
>
>
> 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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