Everyone has seen a BBC Micro. Very ubiquitous in schools and colleges up and down the UK for years from its introduction in 1981 to...well, even now. The original machine was a 16K colour BASIC computer and cost ukp299 which is why I never got one. However, The Model B soon arrived which had a lot more bells and whistles like outside world interfaces, RGB ports, analogue ports and they became such capable machines that owners expanded/upgraded/enhanced their units to provide floppy drives, printers, RAM boards, joysticks, external ROM support, robots, you name it.

If it could be nailed to the TUBE interface, user interface or printer interface then people did it. The original PSU was a linear transformer and was known for overheating and catching fire. Looking at this one I can see why - cooling slots were non existent. Later models had this replaced with the ASTEC unit everyone knows and loves these days for their exploding RIFA mains filter capacitors. This is what makes this Model A special. When I saw this on eBay I HAD to have it. Yes it's JUST a BBC Model A... BUT it appears that it was bought new then sent to a dealer (or upgraded at source) to have an extra 16K RAM added plus a 6522 VIA. Both of these upgrades were necessary to play Acornsoft's Pacman^WSnapper which also came with the machine.

Once the owner had moved onto other platforms, this one was put back in its box and put in the loft. Look at it. (Sorry, L@@K at it :D ) - no external ports apart from cassette, none of the internal options apart from the 6522 and 16K RAM, no user ports underneath, even no trademark info on the back. You really don't see many Beebs in this original state, even my Issue 2 Model A has SOME outside world ports added. This one has none. A splendid example!

Thanks to Liz for saving it - it was her Dad's when he worked for SEEBOARD. I had the pleasure of meeting Liz and husband Ed when I went to pick it up.