Hello All,
First post / new to this forum, but old Amstrad user / collector.
First of all, great site with lots of info...just a random search found this site and re-ignited my CPC love.
So basically just getting back to my Amstrad's after a long period of time.
I am from Victoria, Australia and have 13 CPC's in my Amstrad (CPC only) collection.
All but one CPC6128 are carefully packaged away.
They consist of,
4 CPC464's (2x AWA - 1x Amstrad - 1x Schneider)
3 CPC664's (2x AWA - 1x Schneider)
5 CPC6128's (3x AWA - 1x Amstrad - 1x Schneider)
Also have a fair bit of software on both tape & disk as well as a few peripherals.
My last Amstrad CPC internet dealings were back in 2003 with Charles da Silva (http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr (http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr))
I provided him with some photos and info during that time including the info regarding AWA the Australian distributor.
You can still see the photo of 2 of my AWA 6128's and the AWA warranty card I scanned.
I just stumbled across this and was surprised to see them after all these years...
http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=13 (http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=13)
Also just found your Awa info (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Awa (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Awa)) with the pictures...
AWA were the Australian distributor from initial CPC launch till around 1988 when Amstrad set up office in Australia.
So early 464 & 6128's had "Awa" on startup/reset & later just the usual "Amstrad".
All Australian delivered 664's had "Awa" on startup.
Also just checked out your "mainboard versions" page...nice info.
I was also surprised by the CPC6128 MC0057A entry...I have one of those and years ago could find no one else with info on it.
When I obtained this 6128 I was initially amazed that it had the 40007 Gate Array with the heat-sink as I thought they were only used in early 464's (my 6128 has the top & bottom (inside) case plastic dated 11/88).
Anyway, enough from me...better get back to work :)
Cheers,
Shane
Welcome to the forum! :)
Quote from: 00WReX on 02:59, 17 October 11
AWA were the Australian distributor from initial CPC launch till around 1988 when Amstrad set up office in Australia.
So early 464 & 6128's had "Awa" on startup/reset & later just the usual "Amstrad".
So that is why the 464 & 6128 were different. Seems strange that Amstrad would set up here so late in the day. Or maybe my memory plays tricks with me, but I thought the 16bits were starting to get a bit of traction by then. I know by '89 CPC games had virtually become mail order only where I lived....
Guday Neighbour! :laugh:
Quote from: Axelay on 08:33, 17 October 11
Welcome to the forum! :)
So that is why the 464 & 6128 were different. Seems strange that Amstrad would set up here so late in the day. Or maybe my memory plays tricks with me, but I thought the 16bits were starting to get a bit of traction by then. I know by '89 CPC games had virtually become mail order only where I lived....
Yep, suppose Amstrad were at their peak around that time, from memory the schneider relationship ended around that time too.
Gotta remember, Amstrad pushed ahead with their 8-bit offerings into the nineties, so back in late 87-early/mid 88 or whenever it was (cannot remember exactly), things would have still been fairly rosey.
On another note, where would be the best place to post info regarding "Mainboard Revisions".
Just looking over my details for my Awa 664's and both have MC0005B main boards the same as my Schneider.
Also I have two Awa 6128's that have MC0020C main boards (these are not even mention in the list (I will checkout if I have any old photo's).
Cheers,
Shane
Hi Shane, and welcome to the forum!
I'm very interested in your MC0020C boards pictures. I think that some board revisions may only have been done for certain countries and that explain why we haven't seen any of them (MC0020C,D and E are completely missing... for example).
Most of the images on the Mainboard Versions page are actually 300dpi scans of the PCB's, but a good picture is better than nothing.
It's a pity we are that far apart or I'll drop by your place with my scanner ;D
Hi Shane,
welcome to the forum. What peripherals have you? Anything interesting/rare?
@Robcfg: http://www.farecompare.com/flights/Madrid-MAD/Victoria-YYJ/market.html (http://www.farecompare.com/flights/Madrid-MAD/Victoria-YYJ/market.html)
Pack your scanner, you could be there for as little as €784 :D
Bryce.
Thanks guys,
Unfortunately not many quality photo's. Only had a very basic digital camera a decade ago (was an OK camera at the time :o ).
Anyway I did manage to find one that just shows the MC0020C marking to the very left of the photo (just made it into the shot).
I usually don't pull the CPC's apart after I initially get them, give them a really good clean up (inside & out) and remove the drive belt.
Looks like I might have to open one up again...been a while ;)
Also just realised that the 464 on the AWA screen was also a photo I took, so all 3 were my photo's...that's cool that they are still floating around.
http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Awa (http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Awa)
Attached is the uncut version of the photo showing the surroundings with an SSA-1 plugged in and a DDI-1 sitting on top of the monitor (and a good old konix speed king joystick). This CPC was my orginal one that my parents bought me back in 1985.
Some of the peripherals I have are a couple of SSA-1's, a DDI-1, Electric Studio Light Pen, dk'Tronics 64K expansion...about it I think.
Monitors, I have 2x Green (GT65-2) 2x CTM640 and 3x CTM644's.
Cheers,
Shane
OK found another pic from another cheap camera I had...not the full board but shows the MC0020C marking clearly...
Not seen the pics of Awa 464's before, very interesting.
Weird seeing it has the 'new style' keyboard, but you said they stopped distributing in about 1988. This must be one of the very last models they released then?
That 464 was my original CPC back in 1985.
The bottom CPC cover/case (inside) is dated 5/85 and the keyboard date code is 50917 (which is I believe 17 September 1985).
May have been one of the very early flat key models...not exactly sure when they switched from the tall key (over a period of time as stocks ran out I suppose).
Cheers,
Shane
OK, now that my interest has been re-ignited...I've been going back over the Amstrad info i have gathered over time.
Anyway, I found a notepad file with the following info regarding Amstrad (and AWA) in Australia...
Earl WHITE - Access International Biographies
...
Earl WHITE, Managing Director - Pacific Rim, Sydney Office.
Mr. White set up Quarterdeck Australia in July 1992 and took over as General Manager in July 1995.Under his direction,
Quarterdeck's products lead the Utilities Software Australian market as top sellers, increasing sales 60 % over a two year period.
Prior to Quarterdeck , Mr. White established Amstrad Australia where he managed the technical support division.
During Mr. White's leadership, Amstrad became the first PC company in Australia to outsell IBM in the PC arena.
Mr. White also held product management positions at Amstrad and Mitsubishi-AWA.
He acquired his Bachelors of Science ( Hons ) in computing , maths and physics from the Macquaria University, Australia.
Copyright © 1999 , 2000 Access International , LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Anyway, just did another search on this Earl White...and found this...
http://www.access-int.com/earlbio.html (http://www.access-int.com/earlbio.html)
Does not give the years unfortunately, but mentions Amstrad & Mitsubishi AWA...
Cheers,
Shane