Atari Computers serial numbers database (and peripherals)

[itaboy]

MIne (from Italy)

P_20170313_232805.jpg

[calimero]

I start with making database where we could type serial numbers (and additional) data about our Atari computers.

Please take a look at: http://milan.kovac.cc/atari/chipmunk/

!!! and please note that there is no functionality so do NOT bother to type data !!!

I will add tomorrow PHP code for database but before I do that, I want to consult with you: should I add some more fields or this is enough?

[EmpireAndrew]

Mine.
I'll grab the motherboard serial when I pull it apart...

[rj1]

I start with making database where we could type serial numbers (and additional) data about our Atari computers.

Please take a look at: http://milan.kovac.cc/atari/chipmunk/

!!! and please note that there is no functionality so do NOT bother to type data !!!

I will add tomorrow PHP code for database but before I do that, I want to consult with you: should I add some more fields or this is enough?

A field for STE and Mega STE, saying if the blitter is integrated or separate.

[mikro]

On the same token, whether the ST in question has socket for the Blitter or not.

[rj1]

Also if the STE case has metal screw inserts or if it doesn't have them.
Images borrowed from ebay.

Metal inserts present:

inserts.jpg

No metal inserts:

noinserts.jpg

[calimero]

hm... I do not know what is integrated or separate blitter ? I always think that blitter is separated physical chip (except in Falcon).
and I think that all STs have socket for blitter?

anyway, I added this fields.

regarding metal inserts: I will add possibility to add photos so it could be seen if there are inserts...

Thanks for feedback!

[EmpireAndrew]

Given the last section of digits is separated out, I'm wondering if the sequential serial number includes the version prefix, for example, could there be an NTSC, PALA, PALB, PERTEL serial number 500?
If so we'd need to add the highest serial number of each type together.

[dhedberg]

Given the last section of digits is separated out, I'm wondering if the sequential serial number includes the version prefix, for example, could there be an NTSC, PALA, PALB, PERTEL serial number 500?
If so we'd need to add the highest serial number of each type together.

Exactly my thought as well.

[10p6]

Here is a low serial number one for you. It is a UK unit that somehow ended up in the USA. I was going to mod this, but hmm, should I mod a nearly mint machine.

[calimero]

ok.

I JUST FINISHED site for Atari serial numbers: http://milan.kovac.cc/atari/chipmunk/index.php

please use it! (and report any error on site if you find it!)

Thanks

[mikro]

Digging through the Atari HQ documents...

now I know what the mysterious Y4 prefix means. It's a code for EFA company and their Taiwanese subcontractor, Ta Yuan. Interestingly, both the original and C-Lab Falcons start with this prefix, i.e. C-Lab had literally just asked them to fire up machines again.

[mikro]

Another update: I think I've cracked the "12000 mystery", i.e. how come there's never a bigger sequential number than 12000. It's because it's sequential number per series! I.e. you can have (real s/ns taken from the docs):

Y434021000001 (USA)
Y434023000001 (ITA)

This makes counting much harder. :) Another interesting information -- it seems that the last Falcon (motherboard) revision is from April 1993, after that only minor (manual, software update, warranty cards...) changes had been issued. There were some changes planned for July 1993 but never approved and distributed... the very last change which made to public distribution had been issued on May 20, incorporated on June 29 ("Add patent label" :)). According to my research, the last (Atari) Falcons were produced around September 1993, so it's not so surprising.

Btw, early GER and UK Falcons had been produced in another (ATMC's) Taiwanese factory, starting with "B3" and early US/PERITEL Falcons in yet another (ATMC's) factory, starting with "B5". Since rev. B all Falcons are made by EFA.

[calimero]

You find all these things? Among Atari HQ files?
Great finding!

[mikro]

You find all these things? Among Atari HQ files?

Yes. The files are not well sorted so you can find Falcon stuff among Jaguar and ST and so on... Too bad it's just a random dump, so many things are missing but still valuable, I've been able to construct the whole Falcon PCB revision history from that. :)

[calimero]

Y434021000001 (USA)
Y434023000001 (ITA)

these are motherboard (PCB) serial numbers or serial numbers on external case.

You find all these things? Among Atari HQ files?

Yes. The files are not well sorted so you can find Falcon stuff among Jaguar and ST and so on... Too bad it's just a random dump, so many things are missing but still valuable, I've been able to construct the whole Falcon PCB revision history from that.

I also lurked among files but apparently missed Falcon serial number story.

Can you explain why Falcon serial number on exterior case and serial number of motherboard are always different?

and why description of Falcon PCB serial number from documentation is NOT consistent with real serial numbers?

Y43302000332
Y43602007192
Y44102000062
Y43502003538
Y43602006466
Y43902011401
Y43402002419
Y43602005942

Y4 - factory
36 - 1993 year, 6 month (June)
0 - why always 0?
2 - always 2?
last six digits are sequence number.

BUT if we look at documentation description of PCB than reading is quite odd:

Y4 - factory code
36 - 1993 year, 6 month (June)
than 5th digit suppose to be "2" as control code but other are possible: 0 - pilot production, 1 - not used, 3 - rework for fcc! In reallife 5th digit is always "0"
6 digits should be Version (NTSC, PAL I, PAL II and Peritel (what Peritel anyway...?)) but in reallife is always "2"

[mikro]

Y434021000001 (USA)
Y434023000001 (ITA)

these are motherboard (PCB) serial numbers or serial numbers on external case.

PCBs, I don't care about the cases that much. They are often swapped, same with keyboards, not good for investigation.

Can you explain why Falcon serial number on exterior case and serial number of motherboard are always different?

No I can't and honestly I don't care -- I see nothing strange on the fact that they had manufactured them separately.

Y4 - factory code
36 - 1993 year, 6 month (June)
than 5th digit suppose to be "2" as control code but other are possible: 0 - pilot production, 1 - not used, 3 - rework for fcc! In reallife 5th digit is always "0"
6 digits should be Version (NTSC, PAL I, PAL II and Peritel (what Peritel anyway...?)) but in reallife is always "2"

There must have been some change. Whether the machine is PAL-I/PAL-B/NTSC/Peritel (it's a French norm for RGB video, that's why French models don't have RF modulator -- btw there were only rev.A of Peritel Falcons from 10/92, no more) is determined by the -00x suffix on the PCB model number.

If you look at my "docs numbers", they match -- if "2" is written as "02", then yes, "1" = NTSC (the USA one) and "3" = PAL-B (the ITA one). However, for whatever reason they left out the video information, so the numbers became one digit less and the information is encoded in that PCB model number.

[Atari030]

Two here, Y437022004816, Y437022004827. both 4/80's and bought in Australia. It is possible the boards are wrong as I repaired a couple for people back when and yoiked a few parts. Now I think about it, probably just top covers got switched as boards would have stayed with the bases. I'm getting old.

The older one was TOS 4.01 and the later TOS 4.04. I don't ever recall switching ROM's.

[Faucon2001]

Different board and case serial number is normal, that's the way serialization of batches works in the industry, and is the basis of traceability in Quality Management System. Keep in mind that product are not done in a linear way, but by assembling differents articles produced by different suppliers, in different places at different time.
A final product has only one serial number, but may be composed of several articles which all have one unique serial number, and so on.
Example : a palette of boxes has one global serial number, is composed of severales boxes which each one has a serial number. Each box contain an Atari, a mouse, a cord, a manual, each with a specific serial number for each article ...
At the end you have a tree of serial numbers which allows a full traceability of every article of a finished product down to the individual component.

[Ektus]

One of my Falcons has CA401332003REVD/C, serial Y43602006999 on the mainboard. Bought 1994 (maybe 1993?) in Germany, German keyboard.

[mikro]

I'd love to know whether there were any Atari (!) Falcons in revision later than D/C. From what I've seen I think there weren't. C-Lab later produced Ks but it seems that Atari never really got past D/C.

[calimero]

One of my Falcons has CA401332003REVD/C, serial Y43602006999 on the mainboard. Bought 1994 (maybe 1993?) in Germany, German keyboard.

Please use http://milan.kovac.cc/atari/chipmunk/ to add your serial numbers...

[joska]

I'd love to know whether there were any Atari (!) Falcons in revision later than D/C. From what I've seen I think there weren't. C-Lab later produced Ks but it seems that Atari never really got past D/C.

One of my Falcons has motherboard revision CA401332-003-REV-J. Produced in July 93 according to the serial number.

[mikro]

One of my Falcons has motherboard revision CA401332-003-REV-J. Produced in July 93 according to the serial number.

Interestingly, you're second person to to tell me this (rev. J from 7/93).

Rev. D/C PCB was approved on 16/03/1993 and the same month production began. Then follows E on 02/03/1993, F on 30/04/1993, NTSC G, NTSC H/PAL G, NTSC J/PAL H on 04/08/1993 and that's the line where the document ends. We have no records of a "PAL J" at all but logically it should be somewhere after 08/1993 what totally doesn't add up.

So maybe there was some mixup or a custom fix but one of the Atari's dealers who put "J" there after fixing some stuff on D/C board.

[calimero]

Did you find descrption of each revision?