A model 4 in Model III clothing?

[billdeg]

What do you make of this ebay.com auction 390668585541?

Looks like someone started with a model III and converted to a 4? Or ?? The dust cover and color is model III, but the system is asking for a disk when you power it on. Amber screen.

Interesting.

bd

 

[Chromedome45]

Looks like it. I remeber that during the transition between the 3 & the 4 radio shack would convert your model 3 to a 4 using the existing case and disk drives. Also the Model 3 will also ask for a diskette if one is insereted and the door is not closed. The Amber monitor is something someone must have added in the past. Better resolution?

 

[TRS-Ian]

It's just a Model III with the 26-1123 Model III-to-4 upgrade kit fitted, and the owner has installed their own amber CRT.

The upgrade kit was available up until at least 1989 (in RSC-20), so 26-1123 wasn't a short term transitional product, anyone could upgrade their Model III to a Model 4 during most of the years that the Model 4 was on the market. In fact the availability of the kit from 1983-1989 (6 years) means the upgrade was available for longer than the Model III was sold for (1980-1983, 4 years).

Ian.

 

[billdeg]

You don't see these kits on ebay. Or I have not noticed them.

 

[TRS-Ian]

Bill, they weren't a kit you could buy as such... part of the deal required a trade-in of the old M3 motherboard so the upgrade was one of those infamous Radio Shack CC-only upgrades. If you want to read more about it, there is a very good article in 80micro May 1984 pages 126-128.

You will therefore never see these kits on eBay.

Ian.