Two Q1s found in London

[1980s_john]

Anyone come across the Q1? This article:

World's first desktop computers unearthed in London house clearance

Two of the world's first desktop computers have been found during a London house clearance. The Q1, launched in 1972, paved the way for computing as we know it today.

interestingengineering.com

claims the Q1 microcomputer was launched in 1972 (using the Intel 8008), so about the same same as the Datapoint 2200 came out with the 8008. the article however says the Q1 was first!

Interesting to know whose collection this machine was part of, article says it was part of 'among over 60 vintage computers from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s' and was found during a house clearance.

Regards,
John

 

[Al Kossow]

Q1/History at main · TheByteAttic/Q1

Reverse-engineering documentation about the Q1 microcomputers, the world's first true microcomputers (1972) with integrated microprocessors. - TheByteAttic/Q1

github.com

 

[MattisLind]

The Q1 on the picture is not the original Q1. It is a Q1 Lite from around 1976. It has a Mostek Z80 in it. Not a 8008. The original Q1 was housed in a Diablo Daisywheel typewriter and had 8008.

Dan Alroys site philon.net has some info.




They could easily have checked that it isn’t the original from 1972 by lifting lid…

 

[1980s_john]

Ok, please let the interestingengineering.com people know, and also Kingston university who are showing it at an exhibition:

World's first microcomputer goes on display alongside range of other vintage computers in public exhibition at Kingston University

The world's first true microcomputer – the Q1 – has gone on display at a special public exhibition at Kingston University showcasing the early decades of computing.

www.kingston.ac.uk

Actually the two Q1s found might still be the older type, the photo in the article is from the digital attic not the machines found!

[Edit] The Kingston exhibition was only on for a few days, I'll email them and ask for a photo.

Regards,
John

 

[MattisLind]

Yes, please, try get a photo. If it is the old Q1 with the one line display integrated inside a Diablo typewriter then it is something much more interesting.

 

[MattisLind]

The article in Daily Mail has photos of two Q1: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/science...irst-desktop-computers-discovered-London.html

None of them are from 1972. Is this also some other Q1?

BTW. They are pretty useless without the table with integrated floppy drives. I wonder if the waste firm "Just Clear" recognised the tables or just throw them away?

 

[MattisLind]

Just got a response from Paul Neve at Kingston University.

It is not the original Q1 from 1972 that they showed on the exhibition. Both are later versions.

Just a lot if hype produced by PR people. Mostly the waste-company apparently.

 

[1980s_john]

Thanks Mattis,
Glad you got to the bottom of this. The Q1 Lite is still an interesting machine, but not a 'Pre-Altair Microcomputer' so apologies for posting in this section of the forum. So looks like there is only one known Q1 (1972) machine left? Is it on shown somewhere?

Regards,
John