Title
Manuals and Documentation for Nascom Computer
Reference
YA2009.6
Production date
01-01-1977 - 31-12-1983
Creator
- Nascom Microcomputers LtdBiographyBiography
Nascom Microcomputers Ltd was established in 1977 as a subsidiary of the North American Semiconductor Company, a British company that distributed American semi-conductors and other electronics. The business sold the Nascom 1 and Nascom 2 kit computers, issued in 1977 and 1979 respectively. The Nascom 1 was created and designed by John Marshall and Chris Shelton. Unusually for the time, it was sold with a full keyboard and video display interface and so has a claim to be the first British-designed microcomputer. In order to keep costs down, the user had to hand solder hundreds of joints on the circuit board themselves. The magazine 'Wireless World' published a series of articles detailing the design process.
In 1978 Nascom established the International Nascom Microcomputer Club (later INMC80), as a forum to learn from its expert user community. The Club produced a newsletter for its members.
Nascom was sold to Lucas Logic, the computer applications subsidiary of the Lucas Group, in 1981 and was renamed Lucas Nascom.
- Interface Data LtdBiographyBiography
Interface Data Ltd was based in Amersham, Buckinghamshire and is known to have been active in 1982 and 1983. The company published the magazine '80-Bus News' for users of Gemini and Nascom Microcomputers.
- Micro Power LtdBiographyBiography
Micro Power Ltd was a Leeds-based company that released hardware and software for 8-bit computers in the 1980s. The company is particularly known for publishing games for the popular BBC Micro and ZX Spectrum computers.
Scope and Content
This archive consists of a series of newsletters and magazines produced by NASCOM's International Nascom Microcomputer Club (later INMC80), copies of IBUS-80 News for users of Nascom and Gemini computers, as well as issues of Micropower magazine. There are also manuals and a documentation pack for the Nascom microcomputer assembled by the Barker family.
Extent
29 items
Archival history
This archive was acquired by the Barker family, along with the computer to which it relates. The Barker family donated the computer and manuals to the museum in 2009.
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
Subject
Conditions governing access
Open access.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.
External document
Related object