Acorn Electron Power Adapter
Acorn Electron power supply, in original packaging.
- Materials:
- metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.2
- type:
- adapter
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
This image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Licence
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LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
License
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Acorn Electron.
Photographed on a white background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Acorn Electron, in original packaging, with games
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Acorn Electron, in original packaging, with games.
"The Electron was a low-cost home computer, released in 1983 by Acorn Computers of Cambridge.
In 1982 Acorn had won a contract to supply home computers as part of BBC Computer Literacy Project, the The Acorn BBC Microcomputer. This was an excellent educational computer, but quite expensive at about £400. The Electron was developed as a cheaper, cut down version of the BBC Microcomputer. It was smaller, simpler, cheaper (at around £200), and aimed more at the videogames market than education.
Amongst its most important components, and the source of many problems at first, was an Uncommitted Logic Array (ULA) microchip, made by Ferranti in Greater Manchester. This single chip had several functions, allowing the Electron to be manufactured more cheaply than the BBC Micro.
Although a competitive design when it was developed, problems with ULA manufacture and the collapse of the home computer market in 1984 led to many Electrons going unsold."
Details
- Category:
- Computing & Data Processing
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
- Measurements:
-
Electron: 58 mm x 343 mm x 160 mm,
box: 150 mm x 500 mm x 250 mm,
- type:
- computer
- credit:
- Purchased From Kevin Copeland
Parts
Acorn Electron Cable
Acorn Electron cable for connecting computer to TV, kept with computer in original packaging.
- Materials:
- metal (unknown) and plastic (unidentified)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.3
- type:
- telecommunications cable
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
Acorn Electron Introductory Cassette
Acorn Electron introductory cassete, kept with computer in original packaging.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 18 mm x 71 mm x 110 mm,
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.4
- type:
- microcomputer part
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
Acorn Electron User Guide Book
Acorn Electron User Guide book, kept with computer in original packaging.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 24 mm x 165 mm x 212 mm,
- Materials:
- metal (unknown) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.5
- type:
- manual
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
"Start Programming With The Electron" Book
Acorn Electron Start Programming with the Electron book, by Masoud Yazdani, kept with computer in original packaging.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 15 mm x 151 mm x 235 mm,
- Materials:
- paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.6
- type:
- manual
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
'Abyss' Computer Game Cassette
'Abyss' computer game cassette for use with the Acorn Electron, created by J. P. W. Smith, 1983.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.7
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
"Terrormolinos" Computer Game
Computer game cassette for the Acorn Electron, Terrormolinos by Melbourne House.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.8
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
"Overdrive" Computer Game Cassette
Computer game cassette for the Acorn Electron, "Overdrive," arcade style racing game by Superior Software for the Acorn Electron.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.9
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
'10 Computer Hits' Game Cassettes
'Computer Hits' computer game cassette for use on the Acorn Electron, released by Beau-Jolly Ltd in 1985 and comprising a variety of arcade games, including Ghouls, Killer Gorilla and Nightworld.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.10
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
"Snooker" Computer Game Cassette
Computer game cassette for the Acorn Electron, Snooker, by Visions (Software Factory) Ltd, copyright 1983. Electron translation by Andy Williams.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.11
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
"Acornsoft Desk Diary" Software
Cassette for the Acorn Electron, Desk Diary for the Acorn Electron.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.12
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
"Combat Lynx" Computer Game
Computer game cassette for the Acorn Electron. Combat Lynx, air to ground battle simulation, by Durrell software.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.13
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
Bumper Bundle Computer Game Cassette
Computer game cassette for the Acorn Electron. Electron Bumper Bundle, by Alligata Software Ltd. Comprising Bugblaster, Lunar Rescue, Hell Hole and Crown Jewels.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.14
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
"Atom Smasher" Computer Game
Computer game cassette for the Acorn Electron, Atom Smasher by Romik Software Ltd.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.15
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
737 Flight Simulator
Computer game cassette for the Acorn Electron, 737 Flight Simulator, by Salamander software, with a paper manual.
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.16
- type:
- software
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
Computer Program Data Recorder
Computer program data recorder, by W.H. Smith.
- Materials:
- metal (unknown) , plastic (unidentified) and cardboard
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.17
- type:
- computer
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
Cable For Computer Program Data Recorder
Cable for computer program data recorder.
- Measurements:
-
Overall: 1200 mm,
- Materials:
- plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
- Object Number:
- Y2009.4.17.1
- type:
- computer
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem
- Part of:
- Y2009.4.17
