1200XL Owners Club (serial tracker)

[towmater]

The last 3 digits must be 143(14th week of 83), since Atari discontinued 1200XL production in June(week 29) that year.

 

You are absolutely right, the ink had faded. Unfortunately the "edit" link has expired.

Edited August 14, 2017 by towmater

[+kheller2]

List updated.

[toddtmw]

The first (non-prototype) item on this list seems out of place given the serial number.

 

83S DA 019879 033 Larry USA 019879 1983 03 17-Jan-83 23-Jan-83

83S DA 010409 063 Guitarman USA 010409 1983 06 07-Feb-83 13-Feb-83

 

That 019879 looks like it would fit better in week 7.

[+kheller2]

serial numbers are not sequential by date.

[toddtmw]

serial numbers are not sequential by date.

Weird. What is the point of have sequential serial numbers if they don't do them by date? Do the ones that don't pass QC sit in a queue to be fixed and then get the date stamp when they are repaired? (But if that was the case, the date stamp would be even later...)

 

I cannot come up with a reason why the serial numbers would be out of synch the way this one appears to be.

 

Anyone?

[+kheller2]

Weird. What is the point of have sequential serial numbers if they don't do them by date? Do the ones that don't pass QC sit in a queue to be fixed and then get the date stamp when they are repaired? (But if that was the case, the date stamp would be even later...)

 

I cannot come up with a reason why the serial numbers would be out of synch the way this one appears to be.

 

Anyone?

 

 

While we don't have an official reason for this, it is prevelent among many manufacturers of that era. Take a look at the 5200 serial numbers, different plants, some with six digits some with seven. With the 1200XL there were two plants making them, and its very likely that there are multiple assembly lines per plant and each had their own labels and inked serial number ranges. Just consider this scenario (completely made up of course): You have four assembly lines, the only way to manually keep track of where a serial number is is by assigning each line a range of numbers for a particular shift/week/run. So, say 1000-1999 for line 1, 2000-2999 for line 2 etc.. Eventually line one will complete and need 5000-5999 before the other lines complete. Say some broke down, or needed to halt the line to work on something, while the others kept going.

 

The part I always wondered about was why there were differences in the number of digits from the same plant.

 

83S DA 005333 123 neopeius USA 005333 1983 12 21-Mar-83 27-Mar-83

83S DA 48017 123 rockdoc2010 USA 48017 1983 12 21-Mar-83 27-Mar-83

Same week. 5 vs 6 digits.

Also, I'm not exactly sure the serials were stamped when the stickers were applied. The date stamp certainly was but the serial numbers almost look like Atari ordered up a bunch of spools from a printer. Sometimes they got various versions.

[ACML]

I'm back to three again. Adding 83S DA 008463 153. Got this one off eBay for $163 and its in awesome cosmetic condition. Couldn't pass it up. Looks like someone tried it, put it back in the box and there it sat for 34 years.

Edited August 30, 2017 by ACML

[+DrVenkman]

Added another one to the fold. Needs the Bob Wooley's keyboard Mylar repair of course, and I've already sourced a solution for the missing ESC key so that's taken care of. I'll also do the +5V mod for the SIO port and likely put one of Bryan's UAV's into it as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[electronizer]

In sorting through some of the stuff I bought earlier this year, I found a box of 1200XL plastics. Some of the case bottoms have labels on them that look like this:

 

 

It says "Pilot unit 10/28" and "DA000234." Definitely not a production case, there is no raised lettering by the ports. Unfortunately, I don't have any motherboards to go with them. I think there are two other case bottoms with different serial numbers, one is covered up by a B&C sticker.

[+DrVenkman]

It says "Pilot unit 10/28" and "DA000234." Definitely not a production case, there is no raised lettering by the ports. Unfortunately, I don't have any motherboards to go with them. I think there are two other case bottoms with different serial numbers, one is covered up by a B&C sticker.

 

Very cool. And it matches up with the general understanding that production of the 1200XL was from late 1982 (November or perhaps December) through late June 1983.

[Brentarian]

Here is my latest addition:

[+DrVenkman]

Here is my latest addition:20170916_161629.jpg

 

Holy crap, that's a low S/N!

[Deteacher]

Here's mine: 83S DA 15947 with no date stamp after it:

 

 

 

[ACML]

I'm on a roll. Adding my forth and fifth 1200XL to the list.

 

72 R DA 00603 153

 

72 R DA 07520 183

 

I now have five 1200XLs and I think I'll be pushing back from the table. Five is enough for me.

[+kheller2]

List Updated. I just can't post the entire data set because AA keeps timing out on the post. I will try later, or find another way to get the data online.

Also, going forward, if anyone opens up their 1200XL can you please also provide the date stamp on the white sticker, typically found by the keyboard connection.

[+kheller2]

Pilot Unit DA000231 Obtained. Its filthy. And this is after a quick rub down with Clorox wipes. There are bugs living in it... it will be a nice restoration project.

 

Plastic is all smooth, and no lettering on the ports. Plastic is heavily scraped and cut in the upper right corner. The silver metal is heavily stained and scratched, the pictures make it look better than it really is. I have no idea if it works. I will completely tear it down and clean it before even attempting to power it on.

 

The green "10 13" sticker just fell out of the unit, I'm assuming it was stuck to the exposed EPROM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing magical about the OS PROMS, they are stock version 10.

 

MD5 (1200XL10U12.BIN) = e19eb62ef554df174766c71c029021dd

MD5 (1200XL10U13.BIN) = 8b47c75e3e07b2f499c713fd57a2eede

Combined: e3e8c74bfe1dcd6b56af50bd9a82dc15

[+kheller2]

First post updated with observations and new calculated total units made.

Its pretty sad when one start scrounging old posts and google to find 1200XL serial numbers.

 

I do find it interesting that the 400 and 800 were still being produced for such a long time into 1983 (week 24?). Most history texts online state production of those units stopped in 82, and even say the 1200XL was "released" in 1982 -- it wasn't out into 83.

[ACML]

I'm now at six. Adding 83S DA 011525 113. I may need an intervention.

And that's the only thing I need is *this*. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray... And this paddle game. - The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need... And this remote control. - The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need... And these matches. - The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control, and the paddle ball... And a sixth Atari 1200XL. - The ashtray, this paddle game, and the remote control, and a sixth 1200XL, and that's all *I* need.

[toddtmw]

 

I'm now at six. Adding 83S DA 011525 113. I may need an intervention.

And that's the only thing I need is *this*. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray... And this paddle game. - The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need... And this remote control. - The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need... And these matches. - The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control, and the paddle ball... And a sixth Atari 1200XL. - The ashtray, this paddle game, and the remote control, and a sixth 1200XL, and that's all *I* need.

 

 

I'm picking out a 1200XL for you not an ordinary 1200XL for you. Bet an extra great 1200XL, with plastic and stripes and a best-mylar-built-right-in!

[COREi64]

My first Atari 1200XL. A little back story from the owner. This fellows dad bought it new. His dad coded with his children on the machine, played games and enjoyed the computer until it ended up getting boxed up where it sat in their basement for the past 25 years. Now it's mine!

 

Made in Taiwan

72R DA 00547 143

 

COREi64

 

Edited December 8, 2017 by COREi64

[whaledriver]

Here are the serial numbers from my two 1200XLs. The lower serial number is stock with the exception of the clear pic mod. The other one I bought with lots of mods already done. It was many years ago but I think I bought it from Bob Woolley. Not sure. It was on an old website that sold atari hardware. It is still my main machine.

[Gunstar]

I have one 1200XL on this list, USA 1983 13 28-Mar-83 78422 83S DA 78422 133 Gunstar. But I have another 1200XL (label missing) with a replacement motherboard DA 119615 183. I have a third motherboard (with keyboard only, no case) DA 118794 193.

 

I also noticed that I see no other 1200XL's listed, with 6 digit numbers beginning with 1. (119615, 118794)

 

These two are replacement motherboards ordered from Best Electronics. So twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern, but I'm going to guess that replacement boards started with 1xxxxx.

Edited December 25, 2017 by Gunstar

[towmater]

Just rescued 83sda 004833 103. since this is my second 1200xl and the first remains in pristine condition, this is the one I'll be using for modding. I've just pm'd Semius about the Sophia DVI, any suggestions as to what else to throw in there?

[+DrVenkman]

Just rescued 83sda 004833 103. since this is my second 1200xl and the first remains in pristine condition, this is the one I'll be using for modding. I've just pm'd Semius about the Sophia DVI, any suggestions as to what else to throw in there?

 

Ultimate 1MB, of course. Requires a bit more work than most other models - you have to move a few jumpers and run a jumper wire under the board from a pin on the CPU to one of the removed jumper locations so the CPU can address the entire OS ROM space from one socket. You may or may not also have to replace a 24 pin OS ROM socket with a 28 pin socket depending on what's on your machine. But the results are worth it - 4 switchable OS ROMs, 4 switchable BASIC slots (or any 8K ROM really), built-in SpartaDOS X and real-time clock, oh and a megabyte of RAM configurable in a couple different bankswitching schemes.

[towmater]

I've had a lot of luck taking the plastic off of these machined pins, placing one metal pin on the tip of a soldering iron, and letting it slowly drive itself into the empty PCB hole. This way I don't risk damaging the pcb by desoldering the old socket.