What is this worth? In-house test 2600

[JrPac]

I've managed to come across a 2600 with some special markings on the upper half of the case denoting that it is/was property of Atari Inc.

The board is stamped October 23, 1980.

 

I believe this is an in-house 2600 intended for testing purposes. Other than that, it's a pretty standard Light Sixer system.

 

 

Does anybody know what this is worth, or confirm exactly what this is?

Edited April 11, 2015 by JrPac

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

I would think it's an early made Light Sixer that is reconditioned. Does yours have a reconditioned sticker on bottom case? Early manufactured Light Sixers were made in Sunnyvale. But being a stamp saying October 1980. At that time production was in Taiwan. And that was a time when 4 switch woodys were underway of being manufactured. I have a few spare console upper cases and have one too. I have a Heavy Sixer, Light Sixer, 4 woody, and Vader unit.

Edited April 11, 2015 by Retrogamer81081

[mikey.shake]

I've been trying to find more info about mine, which seems to be the same thing! Someone else had one with a similar "Property Of..." stamp, so I posted some of my info/pics in that thread (Post #9):

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/198685-light-sixer-question/

 

Mine has no sticker on the bottom (though there used to be one), same kind of colored (grease pencil?) marking as the inside of yours show, and an 11/80 birthdate. Almost exactly one month before yours, so the timing lines up roughly.

 

Reconditioning is definitely a possibility. I have some theories that they were promotional six-switchers used for in-store dealer display kiosks. Curt Vendel talks in another thread (http://atariage.com/forums/topic/19000-how-rare-is-the-atari-vcs-cx2600-sunnyvale-edition/page-2) about the dealer kiosk ones:

 

1) "These all seem to be six-switch light bottoms. Atari was also, according to dealer price sheets they did sell individual units to dealers outside of the display stands & kiosks"

 

2) "The "promo" VCS' would most likely have been released around '81" (late '80 might be close enough to "around '81"?)

 

There are some other threads where I've found info on this specific interior hotstamp, the colored markings inside,

 

- http://atariage.com/forums/topic/165050-does-every-atari-have-this/?do=findComment&comment=2038801

(similar "QC"-type marking on paper as well)

 

- http://atariage.com/forums/topic/11025-6-switch-vcs-question/

(no evidence, date-wise, on whether this top chassis matches the Taiwan sticker on thebottom)

 

- http://atariage.com/forums/topic/30179-strange-writting-on-inside-of-2600-case/?do=findComment&comment=345361

 

- http://atariage.com/forums/topic/152449-property-of-atari/?do=findComment&comment=1871932

 

Does yours have any other markings on the inside? Perhaps another grease pencil marking where the sticker should be? I'd love to finally get an answer on this one, too.

Edited April 11, 2015 by mikey.shake

[JrPac]

Mine does not have a label on the bottom either, and no residue from one. As you predicted, there are green and orange markings on the bottom.

I've had the system for years, and finally took it out of storage. Glad I did!

Edited April 12, 2015 by JrPac

[roadrunner]

[JrPac]

Anyone?

[bah]

JrPac, Are the letters raised or indented into the plastic? Raised letters would imply that Atari had to have their molder modify a tool to make special housings. This would be similar to my company if they were doing a special run such as store demo units or something. Indented stamping could be done with a tool after assembly. That could signify that the company was not planning on doing large quantities or that the stamped units are random and not in a single production run.

 

 

....now I'm gonna have to take a look in my units...

[+DrVenkman]

Bumping this old thread because I have a Light Sixer (bought from eBay a couple months ago) that has the same "L & W" and "Property of Atari, Inc." stamp inside the case. The paper taped to the RF shield is stamped April 14, 1980 or 81; it's hard to read, as the stamp runs off the edge of the paper. The bottom has a Taiwan serial number sticker, along with a red Atari Service label. It's a Rev B PCB board.