BlimpPixel

Very cool! Excellent photos. So do all H6 joysticks have that hole in the center of the stick if they originally had hexes? Also, does this prove that there is no truth to the theory that an E suffix means it's one of the first made? Because this one has got to be. Thanks again.

Wow. On ebay? Well done. What was the serial number on the console? And I've noticed a lot of differences in instruction manuals. I've seen them with no writing at all in the top right cover, a few numbers/letters but no Rev #, and then Rev 1, 2, and 3 at least. Do you have pictures? Thanks! Love seeing this stuff.

I did do a search, btw. I didn't find much except someone saying that maybe the numbers often fall off. I'd love to see pics of your 1977 or 1978 box with number in tact! If such a thing exists, I want to hold out for such an example.

Surely someone knows when they started the SN sticker on the box? On this very site it says of the H6, in the Hardware section, "There is also a serial number on the unit itself with a matching serial number sticker on the box." Looking through the admittedly small number of photos I can find of these early boxes, I have yet to see one with such a sticker. I've been messaging people about ebay listings asking them if the box SN matches the unit and they keep telling me there is no sticker on the box. I'm beginning to think that's the way it was, but I'm surprised at there being inaccurate information on this fine page. Thanks again.

I don't think I'll get too crazy with collecting but I'd like a few of the basics, and I am very intrigued by having one of the very early consoles in the original box, which had the infamous Chess piece on it. Did these have the serial number stickers on the box, though? Or did they not start that yet? Not that I'm paying $1200 for one, but here's an example on eBay and I don't see the sticker anywhere. http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/181950691899 Thanks much!

I believe the famicom (the Japanese NES) had speakers as well.

I'm sure this has been discussed at length, so my apologies for that but it's not an easy thing to search for. After doing some reading, I was under the impression that other than the original "heavy sixer" units, the 2600 was largely built in Taiwan and if not, Hong Kong. I pulled out my "spare" console, a 4 switcher, and was surprised to look under it and see that it was made in Sunnyvale. My luck usually works in the way that I happen to have the most common, least interesting example of something. Has my luck changed here, or is this a lot more common than I thought? Pics: Thanks for any input, as always!

The country of origin seems like a pretty good theory but the one I posted a pic of should be an original Sunnyvale H6, right?

Fascinating stuff, gentlemen. Thanks! Doesn't really explain why the slits are sometimes on one side of the ribs and visible from the front of the console and at other times on the other side of the ribs and only visible from the rear of the console, though. I feel like I've noticed the discrepancy mostly on 6 switch units. Does this panel snap off on a 6 switcher and can be put on backwards? Both my 4 switchers have the slots in the front, where you can't really see them, but this panel definitely doesn't seem to be removable on them. Thanks again. Dan

First of all, thank you for the add! I'm brand new to collecting 2600-related stuff. I'm not new to the console at all, have been playing one for 30 years, but as a hobby I only just got involved. I have a quick question that I'm sure has been discussed but I don't really know what it's called to do a search on it I've noticed looking at pictures that some consoles have two round vents on the top. They look like speakers but I'm guessing they are merely for a little fresh air, yes? I'd never seen such a thing but looking closely at mine, I see they've been there all along, only the slots are on the "front" side of the ribs and you can't really see them looking at it head on. On some, it appears they clearly are on the back side (or both sides?) of the ribs are easily visible just looking at the system. Is there a rhyhm or reason to this? I've noticed it mainly on the Sears version of the console but have seen it on "regular" Atari versions as well. See here, for example. Thanks for any input! Just curious. Dan