Beerbarian Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) Greetings all. Long time forum lurker/surfer/searcher, first time poster. After sitting on the fence about getting a Harmony cart for the best part of a decade while I continued to collect Atari 2600 carts, I finally took the plunge during these socially distanced times, and am having a blast catching up on homebrew experience on original hardware. However, this isn't what this post is about. I did a few searches to try and see if this topic was covered already, and I couldn't find it but please point me in the right direction if it has been. With my renewed enthusiam for all things VCS/2600, I'm obviously exposing myself to an increase in reading and video material on the topic. And in doing so, something has begun to bug me more and more of late. YouTubers from all over the world when discussing Atari seem to, more often than not, refer to the 1986 re-released Atari 2600 slimeline model as "sometimes referred to as the 2600 Junior", or "also known as" and other seemingly vague stances on it's name. The Wikipedia articles on the Atari 2600 makes multiple references to the Junior or Jr. part being "unofficial" and a nickname when it comes to this revision's name. Why? The underside label of my Atari 2600 Jr. actually has that listed as the model: CX-2600 JR. It's a PAL edition 'large rainbow'. If it's printed on the underside label that the model number is CX-2600 JR. , surely this means it's offical and not a nickname? When looking for more underside label photos, I found some on iFixit and on bubek.eu that don't explicitly list the model number as CX-2600 JR, but plenty of others do. Is it this labelling inconsistency that is causing people to assume Jr. / Junior is unoffical and a nickname? Edited June 18, 2020 by Beerbarian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 I'd say look for a box scan. I don't recall it being called a jr bitd, but I've no recollection of ever seeing the box anyways. The commercials just mentioned it as "the 2600" which wouldn't be definitive by any means. I figure most refer to it as a jr, simply because it's a smaller system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mr. Video Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Maybe the unofficial name was inspired by the model number? I've never seen the 2600 Jr. be officially referred to as such in any promotional material or packaging. I should check my 2600 jr. to see if it also has "CX-2600 JR." as its model number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerbarian Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, The Mr. Video said: Maybe the unofficial name was inspired by the model number? I've never seen the 2600 Jr. be officially referred to as such in any promotional material or packaging. I should check my 2600 jr. to see if it also has "CX-2600 JR." as its model number. I think this model number is EXACTLY why it's known as the Jr. It makes sense that it was not referenced specifically as the 2600 Jr. / Junior during it's sales cycle. That would probably have been a confusing brand strategy as it's a minor model name change. They wanted people to know it was the 2600, same as all other models, which functionally it was. My point is that Atari named this model the CX-2600 JR. therefore that has some officiality about it, label discrepancies not withstanding. To me, "heavy/light sixers", "woodies" and "Vaders" are all informal nicknames for sure, and it seems like Jr. is being lumped in with them, which I believe is an innaccuracy. Edited June 22, 2020 by Beerbarian typos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapitanClassic Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 6 hours ago, Beerbarian said: My point is that Atari named this model the CX-2600 JR. therefore that has some officiality about it, label discrepancies not withstanding. To me, "heavy/light sixers", "woodies" and "Vaders" are all informal nicknames for sure, and it seems like Jr. is being lumped in with them, which I believe is an innaccuracy. I dont think you read that correctly. "I should check my 2600 jr. to see if it also has "CX-2600 JR." as its model number" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Mine does not say jr. http://mvvg.blogspot.com/2019/12/2600-jr-photos.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high voltage Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Early European version, no JR mentioned 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerbarian Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 14 hours ago, CapitanClassic said: I dont think you read that correctly. "I should check my 2600 jr. to see if it also has "CX-2600 JR." as its model number" No, I read it correctly. He said he should check, inferring that it's a curiosity worth looking into. So we wait to see if he checks it and gets back to us. Not that it's going to be conclusive. Plenty of evidence from picture searches online suggests not all Jr. have CX-2600 JR. as the model on the underside sticker. But plenty do. I mainly quoted @The Mister Video to capture "Maybe the unoffical name was inspired by the model number?" and respond that I think it wasn't a maybe. Probably should have edited down. Was putting CX-2600 JR. as the model number on mine and lots of others a mistake? Or was leaving it out a mistake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerbarian Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 12 hours ago, 0078265317 said: Mine does not say jr. http://mvvg.blogspot.com/2019/12/2600-jr-photos.html Yes. There are label discrepancies for sure. But plenty do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerbarian Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 (edited) 8 hours ago, high voltage said: Early European version, no JR mentioned Lovely looking set. Is it yours? Out of curiosity, what does the underside sticker label say? Edited June 23, 2020 by Beerbarian Asking about ownership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerbarian Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 Some online auction examples with photos where model number is "CX-2600 JR." For a while I started to think it was only for some large rainbow editions, but this first one is a short rainbow one: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melville/other-video-games-consoles/vintage-atari-cx-2600-jr-game-console/1245662740 https://www.catawiki.com/l/12486993 https://picclick.co.uk/Atari-2600-Video-Computer-System-Complete-In-Original-133416532210.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambouis de l'Atari Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 If it can help drawing a bigger picture, mine does show JR. I guess it was a PAL one. Got it non functional, now hosting a rasp : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mr. Video Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 I've check the bottom of my 2600 jr. and it did not have the "CX-2600 jr." model number. In fact, I could find any model number on the bottom sticker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_79 Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 I still have the console I had a s a kid. I got it in 1985 and it's an early Jr. made in Ireland (note the "Atari, Inc" copyright). It came packaged in the smaller "lunchbox" style box, so it's a later production compared to the one in the large box posted by @high voltage above. The label on mine just says "model no. CX 2600", no "JR." So, Atari wasn't very consistent on this. But I agree that since it is printed on some labels, "Jr." can be considered an official designation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhedges Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 My brother's did not come with those joysticks. He got it on or around 1988? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_79 Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 AFAIK, in the US the Jr only came with the regular "cx40" joystick. In Europe it was initially packaged with the prolines, then the cx40 and finally the joypads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high voltage Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, Beerbarian said: Lovely looking set. Is it yours? Out of curiosity, what does the underside sticker label say? All mine: Oh yes, I never noticed it, or paid attention, it does say JR on the label. I'm gonna check all my JRs US version, no JR Asia 128 in 1 version, no JR Europe 32 in 1, Joypad version, no JR Europe all black, .....J.R. mentioned within the copyright patents Europe long rainbow, no JR Europe, short rainbow, Pro-line and......YES it says JR on the label Europe version, short rainbow, Joystick and …...YES, another JR on the serial label. Edited June 23, 2020 by high voltage 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerbarian Posted June 24, 2020 Author Share Posted June 24, 2020 (edited) Great Juniors collection @high voltage And interesting observations on your audit of the CX-2600 JR. model name. Atari seem to be really hit and miss with it... out of your 8 systems, 4 of them have offical JR. model name, 4 don't. I guess maybe we can put it down to US bias. Maybe the CX-2600 JR. name was only put on labels for certain runs of PAL systems? Similar to how it's often reported that the Junior was re-released in 1986, which is probably a US re-release timeframe since we know it was released in Europe earlier than that. Covered in length on older threads on here. I went looking again and found this Argos (UK retailer) catalog from Spring/Summer 1985.. and they called it the "JT" system. It can be found on page 213 of the catalog: https://issuu.com/retromash/docs/argos-no23-1985-springsummer/213 EDIT: I found the Atari 2600 Jr. (but listed as the "CX2600 Video Computer System") in the Autumn/Winter Argos catalog for 1984! https://issuu.com/retromash/docs/argos-no22-1984-autumnwinter/240 It's a very low res scan so the price is hard to make out, but I think it's £69.95 price. So was released in the UK/Ireland that year, but not at the 1986 "Fifty bucks" promotional price. I remember those TV adverts here in 1986 were the same unedited US version with the fifty bucks phrase and a dollar price shown, but the price was GBP 50 / IRP 50. However I got my own 2600 Jr. for my birthday in late summer 1985, replacing a broken VCS light sixer I had since 1983 but broke during Christmas '84. I checked the Spring/Summer catalog for the same year 1984, and it has the Vader model shown for £69.99 price: https://issuu.com/retromash/docs/argos-no21-1984-springsummer/216 Edited June 24, 2020 by Beerbarian grammar plus additional catalog links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high voltage Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 (edited) You put a lot of effort into it, well done. Still looking for this version, very rare: I got three 16 in 1 carts, and yes, they have the green label underneath sometimes. Edited June 24, 2020 by high voltage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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