2600 joystick/controller variations over the years?

[spacecadet]

How many different "official" Atari 2600 controller variations are there out there? I mean the sticks that were both packaged with the system and sold by Atari as replacement sticks - not any third party sticks. And what systems came with what controllers as pack-ins? Did all 2600's come with both joysticks and paddles?

 

I'm asking because I've got several 2600 systems and I'd like to at least be reasonably sure they've all got their original controllers - I think they do, but I'm not sure and if I knew what was supposed to go with them, I could go out and find those controller variants if I had to.

 

I have a Sears heavy sixer, a 4 switch Atari VCS, and a 2600 Jr. When I got my Sears model it was packaged with two sticks that seem better built and have a lot more play in the stick than my other 2600 sticks - I am reasonably sure these are the original 1977 sticks. When did they stop making these? Are the heavy sixers the only model that came with these, and did all heavy sixers have these or did they change the design before changing the design of the system itself? (Also, are the Sears joysticks exactly the same as sticks sold with Atari models? There's no brand name anywhere on mine.)

 

My 4 switch model has the more common, stiffer sticks but otherwise they look the same. Same goes for my 2600 Jr., although I only got one stick with this and no paddles. (I think that's actually right.)

 

My paddles all look the same - were these ever changed?

 

I know some Atari sticks say "TOP" on them, and some of them have a white ring around the base instead of an orange one. What systems were these packed in with? And is there any difference between sticks Atari sold separately as replacements and sticks packaged with systems?

 

Thanks for helping a curious and obsessive collector.

[sandmountainslim]

I know the Vader unit came with two joysticks and no paddle controllers as I went seven or eight years without paddles when I got it and I am pretty sure the Atari Jr. only had one joystick with it and all other models had joysticks and paddles, I could be wrong on this but as I understand it thats how it went

sms

[Mindfield]

Externally, very little changed over the years. About the only obvious changes as far as appearance is concerned is the elimination of the hex disc insets atop the boots and addition of "Top" at the north position of the joystick for models after the heavy sixer, and then the elimination of the orange trim with the introduction of the vader model. The only significant change paddles went through visually was that the first-year models had the Atari logo and name on the left side of the label ("Sears" for sears models), and all subsequent models replaced that with "Tennis." Same goes for the Driving Controllers (Atari/Sears logo replaced with "Driving")

 

Internally, first-year joysticks were a bit different. The fire button was mounted on a much larger spring and had much more play than subsequent models, which used a very small spring. Other than that, not much changed for any of the devices. Paddles often used different varieties of potentiometers. They all worked the same, but their construction was slightly different from model to model -- usually in very significant ways (such as models with four or six tabs holding the top of the pot assembly in place). I can't speak for driving controllers; I've never been able to open up the internal assembly to find out, so I'm not even sure what kind of mechanism they use (except that I know it isn't an infinite pot).