Intel 8008 Microprocessor began as a 'Computer Terminal Corporation 2200" - an Electronic Data Terminal

Bugbooks

This is a poplar post and I updated it and reposted it. David Larsen

The first 8 bit Intel microprocessor -the 8008 was the result of designing the Computer Terminal Corporation "CTC 2200" logic into a single chip.  The CTC2200 was a successful project to design an electronic version of the 'workhorse' Teletype data terminal  of the 60/70s  - the Teletype was an all mechanical  communications terminal with hundreds of gears and levers. .  CTC contracted  Intel to design a microprocessor however the process was slow and CTC did not  use the design.The result was Intel had its first 8 bit microprocessor (8008).  See short story about the interesting origin of the 8008 at the end of this post.

We are fortunate to have this CTC 2200 in our computer collection and on display in the museum.

See video of this computer "CLICK"


  CLICK photo to enlarge

CTC2200 data terminal 

CTC's TTL-based desktop personal computer, called the Datapoint 2200, was unveiled in 1970, with cassette tapes for 130KB of mass storage and 8K of internal memory.

The first end user sale was to a chicken farmer in the South who programmed the CTC2200 to write payroll checks. So I you could say a chicken farmer was the first  user of a programmable microcomputer.

CTC 2200 with case removed

The CTC 2200 is densely packed with Small Scale Integrated circuits and other parts. The mechanical design seems to be well done and the unit is solid and sturdy. ( also very heavy )

CTC2200 keyboard

The design includes about 100 small scale integrated circuits along with discrete components- transistors - resistors -diodes and capacitors. In this photo you can see 4 printed circuit boards under the display and in back of the keyboard.  Their are 4 printed circuit boards under the tape deck area and 4 memory boards next to the CRT display.

CTC2200 back panel heat sink 

The unit was designed to fit in the same area as an IBM Selectric Typewriter. This did not give much room and the unit is packed with cards and circuits.

Here you see the large heat sink on the back of the terminal. It is heavy and weighs about 40 lbs.

CTC2200 memory cards

The 4 memory cards each contain 4Kb of RAM for a total of 16 Kb. The CTC2200 machines with 16Kb sold for $16,000.

CTC2200 cassette tape decks

The unit had  2 read-write cassette decks for 130KB of mass storage.

CTC2200 CRT HV and driver circuits

A view of the high voltage for the CRT and Memory area.

CTC2200 serial # 498 on PC board 

The only serial number I have found so far is 498 on the corner of this card.






Here is some great research about the first microprocessor - Ken Shirriff's Blog 


Short story about the origin of the Intel 8008 microprocessor.

The Teletype was the communications terminal used from the late 50's until in the 80s - first as a data  terminal connected to the telephone system with a modem. It was used to send messages to users and mostly for sending and receiving telegrams. Later the Teletype was used for a minicomputer printer and paper tape punch to store the data.  Long distant voice calling  were so expensive and unreliable it was rarely used  in the 50's and 60s'.

The Teletype was a totally mechanical device that could decode 8 bit data strings - ASCII code - and print all capital letters on paper & also punch paper tape for permanent Storage of the data. The Teletype could also read the paper tape and convert the code into the 8 bit serial ASCII data for transmitting over a telephone line using a modem. The word Byte for 8 bits of data most likely came from this sending and receiving alphabetic characters as 8 bits of data.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 CLICK photo to enlarge

Teletype 

The Teletype was a great invention however it was a mechanical monster with 100's of cams and levers that could and failed often. It was a mechanical device and very noisy & distracting in and office.

In the end of 1960's, 2 graduates at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, Harry Pyle and Victor D. Poor, came up with the idea of a high density integrated circuit which would be programmable. Harry and Victors ideas were used to create the logic of the CTC2200 and this became the code for the 8008 microprocessor. When transistors and more importantly integrated circuits became available and all electronic version of the Teletype became possible.

The Computer  Terminal Corporation produced an electronic replacement for the Teletype the "CTC 2200". The CTC 2200 was actually programmable terminal using a custom designed 8 bit computer. The computer was made from discrete components and and small scale integrated  circuits. Microprocessors had not been  designed in the late 60's when the CTC2200 was developed.

The engineers at CTC did have the idea to put the computer logic they had designed into the CTC2200 on a single chip  - making a microprocessor.  A design team went to Intel to have them design and make a microprocessor  using the logic in the CTC2200. Robert Noyce of Intel when approached with this project did not like the idea as he thought a computer on a chip would hurt the memory chip market of Intel by competing with computer makers using the Intel memory chips.  However Robert Noyce did agree to make the chip for $50,000.

The CTC engineers also went to Texas Instruments and ask them to make the same chip to be sure they had a backup source.  The Texas Instrument chip did not function properly and was not used. The Intel chip was a long time in development. The CTC team decided to just build the 2200 terminal with there current design of about 100 small scale integrated circuits and give up the rights to the intellectual property rights for the   Intel microprocessor design --and did not pay the $50,000 to Intel.  Giving up the intellectual rights to the microprocessor is among the worst business decisions ever.

Intel went ahead with the full development of the microprocessor and called it the 8008. The microprocessor used the same digital logic and operational software codes as CTC2200 .

The computer logic in the CTC2200 then was an original 8 bit computer that used the 8008 software code and was  the beginning  of 8 bit computers (8008 microprocessor) for Intel.

Here are some links to more complete stories of the CTC2200 / Intel story. Some of the information I used came from these references.
Computer World 
History of Computers
San Antonio "Express-News"
Wikipedia

Their is a lot more to this very interesting story of how the first Intel 8 bit 8008 microprocessor came about - here is the REST of the STORY 

I  remember for many years I did not think I would find a CTC2200 and wanted to have one for it is one of the first programmable microcomputers. During the late 80's I was able to find not only this fine example and the source also had a  model the CTC1100. The CTC 2200 and 1100 now are part of the "Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Collection"

 ^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian}     Send Message    Like us on Facebook  My Blog about hometown Floyd VA

8008 Microprocessor and how it became Intel's first 8 bit chip.

Updated 11-7-15
Here is a fascinating story about the how the Intel 8008 microprocessor chip became the first 8 bit chip designed at Intel. The 8008 microprocessor used the logic  of the Datapoint 2200 terminal.

Datapoint 2200 terminal 

The Datapoint 2200 terminal - was an 8 bit programmable computer that came to market in 1971 --- way before Apple, IBM or Microsoft.





Datapoint 2200 terminal - audio description of the terminal/ computer and the Datapoint Corporationa and the 8008 microprocessor.

   More information "CLICK"

Here is a good look at the Datapoint Corporation  and a good read - also a lot of early history about the first microprocessor chips and Intel.

"Datapoint - The lost story of the Texans Who Invented the Personal Computer Revolution" by Lamont Wood - ISBN 978-1-936449-36-1
(2010) 325 pages

This book is about "Computer Terminal Corporation" and later known as Datapoint.

If you are interested in the start of the microcomputer revolution and the history of the pioneers - this is a must read book. Amazon Link


Click photo to enlarge 

The Man Who Invented the PC,Invention & Technology, Fall 1994 , by Lamont Wood.

David Larsen

 I have 2 of  the Datapoint terminals in our museum and they always generate a lot of interest and questions for the curator.

           .^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian}

     Follow museum on Twitter   You can help me with a like on Facebook - Thank you 

EPROM - Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory - computer memory

info click

1702A EPROM

The first (1971) EPROM ( Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory ) 1702A changed computing forever. The 1702A is  Nonvolatile memory chip and does not lose its contents (program) when power is turned off.  RAM (Random Access Memory)  used at the time was volatile - the contents is lost every time power was turned off.  Being able to program the microcomputer and have the program or data stay resident when power is turned off was essential. The EPROM was invented by Dov Frohman of Intel in 1971, who was awarded US patent 3660819 in 1972.

Click on photo to enlarge

1702A EPROM

It is interesting to look though the quartz window of the EPROM integrated circuit (IC) at  the die inside. You can see the little gold wires that connect the die to the pins on the holder.  The quartz window allows the memory to be erased by exposing it to UV light and then it could be reprogrammed. More information about EPROM's "Wikipedia CLICK"



This is a revisit to EPROM's - see my earlier post "Vintage EPROM Memory 1702A -Made microcomputers, robotics and micro-controllers practical 1971 CLICK". 

1987 reciept for 359 EPROM's

In 1987 I purchased a nice collection of 359 EPROM's from Computer Surplus Store for $229.85.  This looks like a good deal today at 50 cents each.

1987 receipt for 359 EPROM's

Date & Price








Click on photo to enlarge

1702A 2708 EPROM

Here  are the 359 contained in 30 storage tubes. Almost all the EPROM's are the beautiful ones in a white ceramic package and gold pins.

This shows hoarding as I indicated in my last Blog.

1702A 2708 EPROM close view

A closer look at some of the 359 EPROM's.

I purchased these 28 years ago with the idea of using them to make a display plaque to put on a desk or hang on the wall. The white ceramic EPROM's with the clear quartz window a very interesting to view and with some additional photographs and history with the EPROM it would be an eye catcher for sure.

You can get a good look by CLICKING on the photo.


As you can see I have not made the displays using the 359 EPROM's and would like some help or suggestion about how to put them good use . Of course I could sell them on Ebay but that would not be much fun. Contact me here with your idea's "Contact David CLICK"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of the EPROM'S  in our inventory are in applications like the board below.
Click on photo to enlarge

menory card 2716 EPROM

I have hundred's or perhaps 1000's more of the EPROM'S in the museum warehouse. Many are in the nice white package.

Here is a typical use of EPROM's - this board contains (16) 2716 EPROM's . The operational program for this computer is contained in these 16 nonvolatile memory chips. The 2716 contains 16K Byte of memory.

Can someone help me identify this early microcomputer board??

2716 EPROM

Better view of the 2716 chips on the computer board shown above.






----------------------------------------------------------------------
A small collection of EPROM'S
Click on photo to enlarge

Intel 1702A EPROM

A small batch of 1702A chips unused in the original Intel Package. The package is also interesting and a collectible item.

Intel 1702A EPROM 

 New unused Intel 1702A EPROM chips.








-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a video I made in 2009 about the 1702A EPROM "CLICK"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Larsen

I have hundreds of EPROM's in the museum warehouse and many of them are still on computer boards like S100 memory cards. Please help with some innovative and interesting uses for all these beautiful IC's. Still having fun at 76 yrs. 

           .^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian} 

Acoustic Telephone Modem for Radio Shacks first computer 1977

To enlarge "CLICK" on photo

Radio Shack Modem 26-1171

I spotted this 'original still in the box'  first Radio Shack Acoustic Modem while browsing in my computer museum warehouse last week. Not a unique item but worth a little discussion.

Modems were developed to fill the need to connect a printing device to the telephone line. Devices with functions like modems were in use as early as the 1920's however the mass production of modems started in the 1950's. SAGE air-defense systems in 1958 used modems and the word modem to connect there large computers together in a network using telephone lines.

These early modems worked at slow speeds of 110 to 300 bits per second or as computer folks would say "baud" and not "bits per second".  These early modems had a very simple function of converting the tones that could be sent over telephone circuits into digital "One's (1) & Zero's (0).  This allowed two way digital communications over wires for very long distances.

Modems performance did not improve much until the microprocessor was embedded into the circuitry in the late 1970's.  Telephone modems were used by personal computer users & others until the World Wide Web or Internet became common use in the mid to late 1990's. With the use of embedded microprocessors the smart modem speed of data transmission over telephone circuits increased up to 14.4 Kilobits per second. Almost no one uses this type of telephone modems now except for Telephone/FAX machines.  FAX machines are dying out fast with the sending of text document over the Internet.

FAX machines may be in use for a long time as they have a different level of privacy then the Internet - not really private but also not as searchable as the Internet.

The word modem is still in use as a common device used to connect the Internet, DSL or other high speed data  links to computers and other digital devices.
To enlarge "CLICK" on photo

Radio Shack Modem 26-1171

This Radio Shack Modem has never been out of the box until now - 37 years after it was sold.

Radio Shack Modem 26-1171

This Radio Shack Modem is acoustic coupled to the telephone line and no electrical connection were made direct to the phone line.  The Acoustic coupling was not real efficent because of the extra telephone microphone and telephone ear receiver being coupled to the modem over and air link. The next photo shows this link.
The art deco telephone was also in the museum warehouse - The green color could not have been very popular however I will sure keep as cool example of the old rotary dial up telephone.

Radio Shack Modem 26-1171

Here you see how the telephone was placed into the rubber coupling of the receiver and transmitter on the modem - no electrical connection.  ATT had a monopoly and some government regulations did not permit direct connecting to the telephone line.

Of course many users ignored the regulation and made direct connections for a more efficient data transfer.


I expect Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs often made direct connection to the telephone line for some of their Blue Box calling to avoid paying the long distance tolls in the early 1970's.. The Steve's has a good little business selling their Blue Box's for short period of time.

Radio Shack Modem 26-1171 Manual 

The Manual was included in the box with modem and had a good description of the device and how it worked along with a schematic diagram.

Modem Manual Full Copy

TRS -80 Radio Shack Model 1 Computer

This Modem is most likely not made by Radio Shack but a private labeling of a general purpose Modem for the TRS- 80 Model 1 computer - the first Radio Shack computer - 1977.

 All the information you would want about Radio Shack from 1939 to 2011

Video of TRS 80 Model 1 advertisement 

Post update 3-17-15-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This post created a lot of interesting comments and email for me - These brought back  memories for me as I indicated I used the TRS - 80 model 1 for  number of years. Here is a typical email from 

Mark Andrews
"I remember these well. The local RS had one on display with the TRS Model I. I wrote, debugged and ran my first program on that computer in 1977 at the ripe old age of 14. I coded it on pape first, then rode my bike to the store and typed it in. Several debugging cycles later (and about 2 hours) I got it to run. The manager liked the fact that I was there. Shoppers would come in and he would say "Look! It's so easy that a kid can use it!". "
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While in the warehouse finding the Radio Shack Modem I came across these switches -they have been out of sight &  stored for 20 or 30 years.

Looks like the same switch used on the IMSAI 8080 computer and perhaps a few others. If any of you retro computer folks need one please contact me.

Computer front panel switch 

Computer front panel switch

Mostly red and a few black switches about 150 or so.







------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Larsen

It is always fun to look thought the computer museum warehouse. I have more then 10,000 items on the museum data base "Past Perfect". This is not fully complete so their are probably twice this many total items and having been collecting for over 40 years I sure don't remember just what is in the warehouse. 

           .^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian} 

     Follow museum on Twitter   You can help me with a like on Facebook - Thank you 

Vintage Computers - Microcomputers on display at "Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Museum".

info click

Here is a look at one of 20 display cases in our museum.
Updated 9-25-15
Click on photo to enlarge for good look

Case #5 Bugbook Computer Museum

Here are some of the older computers in our museum 

Most interesting 3 for me is in this display are the Mark 8 on right of second shelf down - then the 1972 Intel 8008 development system (Blue one on left 3rd shelf down )-
next is the Intellec 4 Intel 4004 development system on lower left. (9/25/15)We do not display our original Apple-1 computers  in the museum however we have added an operational Clone. We are in the process of restoring our original Apple-1 computers to be operating and fully functional. One completed at this time.



 Curator David describes computers in this showcase.

David Larsen

I wish I had more space for computers in our museum however I have tried to have the most interesting (only 3 % are on display ) 350 computers on display. Maybe someday I will have a much larger display or someone else may be able to put my collection on display in a more complete museum. It is still a real pleasure for me to have our little "Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Museum". 

.^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian}   
   Join museum on Twitter   Join museum on FB

Vintage computing - Who started the Personal Computer Revolution ??

"The Lost Story of the Texans Who Invented the Personal Computer Revolution"  a 327 page book by Lamont Wood & published in 2010.
Click on photo to enlarge

Datapoint book by Lamont Wood 

Bugbooks

This book is a fresh look at the early history of the microprocessor .  Specifically who had the idea for the first Intel 8 bit microprocessor chip. I just finished reading the book a found it to be fascinating and a new look at not only the Datapoint 2200 but also the start of the Intel microprocessor chips.

 July 10,1971 - The first desk top mass produced 8 bit computer with internal memory, keyboard, screen, mass storage, operating system, and communication ability. The Datapoint 2200 designed and marketed by "Computer Terminal Corporation" was really a personal computer that was priced way below the minicomputers that were the small computer market at that time. The idea for the Datapoint 2200 was based on plans as far back as 1968 - years before Bill Gate and Paul Allen started Microsoft or Steve Wozniak designed the Apple 1 microcomputer. The logic of the 2200 was the basis of the Intel 8008 chip.

Datapoint 2200 View Video "CLICK"

Lamont Wood tells a lot about the whole process of the Intel start up for the 4 bit and 8 bit microprocessors.  The developers at Computer Terminal Corporation took there design of the Datapoint 2200 to Intel. They contracted with Intel to develop a  single chip (Microprocessor ) version of the 8 bit computer in the 2200.   The  computer circuitry of the 2200 was made with about 100 small scale digital integrated circuits. A lot of Intel and other microprocessor history included in Lamont's book.

The founders of Computer Terminal Corporation (CTC)- Gus Roche, Phil Ray and Jack Frassanito  - had a great head start and could have been the current big boys in the personal computer business. However not being able to see the future of computing they gave up the rights to the microprocessor to Intel.  CTC did not redesign the Datapoint Terminal ( Computer ) to use the microprocessor chip and sold it for a many years with the original design using just small scale integrated circuits. Later models did use microprocessor chips but the company fell apart when some of the sales folks start to cook the books on sales. This underhanded operation by a few of the sales people caused the investors of Wall Street to pull the  plug on investment funds and this ended the great start of the Personal Computer business by CTC. February 1982 was the last good day for share prices of CTC.  CTC had over 9000 employees and was not a small company however it is only history at this time.

I recommend this book for people who are interested in the personal computer and microprocessor history before - Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs and IBM.  This is really an amazing story that most of us missed  that were working in the computer field during the early years - 1970 + .

The CTC 2200 story in really fascinating and not well known - you will like the book.

Here is an original Datapoint promotional movie - about 1980 "CLICK" 

To take a close look at the inside of the Datapoint 2200 view this video "CLICK"

Here is a link to Amazon for the book.

I want to thank Gordon Peterson who suggested this book and worked for CTC for about 9 years as a major software developer. Gordon wrote  "Local Area Network"  (LAN) software for the 2200. This was way before LAN's were available for the Apple and IBM personal computers. See some of his information here "CLICK". Gordon corrected information I had about the Datapoint 1100 - I was in error about some assumptions and also miss named the 1100 in some of my text as a 2100.

Here are Gordon's comments about the Datapoint 1100
 Gordon Peterson wrote:
--------------------
Of course you can use my comments!

The 1100 could do anything the 2200 could do, except for (of course) the cassette functions (since it lacked those).

The fact that this one was shipped with only a single diskette drive suggested that it wasn't doing a lot of data stuff... maybe serving more as a terminal or something... as opposed to (say) running Datashare with multiple terminals (a 2200 could support up to 8 serial terminals).  This 1100 might have been running DSREMOTE (perhaps) in a field office.  (These machines by the way were usually referred to as the "Diskette 1100").

It would have (almost certainly) been running DOS.C (2200 processor, diskette drive(s)) although in theory, one COULD have also attached a 2.5 (or even 25) Mb controller and drive(s) and then run either DOS.A or DOS.B (respectively) on it, although you would have had to boot from the floppy and then load the DOS.A or DOS.B bootstrap from the floppy.  I don't know that anybody ever actually did that.

BTW, just for point of interest, a 16K 2200 carried a list price of about $14,000 back then.

A (non-bundled) 2.5Mb disk controller and (DIablo Series 30-type) cartridge disk drive was about $9800 more.

 During the late 80's I was able to acquire a fine example of the model 2200 and a model 1100. The CTC 2200 and 1100 now are part of the "Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Museum"

 ^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian}     Send Message    Like us on Facebook  My Blog about hometown Floyd VA

Vintage Computers - The Datapoint 2200 & "Computer Terminal Corporation" THE REST OF THE STORY!!

Click on photo's to enlarge

Datapoint 2200 computer

Bugbooks

The Personal Computer Revolution started in San Antonio, Texas.

This blog was updated 3/26/16 and posted .

I received a very informative response from Gordon Peterson to my video about the "Computer Terminal Corporation"  (CTC) 2200 Terminal.  The famous radio personality Paul Harvey would say - here is the Rest of the story.  You can read Gordon's fascinating  reply below.  I purchased the book he recommend about the CTC story. WOW it is an exciting read. The CTC story and the people involved is really an important story about the creative effort & computer that started the Personal Computer Revolution and the first  8 bit microprocessor for Intel  ---- the 8008.  Here is my first blog about the Datapoint 2200 "CLICK"

Gordon worked for Datapoint for 9 years and had a inside view of the of personalities, creation of products and the rise & fall of the company.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is Gordon's response. 

Gordon Peterson Jun 11, 2014 • Computer Terminal Corporation 2200 - Start of Intel 8008 Microprocessor

The Datapoint 2200 was a revolutionary machine for a whole lot of reasons.  It was the first general-purpose computer designed for single-user, desktop use, and that looked more like a piece of office equipment than like a piece of exotic electronics.  I worked in Software Development / Advanced Product Development / R&D at Datapoint for more than 9 years, and it was a very rewarding time.   I designed and wrote the world's first commercially available LAN software there... the company sold over a billion dollars' worth of that product.  I also was the lead developer of the disk operating system there for several years.  A lot of us Datapoint folks are on the DatapointComputers Yahoogroup.  Also, there's a wonderful book about Datapoint's key role in the creation of personal computing... highly recommended.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Datapoint 1100

I was aware of "Computer Terminal Corporation" during my career teaching about instrumentation and computers at Virginia Tech however I seems to have missed a lot of the story. I am delighted to have one of the Datapoint 2200 on display in my museum. I also have a Datapoint 1100 in the computer warehouse that is in nice condition.

Book about Datapoint

"Datapoint - The lost story of the Texans Who Invented the Personal Computer Revolution" by Lamont Wood - ISBN 978-1-936449-36-1
(2010) 325 pages

If you are interested in the start of the microcomputer revolution and the history of the pioneers - this is a must read book.





More resource information:

Here is some great research about the first microprocessor - Ken Shirriff's Blog 

 Datapoint Wikipedia

Datapoint Group on Yahoo 

I  remember for many years I did not think I would find a CTC2200 and wanted to have one as it is one of the first 8 bit computers. During the late 80's I was able to find not only this fine example and the source also had a  CTC 1100. The CTC 2200 and 1100 now are part of the "Bugbook Historical Microcomputer Collection"

 ^{"by David Larsen"  KK4WW Computer Collector Historian}     Send Message    Like us on Facebook  My Blog about hometown Floyd VA