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Microsystems International Ltd. Collection
Historical Note:
Microsystems International Ltd., or MIL (1969-1975) was a semiconductor company based in
Ottawa. MIL developed three microcomputers: the CPS/1 (1972, 4-bit), MOD8 (1974, 8-bit),
and MOD80 (1975, 8-bit).
The CPS/1 was one of the earliest microcomputers. It was based on the 4-bit MIL MF7114 microprocessor developed by MIL between mid-1970 and mid-1972. Only a few CPS/1 systems
were built and sold.
The MOD8 microcomputer, developed in 1974, was based on the MIL MF8008 8-bit
microprocessor. The MOD8 (as well as its refinement
-- the MOD80) consisted of of the MOD8-8 PCB backplane mounted in an aluminum
case. The backplane contained the Eprom programmer and nine connectors for the
CPU, memory, interface, and I/O cards.
The MOD8 computer and its MONITOR8 software were aimed at the development of
the MF8008-based applications. To MIL's surprise, it was the North American
computer enthusiasts who made the MOD8 a popular 8008-based microcomputer
kit in 1975-1976. MIL's MF8008 Applications Manual which, among
other things, contained the MONITOR8 listing, was one of the most widely
read early documents on 8-bit microprocessors.
The MOD8 influenced other early microcomputer designs for the hobbyists' market
such as the Mike2 computer from Martin Research or a range of C-MOD computers
from Celetron Corporation which were sold by MiniMicroMart of Syracuse, NY.
"While MIL is long gone, their system concept will live on."
[MiniMicroMart, Product Bull., September 1976.
Scope and Content:
MIL collection concentrates on MIL microcomputers: CPS/1, MOD8, and MOD80.
The collection contains hardware, software, manuals, technical reports,
and other documents. For research purposes, the collection also includes a list of important
related items that, at present, are not in the collection.
Acquisition:
The artifacts were obtained by YUCoM from several individuals including
John Freeman, John Hackman, Kelly Hamilton, William Kindree, Mark Silver
and Zbigniew Stachniak.
Index Terms:
microcomputer, microprocessor, computer hobby movement, CPS/1, MOD8, MOD80,
MF7114, MF8008
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Collection Content |
| HARDWARE
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- MOD8 microcomputer
- MOD80 microcomputer with a variety of additional home made boards
and passive backplane
- MP-1 chip set (it includes the MF7114 microprocessor)
- MF8008 microprocessor
- various MIL integrated circuits including MF7114 and MF8008 CPUs and MF1702A Eproms.
- MOD8-8 backplane
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| HARDWARE NOT IN YUCoM COLLECTION
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- MF8080 microprocessor
- C-MOD 8 system by Celetron
- C-MOD 6800 Mini System by Celetron
- C-MOD Z80 CPU System by Celetron
- C-MOD 80 and C-MOD 80-1 (8080 CPU cards), C-MOD 6800 (Motorola 6800 CPU
board),
C-MOD Z80 (Zlog Z80 CPU board), C-MOD 8-2 (P/IO board), C-MOD 8-4
(2K 1702A PROM board), C-MOD 8-5 (2K-2102 RAM board),
C-MOD 8-5-4K (4K RAM board),
C-MOD 8-6 (input ports board), C-MOD 7 (output ports board), C-MOD 8-9
(4K RAM/PROM/ROM board), C-MOD 8-18 (backplane, bus system for
C-MOD 8/80 system)
- C-MOD 8-22 interface board
- C-MOD Audio Cassette Interface
- C-MOD Scientific Calculator Interface
- C-MOD 8-118-1702A PROM Programmer
- ASCII to BAUDOT converter board interfaced to
C-MOD bus structure
- C-MOD PIA/ACIA board
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| MANUALS and GUIDES
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- Short Form Catalogue Catalogue, Bulletin 80001, Microsystems International Ltd., March 1971.
- Selected Linear I.C. Catalogue, Bulletin 80004A,
Microsystems International Ltd., 1974 edition.
- MF8008 Central Processing Unit Applications Manual,
Microsystems International Ltd., preliminary edition, 1974(?).
- MOS Memory Catalogue, Bulletin 80005, Microsystems
International Ltd., 1974.
- MF8008 Central Processor Applications Manual, Bulletin 80007,
Microsystems International Ltd., 1974 edition.
- MOD8 Manual, Moducomp Inc., 1975(?)
- MOD80 Supplement, Moducomp Inc., 1975(?)
- GNC 8: Modular Micro Computer User's Manual, Great Northern
Computers Ltd., 1975
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| SOFTWARE and HARDWARE NOTES
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- The MOD 8 Data Package , by Robert Swartz (1975). It includes:
- The MOD 8 Data Package cover page
- MOD 8-8 Backplane/PROM Programmer documentation
- Audio Cassette/MOD8 Interface
- Errors in MIL Application Manual, Bulletin 80007 - 1974
Edition
- Helpful Hints in Getting a Running System
- MOD 8 Parts List, 1/5/75
- Additional Notes on MOD 8MIL.htm
- The MOD 80 CPU board schematic diagram and board layout; designed
by Robert Swartz (1975), layout by Nano Systems, manufactured by
Space Circuits
- The MOD8 software and notes by Brother Thomas McGahee (1975/76):
- Notes on Using the MIL-MOD 8 System, 6 pages
- Minimal Monitor for Scientific Calculator, 12 pages
- How it Works: Parallel I/O for MOD-8, 14 pages
- Monitor-8P Parallel I/O, 8 pages
- Scientific Calculator Software, 36 pages
- Proposed C-MOD8-2P, (February 1976), 7 pages
- Datapak: LED Display, MiniMicroMart, 1976 (discusses LED display
board for MOD80, C-MOD 80)
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SOFTWARE
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- MONITOR 8 (on eight Intel 1702 Eproms)
- MONITOR 8 (2K x 8, 8316 ROM) from MiniMicroMart
(not in the YUCoM's collection)
- MONITOR 80 (3 2708 Eproms) from MiniMicroMart
(not in the YUCoM's collection)
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CORPORATE DOCUMENTS
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- Microsystems International Ltd. share certificate, February 23, 1970.
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MOD8/80 related articles in MiniMicroMart publications
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- MOD8 discussed in MiniMicroMart Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 2-3
- Monitor-8 Software including Audio Cassette Interface,
MiniMicroMart Technical Bulettin B101-4/75
- MOD8, C-MOD8/80 discussed in Special issue C A 75
- MONITOR 8 and Tape Cassette Interface for MOD8 discussed in
MiniMicroMart Newsletter, special issue C101A-5/75
- C-MOD 8 Boards, C-MOD 80 Boards: Modular
8 Bit Microprocessor , MiniMicroMart Product
Bulletin-A103-9/75
- RM 6800 -- C-MOD 6800 Mini System, MiniMicroMart
Product Bulletin (preliminary), November 1975
- C-MOD System>, Product Bulletin, Sep. 1976
- Monitor 80, 80A, and RM 8080 discussed in Product Bulletin, Nov. 1976
- C-MOD 80 system discussed in Product Bulletin, July, 1977
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MOD8/80 related articles in Toronto Association of Computer Enthusiasts
(TRACE) Newsletter
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- TRACE group purchase of MOD8 and MOD80 PCBs as well as MOD 80 based
TV typewriter and color graphics terminal; a note by B. Kindree,
TRACE Newsletter nr. 3, May 1976.
- MOD8/80 user group; a note by J. Szilock,
TRACE Newsletter nr. 4, June 1976.
- B. Kindree, MOD 8 and MOD 80 Bus Display Board.
TRACE Newsletter nr. 5, July 1976.
- B. Kindree, The MOD 8 and MOD 80 Microcomputers: a short summary.
TRACE Newsletter nr. 5, July 1976.
- A note on MOD80 CPU board by B. Kindree. TRACE Newsletter nr. 7,
August 1976.
- MOD 80 Tips, TRACE Newsletter nr. 8, October 1976.
- B. Kindree, From the Editor's Desk. A note on the status of TRACE MOD8/80
User's Group. TRACE Newsletter nr. 13, March 1977.
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