Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

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BrunoFlorindo
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Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by BrunoFlorindo »

In my continuing efforts to find people from the Timex-Sinclair past
I found two gentleman who were, at some point, the owners of Byte-
Back. This company used to make and sell interfaces for the ZX81,
TS1000, TS1500 and even the TS2068 here in the U.S. If you've seen the
Sync magazine you may have seen their ads as well. I will quote my
conversation with the two gentleman and post a link to a file that Mr
David Leech sent me. He was the last owner of Byte-Back, and has given
me permission to share all Byte-Back related material online.
On Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 5:07 AM, Jerry Minchey wrote:
Bruno,
Yes, I developed and sold accessories for the Timex computer. I
advertised in the Sync magazine. My company was called Byte-Back.
I had a modem, a 16k and a 64K memory module and an input/
output device called the BB-1 that had relays, and electronic inputs
and outputs to allow the computer to control external devices.
Contact David Leech in Batesburg, SC. He is the person I sold the Byte-
Back company to. I'm sorry that I don't have his email address.
Jerry Minchey
Date Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 9:02 AM
subject RE: Byte-Back
Bruno:
Gorilla Banana... I hadn't heard that name in years, even forgotten
about it. Yes there is/was an RS-232 driver for the modem and I can
recall watching the printer zip out a line every so often... which was
blazing fast at that time. Of course the modem software was primitive
because COMPUSERVE "on-line" was primitive at 300 baud. You could
almost type faster. Back then the "standard" RS232 and Centronics
wasn't even "standardized" making printer connection a real pain.
Well obviously you have found the source or more appropriately the
remnants of Byte-Back. And yes, my attic is filled with Byte-Back
items ranging from historic to recently historic (brand new in the
brown 8x8x4 plain cardboard box they used to ship in). I'm really
busy from now until at least the start of July, but will stop in at
the Yahoo group when I have a chance.
As for the scanning and publication of manuals and schematics, let me
think on that as it might be best to provide those myself to insure
the correct stuff gets out there if I can still find it.
Jerry Minchey started with the 16K memory, and then the modem and BB-1
controller. I got involved about that time (1981ish), then the design
was changed from the square box to the extruded aluminum design and
the UM-64 ultimate memory with battery backup and the revised MD-2
modem were added. Later I added the Centronics Printer port, the A/D
converter for the BB-1, and the Real Time clock. Of course with the
advent of the 2068, there were a few mods to make the items work, thus
the MD-68 modem, BB-68.....
I should be able to resurrect most if not all of the Byte-Back items
one way or another. Software might be the only issue as we all know
how well digital recording on cassette worked and how well cassettes
preserve over time.
If you don't hear from me sooner, check back with me in July.
But if there is a need for Byte-Back items, there is definitely hope,
its just a matter of finding a clear place to work and time to do it.
David Leech
Date: Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Subject: Byte-Back
Bruno Florindo
This is my second attempt at pdf formation of Byte-Back manuals. The
first was too large and crashed and burned in-rout to you.
Hope this arrives and is useful. Let me know. Please feel free to
post on your site (in its entirety with introductory page
"resurrecting Byte-Back 2009")
I will work on more as I have time. At least this is a start and you
now know I haven't forgotten you.
David Leech
And here's the file he sent me:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=C6AFJ7H0

This is proof that it isn't too late to preserve Timex-Sinclair
material, and that there are still a lot of nice people out there!
People who understand that we're trying to preserve their work, and
appreciate it.

Enjoy! :)
RWAP
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Re: Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by RWAP »

I would love to be able to still offer some of those Byte-Back add-ons for sale to ZX81 and TS owners - wouldn't that be terrific?
Bill H
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Re: Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by Bill H »

I'll have to dig my 64k expansion pack out of the closet but the name "Byte-Back" makes me think they were the manufacturer of it (it had no name).

Bill H
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BrunoFlorindo
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Re: Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by BrunoFlorindo »

At some point I'll have to e-mail Mr David and see if he had any luck in resurrecting the byte-back hardware. Sometimes I fear things may be lost before we have a chance to preserve them.
RWAP
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Re: Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by RWAP »

Did anyone preserve this information as megaupload is no longer available..... :evil:
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PokeMon
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Re: Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by PokeMon »

I would contact the FBI.
If this material was legal, they should email the file to you. :lol:

Or maybe Kim Schmitz has a copy somewhere. :mrgreen:
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BrunoFlorindo
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Re: Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by BrunoFlorindo »

E-mailed you the PDF file.
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BrunoFlorindo
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Re: Former maker of Sinclair add-ons in the U.S

Post by BrunoFlorindo »

Over the past few years a few forum members asked for the file. I hope this link works. Sorry if I take too long to reply to emails and PMs.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8VEOR ... sp=sharing
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