Acorn BBC Micro Model B

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The BBC Microcomputer was launched in December 1981 as part of the BBC's Computer Literacy Project. The Computer Literacy Project was created by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) to increase computer literacy and to encourage as wide a range of people as possible to gain hands-on experience with a microcomputer. The BBC Micro was very successful in the UK, selling over 1.5 million units, and was widely used in schools, with the large majority of schools having one.

As part of the project the BBC wanted to commission the development of a microcomputer that could accompany the TV programmes and literature. The BBC created a list of required specifications in early 1981, with companies including Acorn Computers, Sinclair Research, Tangerine Computer Systems, NewBury Laboratories and Dragon Data showing interest in the project. Acorn's bid won in March 1981 with their Proton prototype, which was being developed as the successor to the Acorn Atom. While the BBC Micro was launched in December 1981, production problems meant that deliveries of the computer were delayed.

The BBC Microcomputer, or the 'Beeb', is based on the 6502A microprocessor, which ran at 2MHz, and has 32K of ROM. The Model A shipped with 16K RAM and cost £299. The Model B shipped with 32K RAM and cost £399. The Model B featured higher-resolution graphics due to the higher RAM. Both models used the same circuit board, therefore making it possible to upgrade a Model A to a Model B. The machine's high cost was compensated for by its impressive expansion possibilities including disc drives, a second processor and network capabilities (Econet).

The BBC Micro used the BBC BASIC programming language, a version of the BASIC programming language. It was created mainly by Sophie Wilson for the BBC Micro

The BBC Micro is housed in a case which includes an internal power supply and a 64-key keyboard with 10 additional user-definable keys. On the back of the case there are ports for UHF out, video out, RGB, RS-423, cassette, analogue in and Econet.

"For me this was the machine that really got me into programming and micro electronics. The BBC Micro was developed by Acorn computers for the BBC who were embarking on an education programme for the UK called the "BBC Computer Literacy Project". The BBC made it their mission to have at least one of these machines available in every school in the UK.
 
The 'beeb' as it quickly became known as was fantastic for connecting to external equipment. It featured an anlogue 'joystick' port, a digital 'user' port, a 1Mhz bus connection, a 'tube' connection and a plethora of other connections. So many infact the the back of the machine ran out of space and they had to create a cut-away bay underneath the machine to accommodate them. But it was due to its connectivity and expandability that I really took to the beeb and started designing peripherals and software.
 
It was not a cheap machine. The BBC Model B sold for £399 on the high street in 1983 which was relatively expensive compared with other available machines like the Commodore 64 which sold for around £229. Regardless of the difference in price, because it was backed by the BBC, the beeb sold very well with over 1 million units sold."

Manufacturer: Acorn
Date: 1981



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Acorn BBC Micro Model B Manuals:

Item Manufacturer Date
Acorn - Genlock Modifications to the BBC Microcomputer Acorn Computers Unknown
BBC Micro User Guide - Provisional Copy Acorn Computer 1981
Microvitec - LCCD (Low Complexity Colour Display) Operating Instructions - Issue 2 Microvitec 18 Jun 1981
MEP - Control Basic Manual Micro-Electronics Education Programme 1982
Welcome FORTH for the BBC Micro HCCS Associates 1982
Service Manual for the BBC Microcomputer - Issue 2 Acorn Computer 1982
Acorn BBC Micro Disc System User Guide Acorn 1982
Acorn BBC Micro Service Manual - Issue 2 (2) Acorn Computers Limited Apr 1982
Acorn - The BBC Microcomputer - Disc System User Guide - Temporary Manual Acorn Computer May 1982
BBC Micro - Teletext System - User Guide (Provisional Issue) Acorn Computer 1983
Acorn - The Econet: A Local Area Network - Data Link Layer and Physical Layer Specifications Acorn Computers 1983
BBC Micro - Teletext System - User Guide Acorn Computer May 1983
Acorn Information Volume 1 July 1983 Jul 1983
CPM/2 2.2 with GSX Graphics Operating System Manual Sep 1983
Oasis SPP1000B Eprom Programmer Manual Sep 1983
VIEW Guide Acornsoft 1984
Into VIEW An introduction to word processing on the BBC Micro Acornsoft 1984
VIEWSHEET User Guide Acornsoft 1984
File Plan Feb 1984
Accountant Feb 1984
Memo Plan Feb 1984
Graph Plan Feb 1984
Nucleus System Generator Feb 1984
Acorn BBC Microcomputer Service Manual - Issue 4 Acorn Computer Jul 1984
SJ Research - Manual Excerpt on Econet Programming SJ Research 11 Feb 1985
Music 5000 Synthesiser User Guide Hybrid Technology 1986
BBC Master Series Reference Manual Part Two Acorn Computers Limited Jan 1986
BBC Master Series Reference Manual Part Two (Signed) Acorn Computers Limited Jan 1986
BBC Master Series Reference Manual Part One (Signed) Acorn Computers Limited Mar 1986
BBC Master Series Reference Manual Part One Acorn Computers Limited Mar 1986
AMPLE Nucleus Programmer Guide Hybrid Technology 1987
The Concise BBC Microcomputer Service Manual Acorn Computers Ltd Jan 2011

Magazines RELATED to Acorn BBC Micro Model B in our Library

Item Manufacturer Date
REM 80 - Volume 6, Issue 3 The North West TRS-80 Users Group Unknown
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 4, Number 8 - January / February 1986 Beebug Unknown
The Micro User - May 1985 - Vol 3 No 3 Database Publications Ltd Unknown
Your Computer - January 1982 Jan 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 1 - April 1982 - First Edition Beebug Apr 1982
Laserbug - Issue 1 - April 1982 Laserbug Apr 1982
Your Computer - May 1982 May 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 2 - May 1982 Beebug May 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 3 - June 1982 Beebug Jun 1982
The War Machine Issue No. 8 - June 1982 Jun 1982
OWL Issue 1 - June 1982 WL Jun 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 4 - July 1982 Beebug Jul 1982
Personal Computer World - July 1982 Jul 1982
Acorn User - July/August 1982 1 Jul 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 5 - September 1982 Beebug Sep 1982
Acorn User - September 1982 6 Sep 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 6 - October 1982 Beebug Oct 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 7 - November 1982 Beebug Nov 1982
Personal Computer World - November 1982 Nov 1982
Acorn User - November 1982 Nov 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 8 - December 1982 /January 1983 Beebug Dec 1982
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 9 - February 1983 Beebug Feb 1983
Beebug Newsletter - Volume 1, Number 10 - March 1983 Beebug Mar 1983
BBC Micro User - March 1983 - FIRST EDITION Database Publications Ltd Mar 1983
BBC Micro User - April 1983 - Vol 1 No 2 Database Publications Ltd Apr 1983
Personal Computer World - April 1983 Apr 1983
BBC Micro User - May 1983 - Vol 1 No 3 Database Publications Ltd May 1983
The Micro User - June 1983 - Vol 1 No 4 Database Publications Ltd Jun 1983
The Micro User - July 1983 - Vol 1 No 5 Database Publications Ltd Jul 1983
Personal Computer World - August 1983 Aug 1983
The Micro User - August 1983 - Vol 1 No 6 Database Publications Ltd Aug 1983
Practical Computing - September 1983 Sep 1983
The Micro User - September 1983 - Vol 1 No 7 Database Publications Ltd Sep 1983
The Micro User - October 1983 - Vol 1 No 8 Database Publications Ltd Oct 1983
The Micro User - November 1983 - Vol 1 No 9 Database Publications Ltd Nov 1983
The Micro User - December 1983 - Vol 1 No 10 Database Publications Ltd Dec 1983
The War Machine Issue No. 24 - January/February 1984 Jan 1984
The Micro User - January 1984 - Vol 1 No 11 Database Publications Ltd Jan 1984
Personal Computer World - February 1984 Feb 1984
The Micro User - February 1984 - Vol 1 No 12 Database Publications Ltd Feb 1984
The Micro User - March 1984 - Vol 2 No 1 Database Publications Ltd Mar 1984
The War Machine Issue No. 25 - March/April 1984 Mar 1984
The Micro User - April 1984 - Vol 2 No 2 Database Publications Ltd Apr 1984
The Micro User - May 1984 - Vol 2 No 3 Database Publications Ltd May 1984
The War Machine Issue No. 26 - May/June 1984 May 1984
The Micro User - June 1984 - Vol 2 No 4 Database Publications Ltd Jun 1984
Acorn User - June 1984 1 Jun 1984
The Micro User - July 1984 - Vol 2 No 5 Database Publications Ltd Jul 1984
Practical Computing - July 1984 Jul 1984
Acorn User - July 1984 1 Jul 1984
The Micro User - August 1984 - Vol 2 No 6 Database Publications Ltd Aug 1984
Acorn User - August 1984 1 Aug 1984
The Micro User - September 1984 - Vol 2 No 7 Database Publications Ltd Sep 1984
Personal Computing Today - October 1984 1 Sep 1984
The Micro User - October 1984 - Vol 2 No 8 Database Publications Ltd Oct 1984
Acorn User - October 1984 1 Oct 1984
The Micro User - November 1984 - Vol 2 No 9 Database Publications Ltd Nov 1984
Acorn User - November 1984 1 Nov 1984
The Micro User - December 1984 - Vol 2 No 10 Database Publications Ltd Dec 1984
Acorn User - December 1984 1 Dec 1984
The Micro User - January 1985 - Vol 2 No 11 Database Publications Ltd Jan 1985
The Micro User - February 1985 - Vol 2 No 12 Database Publications Ltd Feb 1985
The Micro User - March 1985 - Vol 3 No 1 Database Publications Ltd Mar 1985
The Micro User - April 1985 - Vol 3 No 2 Database Publications Ltd Apr 1985
The Micro User - June 1985 - Vol 3 No 4 Database Publications Ltd Jun 1985
The Micro User - July 1985 - Vol 3 No 5 Database Publications Ltd Jul 1985
The Micro User - August 1985 - Vol 3 No 6 The Micro User 1 Aug 1985
Acorn User - September 1985 Sep 1985
Personal Computer World - November 1985 1 Nov 1985
The Micro User - December 1985 - Vol 3 No 10 The Micro User Dec 1985
University of Cambridge Computing Service January/February 1986 Newsletter 123 1986
The Micro User - January 1986 - Vol 3 No 11 Database Publications Ltd Jan 1986
Acorn User - February 1986 Feb 1986
Personal Computer World - February 1986 Feb 1986
The Micro User - February 1986 - Vol 3 No 12 Database Publications Ltd Feb 1986
Acorn User - March 1986 Mar 1986
A & B Computing - March 1986 Argus Mar 1986
Acorn User - April 1986 Apr 1986
The Micro User - April 1986 - Vol 4 No 2 Database Publications Ltd Apr 1986
The Micro User - May 1986 - Vol 4 No 3 Database Publications Ltd May 1986
The Micro User - June 1986 - Vol 4 No 4 Database Publications Ltd Jun 1986
Personal Computer World - June 1986 1 Jun 1986
The Micro User - July 1986 - Vol 4 No 5 Database Publications Ltd Jul 1986
ULCC News July 1986 Newsletter 201 Jul 1986
Acorn User - August 1986 Aug 1986
Acorn User - September 1986 Sep 1986
The Micro User - December 1986 - Vol 4 No 10 The Micro User Dec 1986
The Micro User - February 1987 - Vol 4 No 12 Database Publications Ltd Feb 1987
The Micro User - April 1987 - Vol 5 No 2 Database Publications Ltd Apr 1987
A&B Magazine - April 1987 Argus Apr 1987
The Micro User - May 1987 - Vol 5 No 3 Database Publications Ltd May 1987
The Micro User - June 1987 - Vol 5 No 4 Database Publications Ltd Jun 1987
A&B Magazine - June 1987 Argus Jun 1987
The Micro User - July 1987 - Vol 5 No 5 Database Publications Ltd Jul 1987
A&B Magazine - July 1987 Argus Jul 1987
A&B Magazine - September 1987 Argus Sep 1987
Archive - Vol 1, No 1 - October 1987 Norwich Computer Services Oct 1987
A&B Magazine - October 1987 Argus Oct 1987
The Micro User - November 1987 - Vol 5 No 9 Database Publications Ltd Nov 1987
The Micro User - December 1987 - Vol 5 No 10 The Micro User Dec 1987
The Micro User - March 1988 - Vol 6 No 1 Database Publications Ltd Mar 1988
The Micro User - September 1988 - Vol 6 No 7 Database Publications Ltd Sep 1988
Personal Computer World - March 1989 1 Mar 1989
The Micro User - April 1989 - Vol 7 No 2 Database Publications Ltd Apr 1989
Acorn - Healthcare News 5 - September 1989 Acorn Computers Limited Sep 1989
The Micro User - January 1990 - Vol 7 No 11 Database Publications Ltd Jan 1990
The Micro User - July 1990 - Vol 8 No 5 The Micro User Jul 1990
Acorn User - August 1987 25 Mar 2009
Acorn User - March 1988 25 Mar 2009
Acorn User - August 1983 25 Mar 2009
Acorn User - January 1985 1 Apr 2009
Acorn User - March 1985 1 Apr 2009
Acorn User - June 1985 1 Apr 2009
Acorn User - September 1983 7 Apr 2009
Acorn User - August 1988 27 May 2009
Acorn User - September 1988 27 May 2009
Acorn User - October 1988 27 May 2009
Acorn User - November 1988 27 May 2009
Acorn User - December 1988 27 May 2009
Acorn User - February 1989 27 May 2009
Acorn User - March 1989 27 May 2009
Acorn User - May 1989 27 May 2009
Acorn User - June 1989 27 May 2009
Acorn User - September 1989 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - November 1989 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - December 1989 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - March 1990 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - May 1990 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - July 1990 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - September 1990 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - January 1991 3 Jun 2009
Acorn User - August 1991 10 Jun 2009
Acorn User - October 1991 10 Jun 2009
Acorn User - April 1992 10 Jun 2009
Acorn User - May 1992 10 Jun 2009
Acorn User - September 1992 17 Jun 2009
Acorn User - July 1997 15 Jul 2009
The Micro User - August 1990 - Vol 8 No 6 The Micro User 27 Oct 2009

Other Systems Related To Acorn BBC Micro Model B:

Item Manufacturer Date
Acorn NetStation Proton Xavier Acorn Computers Unknown
Acorn 6502 Microcomputer Board Acorn Computers Ltd 1979
Acorn System 1 Acorn Computers March 1979
Acorn System 1 Acorn Computers Ltd March 1979
Acorn System 1 (Chris Turner) Acorn Computers Ltd March 1979
Acorn System 3 Acorn 1980
Acorn Atom (Blue Box) Acorn 1980
Acorn Atom (White Box) Acorn 1980
Black Acorn Atom Acorn January 1980
Acorn BBC Micro Model A (Issue 2 Board) Acorn Computers Ltd 1981
Acorn BBC Micro Model A - Issue 1 Acorn 1981
Acorn BBC Micro Model B Hong Kong Acorn 1981
Acorn BBC Micro Model A Acorn 1981
Busicomputers Prophet 3 Acorn Computers Ltd 1982
Acorn System 4 Acorn Computers Ltd 1982
German BBC Micro (GNB09) Acorn 1982
Busicomputers Prophet 2 Acorn 1983
Acorn Cambridge Workstation Acorn 1983
Acorn Business Computer (ABC) (Prototype) Acorn Computers 1983
Acorn System 5 Acorn Computers Ltd 1983
Acorn Business Computer (ABC 110) Acorn 1983
Acorn Electron (Trial ROM From Astec) Acorn Computers Ltd May 1983
Acorn Electron with Turbo Board Acorn July 1983
Acorn Electron (Box with Tile Design) Acorn July 1983
Acorn Electron (Production Mock Up) Acorn Computers Ltd July 1983
Acorn Electron (Trial ROM) Acorn Computers Ltd July 1983
Acorn Electron Acorn July 1983
Acorn Electron (German) Acorn July 1983
BBC Micro B+ 128K + 48K ROM Acorn 1984
Acorn BBC Micro Model B+ 64K (Acorn R&D) Acorn 1984
US BBC Micro (UNB09) Acorn October 1984
Acorn BBC Micro Model B+ (128K) Acorn July 1985
Acorn BBC Micro Model B+ (64K) Acorn July 1985
Acorn Econet Terminal Acorn Computers Ltd 1986
BBC Master Used on Microlive Acorn Computers 1986
Acorn BBC Master 512 Acorn 1986
Acorn A500 Acorn 1986
Acorn BBC Domesday System Acorn Computers Ltd 1986
Acorn BBC Master 128 Acorn February 1986
Acorn - BT Merlin M2105 Acorn Computers / British Telecom 13th May 1986
Acorn BBC Master Compact Acorn September 1986
Acorn BBC Master Compact Prototype Acorn Computers September 1986
Acorn Archimedes A410/1 Acorn 1987
Acorn AEH02 Archimedes NSM Acorn Computers Ltd 1987
Acorn Archimedes 310 Acorn 1987
Acorn Archimedes 305 Acorn 1987
Acorn Archimedes 310 (Arthur 1.2 Installed) Acorn 1987
Acorn Archimedes 440 Acorn Computers July 1987
Acorn A680 Acorn 1988
Acorn Archimedes A500 Acorn 1988
Acorn A3000 Acorn 1989
Acorn Archimedes A440/1 Serial No. 1000001 Acorn Computers May 1989
Acorn Archimedes A440/1 Acorn Computers May 1989
Acorn A3000 (Learning Curve Box) Acorn May 1989
Acorn A3000 (Original Spec) Acorn Computers 1st May 1989
Acorn A3000 Laservision System Acorn 1st May 1989
Acorn R140 Acorn June 1989
Acorn R260 Acorn Computers 1990
Acorn A5000 ALB55 Acorn 1991
Acorn A5000 ALB35 Acorn 1991
Acorn A4000 Acorn January 1991
Acorn A4 Laptop (Prototype 1 of 7) Acorn Computers 1992
Acorn A4 Laptop Acorn 1992
Acorn A3020 Acorn January 1992
Acorn A4000 Acorn September 1992
Acorn A3010 Acorn September 1992
Semerc Acorn A4000S Acorn September 1992
Acorn Risc PC 600 Prototype Motherboard Acorn Computers 1994
Acorn Risc PC 600 Acorn April 1994
Acorn Risc PC 600 ACB25 Acorn April 1994
Acorn Risc PC 600 ACB45 Acorn April 1994
Acorn RISC PC 600 (Proto 6) Acorn 1995
Acorn RISC PC 600 - Prototype Acorn Computers 1995
Acorn A7000+ Acorn 1995
Acorn A7000 Acorn 1995
Acorn SchoolServer Acorn Ltd 1995
Acorn RISC PC700 System Acorn July 1995
Acorn Risc PC 600 ACB60 Acorn July 1995
Acorn StrongARM RiscPC Acorn 1996
Acorn Stork Notebook Acorn Computers Ltd 1996
Acorn Xemplar Matrix NC Acorn 1996
Acorn Fast NC - Serial Number 1 Acorn Computers Ltd 1996
Acorn NetStation NC Acorn November 1996
Acorn Phoebe Acorn Computers 1998
Acorn DeskLite Prototype Acorn Computers June 1998

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH182. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 

Acorn BBC Micro Model B

  Book Archive   [254]
  Games Archive   [1476]
  Software Archive   [1017]
  Type-in Listings   [12]
  Peripherals   [248]
  Promotional Items   [18]

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Memories - Notes by a physicist who dabbled with computers - John Yates
Memories - Working with the Commodore PET and the BBC Micro by Dr Geoff Luxford
Article - Cassette Recording with the BBC Micro

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