Microbee PC85 computer and circuit board
Object No. 2013/94/1
The Microbee PC85, despite its unassuming appearance, represents a zenith in the success of computing in Australia in the 1980s. The PC85 was designed and manufactured by the Microbee Systems company, which just half a decade earlier, was a shop front in suburban northern Sydney selling electronics supplies to hobbyists. The PC85 was developed to directly compete with Apple computers, Commodore computers, and other US giants such as IBM, and considering the vast differences in financial backing, Microbee were quite successful. The PC85 had a user friendly, full colour interface and included nine programs as standard - MicroWord BASIC, Help ROM, Wordbee, Telcom, Self Test Program, Calculator, Machine Code Monitor, and PC85 Menue Program. It was also designed to be a multi-purpose computer - used for study, business and gaming. In the mid 1980s, Microbee was a smart and successful Australian enterprise, publishing computing literature, and expanding into the northern European, Asian and Russian markets. The company Applied Technology, once the entrepreneurial and technical talents of Owen Hill and Matthew Starr in particular flourished, quickly evolved into a large and progressive business which was designing and manufacturing affordable computer technology, with a philosophy of engaging the client after sale. Owen Hill secured contracts to supply the Department of Education with Microbee computers, and further, contracts with Swedish, Asian and Russian schools. Microbee Systems, as the company called itself from the early 1980s, was a victim, along with the majority of computer manufacturers world wide, of the IBM clone computer, and Microsoft establishing widely accepted compatibility with its software. Once again though, the Microbee has become the interest of hobbyists interested in vintage computers and software. Damian McDonald Curator September 2013
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Summary
Object Statement
Computer, and circuit board, for Microbee PC85, plastic / metal / electronic components, made by Microbee Systems, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia, 1985
Physical Description
The microbee computer consists of a flat, rectangular keyboard comprising a beige moulded plastic housing with a standard QWERTY alphanumeric keyboard. The keys are made of cream-coloured plastic with black lettering and a black plastic with cream lettering for the function keys. At the rear of the unit is a series of multi pin jacks for the power supply unit, cassette, visual display unit, monitor, printer and modem, with the circuit boards visible throught a grate in the casing. The top centre of the keyboard displays, 'MICROBEE' and the bee logo, with two stickers on either side, 'Premier Series' and 'PC85'. The underside of the keyboard has four small rubber feet and an embossed panel, 'MICROBEE MODEL II / c 1982 MICROWORLD PTY LTD / SERIAL NUMBER No072546'.
DIMENSIONS
Height
65 mm
Width
360 mm
Depth
240 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
This computer was designed and manufactured by Microbee Systems, formerly Applied Technology, in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia, in 1985. This particular unit was the last Microbee PC85 to have been produced.
HISTORY
Notes
This Microbee PC85 was kept by Owen Hill, who in 1978 began work at an electronics supplier - Applied Technology - and built a computer he had designed. The kit computers Mr Hill designed were popular with hobbyists, but at the same time Apple, Commodore and several other US companies were selling complete computer systems, which negated specialist computer knowledge, and thus were selling to a much wider market. In 1982, fully assembled Microbees were on the market, and, with the assistance of Department of Education contracts, the company expanded greatly. A factory was opened at Gosford in New South Wales to manufacture Microbee computers, and the company continued to expand. Mr Hill kept this particular PC85 because it was the very last Microbee PC85 to be manufactured.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mr Owen Hill, 2013
Acquisition Date
2 October 2013
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