Hybrid Excel ?
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Hybrid Excel ?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/252038306913 ... EBIDX%3AIT
I contacted the seller and asked him to look at the underside of the game
Note this machine has the red lettering of the Mach2, and it seems to
be showing model# 6097. However it does seem to indicate an Excel68000
on the top panel. I can't figure it out. The owner's manual is model#6094.
He's being rather ambitious with his asking price, but strange prices
are being sought and paid in recent times.
L
I contacted the seller and asked him to look at the underside of the game
Note this machine has the red lettering of the Mach2, and it seems to
be showing model# 6097. However it does seem to indicate an Excel68000
on the top panel. I can't figure it out. The owner's manual is model#6094.
He's being rather ambitious with his asking price, but strange prices
are being sought and paid in recent times.
L
- klute
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Re: Hybrid Excel ?
I believe this is an "Excel 68000 Club" sold in the UK only but which otherwise is a totally standard Excel 68000 as the rest of the world knows it.Larry wrote:However it does seem to indicate an Excel68000 on the top panel.
I think they contained the Excel 68000 "B" version program rather than the first slightly buggy "A" version program - it's not a "Mach" of any kind to the best of my knowledge.
UK collectors might be able to add more information or correct me if I'm mistaken.
The Klute offers you the white pieces and the advantage of the first move.
- spacious_mind
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Re: Hybrid Excel ?
Hi Cameron,klute wrote:I believe this is an "Excel 68000 Club" sold in the UK only but which otherwise is a totally standard Excel 68000 as the rest of the world knows it.Larry wrote:However it does seem to indicate an Excel68000 on the top panel.
I think they contained the Excel 68000 "B" version program rather than the first slightly buggy "A" version program - it's not a "Mach" of any kind to the best of my knowledge.
UK collectors might be able to add more information or correct me if I'm mistaken.
I am not so sure about that. Model 6097 is a Mach II. Also the "B" version is a Mach II.
There is a test that the seller could do:
[fen]1B1N4/p2n4/3P1P2/2nk1BP1/P7/N7/K3P2P/1Q6 w - - 0 0[/fen]
The different 68000 versions solved this in the following times.
◦Version A - Plays 1. e4? after 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
◦Version B - Plays correct move after 3 minutes and 35 seconds.
◦Version C1 - Plays correct move after 3 minutes and 24 seconds.
◦Version C2 - Plays correct move after 5 minutes and 3 seconds.
◦Version L.A. - Plays correct move after 5 minutes and 40 seconds.
Best regards
Nick
- klute
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Re: Hybrid Excel ?
What I mean is that there are two versions of the "bog standard" Model 6094 Excel 6800 - a (buggy) "A" version and a (fixed) "B" version.spacious_mind wrote:Model 6097 is a Mach II. Also the "B" version is a Mach II.
There is a test that the seller could do:
[fen]1B1N4/p2n4/3P1P2/2nk1BP1/P7/N7/K3P2P/1Q6 w - - 0 0[/fen]
The Model 6097 Mach II is a different animal and also had a (buggy) "A" version and a (fixed) "B" version.
In your test position, results should be as follows:
Model 6094 Excel 68000 "A" version - 2 min 45 sec (e2-e4)
Model 6094 Excel 68000 "B" version - 4 min 24 sec (Bxa7)
Model 6097 Mach II "A" version - 2 min 20 sec (e2-e4)
Model 6097 Mach II "B" version - 3 min 35 sec (Bxa7)
The Klute offers you the white pieces and the advantage of the first move.
- klute
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Re: Hybrid Excel ?
But whatever the machine is, yes, this is the position to test its identity.spacious_mind wrote:There is a test that the seller could do
For whatever reason, in the UK the "Club" nomenclature was used together with slightly different name plates - I'm sure a UK collector can expand on this.
I know there was a bog standard "Excel 68000 Club" (Model 6094) so I suppose there would have been a Mach II (Model 6097) with some kind of "Club" nomenclature and slightly different name plate as well.
The Klute offers you the white pieces and the advantage of the first move.
- spacious_mind
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Re: Hybrid Excel ?
It is hard to say, I have never seen a Model 6097 Club in my searches, but that doesn't mean it didn't exist.klute wrote:But whatever the machine is, yes, this is the position to test its identity.spacious_mind wrote:There is a test that the seller could do
For whatever reason, in the UK the "Club" nomenclature was used together with slightly different name plates - I'm sure a UK collector can expand on this.
I know there was a bog standard "Excel 68000 Club" (Model 6094) so I suppose there would have been a Mach II (Model 6097) with some kind of "Club" nomenclature and slightly different name plate as well.
Regards
Nick
- klute
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Re: Hybrid Excel ?
spacious_mind wrote:This is where a UK collector could probably shed some light on the "Club" nomenclature. In German forums the "Club" nomenclature also appears. In Australia (and the US as far as I know) the "Club" nomenclature was never used.klute wrote:It is hard to say, I have never seen a Model 6097 Club in my searches, but that doesn't mean it didn't exist
I suppose this "Club" nomenclature is just one of those things that has mildly intrigued me over the years.
The UK "Club" machines appear to have the different (and in my opinion more attractive) name plate. The German "Club" machines appear to have a standard name plate.
Mike Watter's timeline suggests the "Club" nomenclature was used in the UK only for the "A" and "B" versions of model 6094:
http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/timeline.html
So the eBay example could well be a Model 6097 (whether "A" or "B" we can't tell without testing) with the unique?! UK name plate. If it still had its box, that would likely make things clearer.
The Klute offers you the white pieces and the advantage of the first move.
- Bryan Whitby
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Hi Guys
I seem to remember another thread like this a few years ago. It made me put these photos on my website.
Which as far as I'm concerned are a Excel 68000 (Club) "B" (Bxa7 in 4 min 27 sec) and Excel Mach 2C LA (Bxa7 in 5 min 48 sec).
The Excel 68000 backplates could be unique to certain countries including the UK but they seem to be a cosmetic difference only. Both my machines were sold by Competence and the Mach 2C has the same colours and also the hand written "18/2" (batch number or date?) on the back as Larry's Ebay one. It also came with a 6094 manual rather than a 6097 one.
From my reading of 'Selective Search' News Sheet, Eric Hallsworth and Competence used Excel 68000 Club and Excel 68000 Master to distinguish between the original machines and what turned out to be the Excel Mach II, after it failed to get a USCF Master title at the US Open. In the States they may have started by calling the Excel 68000 the Club, but Eric Hallsworth just continued to do so throughout. Not that I know much about these models my guess is that the Excel 68000 with the Chess Challenger backplate is not really any different to the Excel 68000 'Club' with the Excel 68000 backplate.
I don't know whether to delete all references to 'Club' now?
All the best
Mike
see Eric's News Sheet editions 14, 16 and 17.
I seem to remember another thread like this a few years ago. It made me put these photos on my website.
Which as far as I'm concerned are a Excel 68000 (Club) "B" (Bxa7 in 4 min 27 sec) and Excel Mach 2C LA (Bxa7 in 5 min 48 sec).
The Excel 68000 backplates could be unique to certain countries including the UK but they seem to be a cosmetic difference only. Both my machines were sold by Competence and the Mach 2C has the same colours and also the hand written "18/2" (batch number or date?) on the back as Larry's Ebay one. It also came with a 6094 manual rather than a 6097 one.
From my reading of 'Selective Search' News Sheet, Eric Hallsworth and Competence used Excel 68000 Club and Excel 68000 Master to distinguish between the original machines and what turned out to be the Excel Mach II, after it failed to get a USCF Master title at the US Open. In the States they may have started by calling the Excel 68000 the Club, but Eric Hallsworth just continued to do so throughout. Not that I know much about these models my guess is that the Excel 68000 with the Chess Challenger backplate is not really any different to the Excel 68000 'Club' with the Excel 68000 backplate.
I don't know whether to delete all references to 'Club' now?
All the best
Mike
see Eric's News Sheet editions 14, 16 and 17.
- Steve B
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Hi MikeMike Watters wrote:Hi Guys
It also came with a 6094 manual rather than a 6097 one.
I am fairly certain there is only one manual which Fidelity released with all 4 Excel Mach versions(6094,6097,6098 and 6110)
the manual will mention model 6094 on the front page and no other model number
do you have an Excel Mach manual with any model number on the front page other then 6094?
Curious Regards
Steve
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No Steve. All three of my manuals say Model 6094 on the front cover.
Never thought about that before. Confusing for the buyers.
For another piece of strange Fidelity manual behaviour did you notice that Fidelity mixed up the model numbers on the manual for the Excellence Voice and Excel Display?
Detail more Novag's forte than Fidelity's excellence regards
Mike
Never thought about that before. Confusing for the buyers.
For another piece of strange Fidelity manual behaviour did you notice that Fidelity mixed up the model numbers on the manual for the Excellence Voice and Excel Display?
Detail more Novag's forte than Fidelity's excellence regards
Mike
- Steve B
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Hi MikeMike Watters wrote:
For another piece of strange Fidelity manual behaviour did you notice that Fidelity mixed up the model numbers on the manual for the Excellence Voice and Excel Display?
actually I do recall that mix up
like this entire thread.. that was also the subject of a previous thread here
its funny how the same topics keep coming up over and over
the only thing that changes are the answers
Russkie Chess Computers Regards
Steve