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Spectrum development images from Rick Dickinson

rickdickinsonrickdickinson
edited July 2007 in Sinclair Miscellaneous
Hi World of Spectrum. I've just started the long process of recording and uploading the tons of stuff I have on all the Sinclair computers from ZX80 to Z88. I thought I'd start with the Spectrum - and here's a few to be looking at for those interested. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9574086@N02/sets/72157600607571866/
Post edited by rickdickinson on
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Comments

  • SkarpoSkarpo
    edited July 2007
    Dudeus Maximus! Those are fun to look at ... sooo, I take it you had some heating issues??? :D

    BTW That would be John Harris and not Jim Burns ... (sorry guv) For a more thorough read check this out.

    Skarpo
    :-)
  • GeoffGeoff
    edited July 2007
    Rick,
    This is a treasure trove. Thanks for keeping it and sharing it with us. It is fascinating and I love the keyboard layout. I noticed the Jim Burns mistake but found that both Jim Burns and John Harris are the same age and were at Young Artists at the same time. Both have had successful careers as book illustrators and artists in particular for Science Fiction.

    http://www.sflink.net/events/artgallery/jim_burns.htm
  • GeoffGeoff
    edited July 2007
    Incidentally, Atari threw a lot of their stuff into skips which were bought outright for a few dollars and auctioned last month by Sotheby's NY but failed to make their reserve (estimate was $250,000)

    http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6196848

    So thanks.
  • GrazGraz
    edited July 2007
    Blimey, what a treat! Thanks heaps for posting these. Never knew such images existed. It shows just how much work goes into developing new products, but I never could have dreamed that so many prototypes were physically made. The ZX82 with the logo, '---Colour' is brilliant!
  • GeoffGeoff
    edited July 2007
    These give a fascinating insight into the evolution of the exterior design and also the BASIC. I noticed ARC instead of CIRCLE and FORE and BACK instead of INK and PAPER. As I suspected, the line with defined functions and microdrive commands was a late addition but the surprise is the late inclusion of the POINT command which appears on that line for the first time. John Harris preferred oils to the airbrush so did Jim Burns (still of Young Artists) paint the keyboard?
  • rickdickinsonrickdickinson
    edited July 2007
    Thanks for correction Geoff - I knew it was likely to be incorrect as it just didn't sit right in my mind. Inded - Jim did the front-on view of the spectrum -of which I've got the original, and I'd say it's largely air brush. So John did the City in the Sky. Clive and I used to go to Young artists quite a lot, and I think this one was already available, so we bought the rights, the original or what exactly I don't know. John also did the ZX81 cover - which is how it all started - I've got John's original colour sketch for this. I think Clive kept the original. There was another comission for the 'Learning Lab' cover, don't know if this was John or Jim, or somebody else, it features the ZX81 on a plinth, miles in the sky above a city of the future. Glad Young Artists are still going.
  • NickHNickH
    edited July 2007
    Hi Rick,

    Do you mind people using parts of these images in other things? Some of this stuff would look great in the 1980/81 YSRnRY documentary chapter.

    Nick
  • Paul van der LaanPaul van der Laan
    edited July 2007
    Rick,
    Thank you very much for sharing this. Being a designer myself (graphic designer that is) I very much appreciate to see some of the actual design process. I know it takes a lot of effort and sketching first to make something where form and function are tied successfully. Given the budgetary restraints I think you did a hell of a job here. I'm looking forward to see the rest! :)
  • rickdickinsonrickdickinson
    edited July 2007
    NickH wrote: »
    Hi Rick,

    Do you mind people using parts of these images in other things? Some of this stuff would look great in the 1980/81 YSRnRY documentary chapter.

    Nick

    Feel free, I put them in at the highest resoultion depending on the copy media.
  • rickdickinsonrickdickinson
    edited July 2007
    I'm planing on copying stuff on the Spectrum +, and the 128K versions next, and maybe somethings you haven't seen much - like the Spectrum Alpha Numeric keypad for the Spanish production by Investronica.
  • NickHNickH
    edited July 2007
    rickdickinson wrote: »
    Feel free, I put them in at the highest resoultion depending on the copy media.

    Many thanks! Although I probably won't get around to using them for another year...
  • Pascal TournoisPascal Tournois
    edited July 2007
    Beautiful! I wonder what a new computer setup would look like if you were to draw it... Mac excepted, everything is quite dull nowadays.
  • NickHNickH
    edited July 2007
    Pascal Tournois wrote: »
    Beautiful! I wonder what a new computer setup would look like if you were to draw it... Mac excepted, everything is quite dull nowadays.

    The hand-held market still shows promise.
  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    edited July 2007
    I wonder if Rick spotted the Coca Cola sign in the top middle of the Spectrum manual front cover?
    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
  • GeoffGeoff
    edited July 2007
    NickH wrote: »
    The hand-held market still shows promise.

    Rick has designed a wide range of hand-helds at his professional website

    http://www.theproductdesigners.com/

    and has some on the digital 'drawing board'.
  • VampyreVampyre
    edited July 2007
    Wow! Thanks for sharing those Rick, I'd always heard of the ZX82, but never imagined I would see any pictures of one. It must be immensely satisfying knowing that you had a part in designing the most beautiul home computer ever!
    ZXSR - Speccy Mags Reviews
  • woodcock88woodcock88
    edited July 2007
    Absolutely brilliant. Thanks so much Rick.

    C.
  • Scottie_ukScottie_uk
    edited July 2007
    Rick,
    Thankyou for taking the time to upload those historic images, they were a pleasure to see.

    Of all the ZX81C / ZX82 / ZX Spectrum designs you came up with I think the right one was chosen.

    I think some of the other designs were ahead of their time for 81/82. In the context of 1981/82 they seemed more furistic than the chosen design. However,I feel those other designs would have dated allot more quickly than the chosen one.

    It's a design classic like the Morris Minor, Mini or Beetle it has a ceartain charm and freindly looking character that still looks funky 25 years on. :D

    That's a rare acheivement for consumer goods.

    Andrew.
    Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos
  • BruceNortonBruceNorton
    edited July 2007
    Wow Rick, this is absolute gold. Can't wait to see the next lot

    Ta very muchly
  • IN31IN31
    edited July 2007
    I have updated the opening paragraph of the ZX Spectrum Wikipedia article to reference a couple of these pics.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum

    Given all this new info, if anyone wants to expand article...hint..hint.. :wink:
  • greycasegreycase
    edited July 2007
    Amazing stuff Rick, thanks so much. Can't wait to see the stuff for the Spectrum + and 128! I have just bought my first original 128k machine after years of being a +2 man.

    Has the Edge article run already?
  • IN31IN31
    edited July 2007
    Rick, I have added the ZX82 pics to the ZX Spectrum Wikipedia article. Hope this is okay. Each picture credits you as the source.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum

    If you would like them removed then please let me know :)
  • IN31IN31
    edited July 2007
    I got a message on Wikipedia from Pak21 saying the images I put up on Wikipedia were using the wrong licenses as they we not logos. Have fixed this.

    Sorry no idea how to send someone a message in Wikipedia!

    IN31 (aka BackStagePass on Wikipedia)
  • GeoffGeoff
    edited July 2007
    > I can't help feeling that in amongst all that puff the Spectrum SE deserves a tiny mention.

    The Spectrum SE - a single machine with no software and no owner - gets some puff here

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Computer_2048
  • WombleWomble
    edited July 2007
    Amazing timing all this - the other day I finally got round to scanning a few articles that were part of an "Inside Sinclair" series from the 1st Annual of SU.

    http://www.neoncherry.com/retrogamevideos/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=129&thread_id=591&pid=2861#post_2861

    And theres Mr Dickinson in his studio again!
  • GrazGraz
    edited July 2007
    Womble wrote: »
    Amazing timing all this - the other day I finally got round to scanning a few articles that were part of an "Inside Sinclair" series from the 1st Annual of SU.

    http://www.neoncherry.com/retrogamevideos/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=129&thread_id=591&pid=2861#post_2861

    And theres Mr Dickinson in his studio again!


    I love the quote there, "Rick Dickinson is the only one who's even vaguely cool-looking"

    :) Bet he'll be happy with that! :)
  • swordheartswordheart
    edited July 2007
    Wow just noticed this thread, excellent very interesting to look at those pics, could u answer me one question please Rick on the back of the Spectrum beside the aerial out socket there is an indentation ( the exact shape as the aerial out hole ) why was that put there ?

    Phil
  • Malc74Malc74
    edited July 2007
    Finally had the time to look at those lovely pics - many thanks for sharing them with us Rick!
    I'm looking forward to seeing the next batch - talk about a treasure trove of Sinclair history!
  • rickdickinsonrickdickinson
    edited July 2007
    HI Swordheart, the TV outlet is a Modulator. United States versions (and some other countries) require a different Modulator unit to that required for the UK, the other version having it's output socket in a different place (yuk) - the mark you see on the plastics is a mould tool insert to blank off that hole when not in use. So, the moulder would make UK mouldings, switch the modulator plug, and then run US mouldings etc.
  • rickdickinsonrickdickinson
    edited July 2007
    I can't remember if we actually really did supply US versions, certainly for ZX80 and 81. Dave Chatten would know - see if you guys can get him onto the forums as he has the most knowledge about Sinclair production. He was the production controller, and then the managing director after Nigel Searle.
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