Herb's S-100 Stuff
Preserving S-100 for decades

This Web page last updated May 15 2024. To email me or to order, see see my ordering Web page for my email addresses.

Introduction

S-100 and IEEE-696 systems are computers from 1975 and through the 1980's which have a specific kind of 100-pin computer "bus" for their cards. For many years I've provided assistance, hardware, and photocopied documentation for S-100 computer systems. In the 1990's I wrote a series of articles about these computers for The Computer Journal as "Dr." S-100. Most of these systems ran CP/M: from 2004-2008 I researched the development of the CP/M operating system, Digital Research Inc and the work of Dr. Gary Kildall. Most S-100 systems used floppy diskette drives: I have extensive technical information and manuals about floppy drives and diskettes; we also sell drives.. Most of my content is original, written by me or the words of others. My manuals archives are mostly originals, almost all on paper. We sell S-100 cards, manuals, floppy drives, diskettes These sales support my activities, year after year: we've been on the Web since 1996! and have supported S-100 a decade or more earlier.

I update my Web pages often, and I'm always looking for more documents and history about S-100. If you know something about a S-100 company's history, tell me about it before that history is lost. Check what I have and see if you have some docs I do not. I appreciate inquiries and storis, and I'm glad to offer some bit of discussion and directions to the manuals and docs and resources I have which correspond to the hardware you ask about. But my general response to a lot of technical questions is that "I let the manuals (or my site) do the talking". If you have some information, upgrades, or experiences to offer, I'll gladly consider adding them to my site and to my archives. Thanks for your interest! Help me keep this history available.

Death of Ed Roberts, MITS Altair developer: On April 1 2010, Dr. Ed Roberts, M.D., died of pneumonia, at age 68. He was the founder of MITS in 1969, and the designer of MITS' Altair 8800 computer in 1975 which included the "Altair bus", the 100 pin connectored backplane which became known as the "S-100" bus within a few years. We have a tribute page to him at this link. Meanwhile, there are links below to Web pages which discuss the Altair and the S-100 bus. This page lists over 140 companies which produced S-100 cards or systems; and has links to many pages about S-100 technology and to individual S-100 company products and histories. Their legacy, and the legacy of all the companies and software and hardware subsequently created by those employed by those companies, are also a tribute to Ed Roberts. - Herb Johnson

The Retrotechnology Web site

S-100 is one of a number of old technologies we support and describe at retrotechnology.com. Check my retrotechnology.com home page for links other activities on this Web site. Don't expect a lot of videos and photos: we are preserving content, information about how things got DONE, so YOU can do it again.

Most of these S-100 systems used floppy diskette drives for file storage; see this Web page for technical support for floppy drives. However, some of them used audio cassettes for data storage: see my Web page about audio cassette digital storage technology, for links to specific technical and per-brand information.

Why bother to retain "useless" knowledge? For one, it's not so useless. What do YOU do when your refrigerator catches fire? I fix it - because I know how.

To contact me or to order, see see my ordering Web page.

- Herb Johnson

Links to my S-100 pages

S-100 systems are are computers, designed between about 1975 and through the 1980's, with a specific kind of 100-pin computer "bus". For many years I've provided assistance, hardware, and documentation for S-100 computer systems. In the 1990's I wrote a series of articles about these computers for The Computer Journal as "Dr." S-100. Since the 1980's, I've offered good copies (photocopies) of S-100 manuals, from my extensive collection of original S-100 manuals and documents from over a hundred companies.

Tributes:

• We have a tribute page to Altair designer Ed Robert at this link.He passed away in April 2010.
• George Morrow of Morrow Electronics passed away in 2003.
• Roger Amidon of Technical Design Labs, makers of the first Z80 S-100 card in July 1976.He passed away in May 2016.
• Bill Godbout of Godbout Electronics, Compupro, Viasys passed away in Dec 2018.

General S-100 documents and Web pages:

• my list of S-100 manufacturers, with linked to individual company pages
• A technical history and description of the S-100 bus.
• SOme early and late S-100 card photos, for YOUR use as noted.
• some FAQ's: frequently asked questions around S-100 system..
  
• The Altair 8800 was not the FIRST PC! Find out more.
• pointers to other S-100 and CP/M Web sites
• some S-100 owners describe their systems or experiences
• Origins of the S-100 bus and the name "Altair"
• technical discussion of S-100 bus pin 20 and memory protect..
• a discussion of S-100 bus termination.
• a discussion of S-100 power supplies.
• here are some S-100 repair notes.
• S-100 and the 8086, including predecessors of MS-DOS
• Notes about The Digital Group, not S-100 but of the same era

The following are S-100 and related items for sale:

• my list of S-100 manufacturers links to documents, software and hardware I offer.
• Here's a list of card racks, card cages, chassis and cabinets for sale.
• Here are some various S-100 hardware products for sale.
  
• I have some Versafloppy II S-100 floppy disk controllers for sale
  
• Here are some S-100 and related books of the era for sale.
  
• I have some floppy diskettes, drives, cabinets for sale
  
• Here's some test equipment to fix your S-100 system.
  
• some TERMINALS
  
• I have some Multibus, VME & STDbus hardware and docs for sale
  
• here's some references from my S-100 customers.

We've got some S-100 related ON-LINE documents and descriptions:

• Links to ROM-based monitor software on my Web site
• Info about paper tape devices
• some Flexowriter history from a original repair and sales person.
• Stewart Marshall's reconstruction of an OP-80 paper tape reader
• some S-100 floating point support, including Intel and AMD chips
• the GIDE design for IDE drives and Z80 processors

Computer restoration Web pages

I have several Web pages about computer restoration. They collectively describe repairing and restoring computers of the 1970's and earlier; and why people should bother to do so. I offer why this is a valuable activity, and how restoration can be organized and supported. I'll list various organizations, Web sites, events, and individuals who actively support repair, diagnosis, restoration of these early computers.

Technical support for floppy drives

• Here's some floppy and hard disk items for sale: diskettes, drives, controllers, cabinets, docs.
  
• Here are technical descriptions of diskette drives, diskettes, and disk formats
  
• my S-100 FAQ's: frequently asked questions - includes questions on floppies..
  
• From the Macintosh world, here's some SCSI and IDE hard drives, CD-ROM drives
  

• my list of S-100 manufacturers links to documents, software and hardware I offer.
• Check this link to references from my S-100 customers through the years thru today.
• Here is a technical document about diskette drives and disk formats
  

CP/M, Digital Research and Gary Kildall

• For CP/M and Digital Research history, and how to get CP/M yourself, check this Web page.

Lists of S-100 computer vendors for documentation

Below is a list of every S-100 producing company I'm aware of - all in the United States unless noted. I have S-100 documentation for these unless there is a note "no docs yet". In addition, there are a few manufacturers of printers and terminals sprinkled in this list. For manufacturers for which I have MANY manuals, I list them on an individual page and link to that page. If there is not a link and I have docs, they are listed on my Miscelaneous docs list which is also alphabetical by manufacturer.

Again, here is how to order S-100 stuff and how to contact me.

    also see my miscelaneous documentation Web page.

    also see my undocumented S-100 Web page.

    Ackerman Digital Systems (ADS)see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    ACom Electronics see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    ADES or ADSI or Adapted Data & Energy Systems
        - no manuals yet but see this page
    Advanced Digital Corp. (ADC) see my miscelaneous documentation page. 
    Advanced Micro Digital see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    AI Cybernetic Systems - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Alloy Engineering see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Alpha Micro - not quite S-100, used an IMSAI chassis anyway. see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Alpha Systems Corp. - no manuals yet. 
    Altair - see MITS
    Andicom or NABU - no manuals yet. Canadian company. 
    Artec Electronics Inc see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Applied Technology - 1978 Australian company, later made MicroBee. No docs.

    California Computer Systems (CCS)  has its own page here
    California Data Corporation (CDC, but not Control Data!) see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Canada Systems Inc.  see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Celetron  see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Central Data  see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Certek or Cer-tek see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Compuduct or CTM - no manuals yet. Canadian company. 
    Computalker Consultants (Santa Monica, CA) - no docs yet.
    CompuTime see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Compupro  has its own page here
    Computer Systems  see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Cromemco  has its own page here

    Data Sciences - see "Delta Products" 
    Delta Products  has its own page here
    DC Hayes see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Digital Graphics Systems (Palo Alto, CA, 1979 and later, no docs)
    Digital Research Incorporated (DRI)  has its own page here
    DRC (Digital Research Computers or Digital Research Corp., Texas) has its own page here

    Drytek Inc. - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Dual: see my Dual manuals list page.
    Duston - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Dynabyte  has its own page here
    D & W Digital see my miscelaneous documentation page.

    Notes about The Digital Group, not S-100 but of the same era

    also see my miscelaneous documentation page.
  
    Earth Computers  see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Editron has its own page linked here.
    Electrologics  see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    ECT or Electronic Control Technologies - US company, no docs available yet. 
    Electronic Systems see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Emulex  see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Evotech , see my miscelaneous documentation page.
    Exatron (drives not S-100 cards), see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Friden Flexowriter: follow this link for history
    Fulcrum - see  my IMSAI page
    Futronics , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Godbout -  see Compupro  page
    Gunn Enterprizes , see my miscelaneous documentation page

    Hayes, see DC Hayes
    Heath, Heathkit - listed seperately on my Heath/Zenith page
          Also see my Z-100 Web page
    Heuristics , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Hudson and Assoc - see my undocumented S-100 page.

    iCOM - see this Web page
    IEEE-696 standards - see  this S-100 bus page for specifics and publications.
    Illuminated technologies - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    IMS International - see Industrial Micro Systems 
    IMSAI - see  my IMSAI page
    IMS Associates Inc. - see IMSAI
    Industrial Micro Systems or IMS - listed on this page
    Inner Access Corp - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Intec - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Intelligent Computer Designs Corporation of Australia & USA , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Intelligent Systems Corporation, ISC, Intecolor brand - NOT S-100, See this Web page.
    Interactive Products Corporation may be a company name for Polymorphic Systems 
    Intercontinental Micro Systems or ICM:, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    International Data Systems, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    I/O Technology , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Integrand, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Ithaca Intersystems, Ithaca Audio  has its own page here

    Jade  has its own page here
    JBC Electronics , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    JTM, see my miscelaneous documentation page

    Kent Moore , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Keptronic , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Konan , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Lear-Siegler terminals, See my Web page on terminals
    Logos - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Lomas Data Products (LDP)  has its own page here
    LF Technology or L/F Technology - listed under "IMS International"
    LP Systems, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    
    Macrotech - has its own page here
    Magnum Digital, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Malibu - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Mariposa , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Matrox (Canada)  has its own page here
    MCT - see my undocumented S-100 page.

    Measurement Systems and Controls, AKA Systems Group, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Memory Merchant, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Microcomputer Systems Corp. , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    MicroDaSys, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Microdynamics (brand) see my miscelaneous documentation page

    Micromation , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Micropolis: see Micropolis computer manuals 
    Mikos Engineering or Wameco or WMC  has its own page here

    also see my miscelaneous documentation page.

    MITS -  has its own page here
    Morrow -  has its own page here
    Mountain Hardware , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Mullen -  has its own page here
    Multiflex - Canadian, no docs yet

    NABU or Andicom - no manuals yet. Canadian company. 
    National Multiplex - see my miscelaneous documentation page
    NorthStar  has its own page here
    Newtech (by Stewart Newfeld) Model 6 Music Board, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Netronics , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    NNC or No Name Computers of Huntington Beach, CA USA. No docs but check this Web page.
    NSSC - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Objective Design, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Oliver Audio Engneering, see my miscelaneous documentation page

    PAIA , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Pelkey - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Peripheral Vision - see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Persci floppy drives - check this link
    Piiceon , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Pickles & Trout , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    PMMI (see DC Hayes)
    Polymorphic Systems: see my Polymorphic Web page
    Problem Solver Systems, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Processor Interfaces Inc, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Processor Technology  documentation list

    Quantronics - see my undocumented S-100 page.
    Quest Electronics, , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Q&T (Quick and Timely) Systems, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Ro-Che Systems , see my miscelaneous documentation page

    S100 Computer Products , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    S100 Inc, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Salota GMBH (Germany) - has a Web page here.
    S C Digital - no docs yet.
    Science Dynamics Corporation - rebadged IMSAI,  check this Web page

   also see my miscelaneous documentation page.

    SCION (MicroAngelo cards), see my miscelaneous documentation page
    SciTronics Inc., see my miscelaneous documentation page
    SCT, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Simpliway - no docs yet. Canadian company
    SD Sales, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    SD Systems  has its own page here
    Seals Electronics , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Seattle Computer Products  has its own page here

    Semidisk, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Simpliway Products Company (no docs yet)
    Sky Computers Inc., look for Multibus and VME and Unibus cards, , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    SMS Static Memory Systems , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    SMS Scientific Micro Systems , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Solid State Music (SSM) documentation list
    ---- also notes about SSM designers and products here
    SOL - see Processor Technology
    Sontron - see Editron which has its own page linked here.
    Suntronics - no docs yet. Canadian company
    Systems Group, see Measurement Systems and Controls 
    A. Szerlip, see my miscelaneous documentation page

    Tarbell has tis own page here
    Techmar , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Technical Design Labs (TDL, CDL)  has its own page here
    Teletype, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    TEI, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Teletek , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Thinkertoys - see Morrow
    Transam - no docs yet. UK company. 
    Tuscan - a Transam Z80 system, no docs yet.

    also see my miscelaneous documentation page.

    US Micro Sales - see "Delta Products"
    Vandenberg Data Products, see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Vector Graphic  has its own page here
    Vector , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Visual (Terminal), see my See my Web page on terminals

    Wameco or WMC or Mikos Engineering  has its own page here

    W W Component Supply - see  my IMSAI page

    XCOMP Corp , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    Xitex , see my miscelaneous documentation page
    XOR - - see "Delta Products" 
    Zenith - listed seperately on my Heath/Zenith page
          Also see my Z-100 Web page
    Zs - see my undocumented S-100 page.

ALso see my miscelaneous documentation page.

Again, here is how to order S-100 stuff and how to contact me.

Copyright © 2024 Herb Johnson