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Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 10:23
by rubber_jonnie
Hi all I'm looking to get my hands on one of these:
850.jpeg
I was supposed to be getting one with the Atari 800 last year, along with a 130XE, but the guy only sent the first box. At least I got my 800...
Anyway, if anyone has one for sale, please PM me.
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 14:36
by alexh
You need someone visiting USA as they are dirt cheap over there (sub £50) but postage is a killer.
One in Germany for £140 + postage
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226764918365
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 14:37
by rubber_jonnie
Yeah it may go that way. Don't want to spend that much TBH.
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 14:49
by mrbombermillzy
Out of interest @rubber_jonnie why didnt the 2nd box get sent?
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 15:03
by rubber_jonnie
mrbombermillzy wrote: 03 Feb 2026 14:49
Out of interest @rubber_jonnie why didnt the 2nd box get sent?
I'm not entirely sure.
I bought it all from a Facebook group and at first I thought I'd been scammed and was worried I wasn't going to get the 800, but that arrived and the guy then just ghosted me. He did it to some other folks as well on the same group, so got himself a ban.
It's odd he sent one but not the other. There wasn't much in the 2nd box and it was essentially extra he wanted to get rid of, but it just never came. I chased him multiple times as he still appears on FB Messenger but just won't respond.
The main item I wanted was the Atari 800 so happy that arrived, and I also got a 1050 and some other odds and sods like the Editor Assembler cart which goes for quite a bit these days. It was annoying but I did get the 800 pretty cheap.
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 15:18
by mrbombermillzy
Oh, dear.
I suppose then, it could have been far worse. :roll:
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 15:26
by rubber_jonnie
mrbombermillzy wrote: 03 Feb 2026 15:18
Oh, dear.
I suppose then, it could have been far worse. :roll:
Indeed, that's the way I'm looking at it, I at least got what I really wanted.
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 19:43
by ijor
rubber_jonnie wrote: 03 Feb 2026 15:03
like the Editor Assembler cart which goes for quite a bit these days.
Really??? Why people would pay too much for something that is pretty common. Can't see it having too much collective value, even if fully boxed. And for actually using the cartridge, well, that wouldn't make any sense at all. There are much better assemblers, and if you insist, you could buy a "cart emulator" and run basically any cartridge you want for free.
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 20:59
by rubber_jonnie
ijor wrote: 03 Feb 2026 19:43
rubber_jonnie wrote: 03 Feb 2026 15:03
like the Editor Assembler cart which goes for quite a bit these days.
Really??? Why people would pay too much for something that is pretty common. Can't see it having too much collective value, even if fully boxed. And for actually using the cartridge, well, that wouldn't make any sense at all. There are much better assemblers, and if you insist, you could buy a "cart emulator" and run basically any cartridge you want for free.
Yeah, at the time I got my 800 the Editor/Assembler cart was going for about £100 loose, which TBH seemed like a lot to me. Prices seem to have settled at around £40-£50 though there are some a lot higher.
I guess some folks will pay for it, probably collectors of the old brown style carts I guess which is one reason I have kept it.
And there are indeed much better solutions, especially now with all the emulator carts about.
Re: Wanted - Atari 850 external Serial/Centronics interface
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 22:34
by mrbombermillzy
IMHO many of the assembly language tech ref manuals; books/compilers/packages for various popular systems go for a premium these days.
Certainly for the 68000 machines and (Ive found) for the C64.
Im very lucky to have (prime example) Devpac 3 for the ST and Amiga, which arent cheap; if you can find them.
I think certain people prefer the printed manuals above electronic pdfs and will pay more for the privilege - I know I do. :)