Compukit 1 Deluxe Model
YEAR: 1970
ITEM: Digital Computer
COMPANY: Limrose Electronics
COUNTRY: England
IN OUR COLLECTION: Yes
Like the Standard Model Compukit 1, the Deluxe Model is one of the earliest personal computers sold to the public. Based on our research, only the Comspace 650 is older.
The Deluxe Model was the nicer version of the Compukit 1. Despite the Compukit name, the Deluxe Model was not a kit, it came pre-assembled in a wooden case (the brochure called it a "handsome cabinet"). The Deluxe Model included its very own power source...a 4.5 volt battery...and an very handy on/off switch.
The Deluxe Model came with 8 Nand gates (two 3-input Nand gates and six 2-input Nand gates) and 8 Nor gates (two 3-input Nor gates and six 2-input Nor gates).
The inventor of the Compukit 1, Dr. Ravi Raizada, taught at universities and obviously had experience with students. The addendum states, "The electonics in Compukit 1 Deluxe Model is 'student proof' and will not normally get damaged due to accidental incorrect patching, provided that the recommneded 4.5 volt battery, or equivalent, is used. (The emphasis is his.)One of the most common questions we get when someone sees a computer from this era is, "But what could you do with them?" The Compukit was intended to be a teaching computer but it could be used to solve problems. That instruction manual that came with the Compukit 1 included problems such as how to construct a coincidence circuit, how to create parallel comparators and how to verify DeMorgan's Laws among others. The addendum for the Deluxe Model did not contain any new "exercies/problems". However, the addendum did point out that "many more circuits can of course be constructed by the imaginative student and teacher". And that also sounds like a writer who knows his students.
You can click on the link to see the Compukit 1 INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY AND USE. My guess is that the instructions for the Compukit 1 and the Compukit 1 Deluxe Model were exactly the same. The only difference is that the Deluxe Model had an addendum that was undated and entitled "Notes on Compukit 1 Deluxe Model and How to Use it". This one page, one-sided addendum was simply inserted into the last page of the instruction manual. Our copy was simply dated 1970, it came with the deluxe model described above, and had the addendum.
Related Items
Related Item 1: Compukit 1Related Item 2: Compukit 2 Brochure
Documents
Documents for this item have not yet been scanned or not yet posted. There are a lot of pages...contact us if you have an immediate need. (Although there are not a lot of "immediate needs" for a 70+ year old computer!)
Exceedingly Rare
We have found just one other Compukit Deluxe model and it is in one of my favorite places! Bletchley Park in Milton-Keynes was the code breaking center for the Allies during WWII...and Alan Turing worked there.
The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC)is now located at Bletchley Park (I remember when it was more informal and was known as the Retro-Beep Club). TNMOC lists a Compukit 1 Deluxe Model in their collection.
[Update: November 2021. Konrad Kumor (handle "Darkon" on the retrocomputingforum website) reported in May of 2020 that he had one he was offering for sale. It had belonged to his Dad. A picture of his was included and showed some worksheets I had not seen before.] We do not know where it is now.
We would greatly appreciate any information you might have about other existing Compukit 1 computers.
For more information, click on the link(s) below.
National Museum of Computing (England)
Kumor's Compukit 1
If you know the location of any other of these items, please let us know by contacting us at Director@TheComputerChurch.com .
OUR DEFINITIONS OF RARITY
One of a Kind: Only known existing item.
Exceedingly Rare: Only 2 to 10 known to exist.
Very Rare: Only 11 to 25 are known to exist.
Rare: Only 26 to 50 are known to exist.
Difficult: Difficult to find.
Available:Can be commonly be purchased.
Unknown: We cannot make a determination.
(For comparison: Many people consider the Apple-1 computer to be rare. As of 2025 there are 92 confirmed and probable Apple-1 computers.)
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