Currently indexing
Harvard cyclotron Commodore video monitor 1702
Date: circa 1984
Inventory Number: 2003-1-0293b
Classification: Monitor
Subject:
Maker: Commodore International (1954 - 1994)
User: Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory (1937 - 2002)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
NOT AVAILABLE
Accessories: four-shelf computer rack (2003-1-0239a); magnetic temperature monitor (2003-1-0239c); pulse timer (2003-1-0239d); Commodore computer, keyboard (2003-1-0239e); Panasonic dot-matrix printer (2003-1-0239f); two cyclotron lead bricks (2003-1-0239g, h); cardboard box with printer paper (2003-1-0239i); user's manual with instructions for maintenance, use, installation, and connection (stored next to monitor on top computer rack shelf)
DescriptionThe video monitor is housed in a grey plastic box. The square, charcoal-colored screen is framed in a black plastic rim at the top of the front panel of the box. Beneath the screen, on the right side of the front panel, is a grey power button. Beneath it are two jacks. The leftmost jack has a yellow plastic rim and is labeled "VIDEO". The rightmost jack has a white plastic rim and is labeled "AUDIO". There is a small, rectangular power indication light underneath the center of the screen. Beneath the screen on the left-hand side is a plastic strip that can be manually folded down revealing a row of monitor controls.
There are ventilation slits cut into the sides of the monitor. In the top, left-hand corner of the back panel of the monitor are additional Audio and Visual input jacks. There is also a switch for selecting either the front or the back input.
Monitors of this kind work with an internal cathode ray tube. The tube is made of glass, with a glass panel covering the front. The back of the front panel is coated in phosphorous. There is a vacuum in the tube. At the back of the tube is an electron gun which fires out electrons. Electromagnets are used to bend the trajectories of the electrons so that they hit particular parts of the front panel, causing the phosphorous to light up and display information on the screen.
There are ventilation slits cut into the sides of the monitor. In the top, left-hand corner of the back panel of the monitor are additional Audio and Visual input jacks. There is also a switch for selecting either the front or the back input.
Monitors of this kind work with an internal cathode ray tube. The tube is made of glass, with a glass panel covering the front. The back of the front panel is coated in phosphorous. There is a vacuum in the tube. At the back of the tube is an electron gun which fires out electrons. Electromagnets are used to bend the trajectories of the electrons so that they hit particular parts of the front panel, causing the phosphorous to light up and display information on the screen.
Signedin white letters on brown bar beneath monitor screen: commodore
in black letters on raised grey plastic piece next to power button: VIDEO MONITOR / MODEL 1702
printed in white on black label on back of monitor: commodore / MODEL NO. 1702 / AC 120V 60Hz 0.85A / WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - DO NOT OPEN / CERTIFICATION: PRODUCT COMPLIES WITH DHHS RULE 21 CFR / SUBCHAPTER J APPLICABLE AT DATE OF MANUFACTURE. / MANUFACTURED AT IWAI PLANT. COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES INC. / 1200 WILSON DRIVE WEST CHESTER, PA 19380
in black and white writing on a black and white label on back of monitor: MANUFACTURED SEPTEMBER 1984 / SERIAL NO. XC 1209356 / MADE IN JAPAN
printed in blue on white cover of user's manual: commodore
printed in black inside cover of user's manual: Commodore / Printed in Japan / Copyright 1983 Commodore Electronics
in black letters on raised grey plastic piece next to power button: VIDEO MONITOR / MODEL 1702
printed in white on black label on back of monitor: commodore / MODEL NO. 1702 / AC 120V 60Hz 0.85A / WARNING: SHOCK HAZARD - DO NOT OPEN / CERTIFICATION: PRODUCT COMPLIES WITH DHHS RULE 21 CFR / SUBCHAPTER J APPLICABLE AT DATE OF MANUFACTURE. / MANUFACTURED AT IWAI PLANT. COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES INC. / 1200 WILSON DRIVE WEST CHESTER, PA 19380
in black and white writing on a black and white label on back of monitor: MANUFACTURED SEPTEMBER 1984 / SERIAL NO. XC 1209356 / MADE IN JAPAN
printed in blue on white cover of user's manual: commodore
printed in black inside cover of user's manual: Commodore / Printed in Japan / Copyright 1983 Commodore Electronics
FunctionThe Commodore monitor 1702 acts as the visual and audio interface between users and the Commodore 64 computer. Commodore 64 computers could be hooked up to a regular television, but this monitor provided higher resolution.
A discussion of the Commodore 1702 is available here.
The video monitor was used in service of the second Harvard University cyclotron. The first Harvard cyclotron, built in 1937, was disassembled and moved to Los Alamos in 1943. Richard Wilson, who worked on the Harvard cyclotrons for 47 years and documented a history of the laboratory, divides the life of the second Harvard cyclotron into three periods. The initial phase was composed of design and initial construction efforts, reaching operation at 90 MeV. During the second phase, from 1955 until 1967, the cyclotron energy was raised to 165 MeV. The third and final phase of the cyclotron, from 1967 until 2002, was largely devoted to medical treatment and research.
A version of Wilson's history of the Harvard cyclotron laboratory is available online.
A discussion of the Commodore 1702 is available here.
The video monitor was used in service of the second Harvard University cyclotron. The first Harvard cyclotron, built in 1937, was disassembled and moved to Los Alamos in 1943. Richard Wilson, who worked on the Harvard cyclotrons for 47 years and documented a history of the laboratory, divides the life of the second Harvard cyclotron into three periods. The initial phase was composed of design and initial construction efforts, reaching operation at 90 MeV. During the second phase, from 1955 until 1967, the cyclotron energy was raised to 165 MeV. The third and final phase of the cyclotron, from 1967 until 2002, was largely devoted to medical treatment and research.
A version of Wilson's history of the Harvard cyclotron laboratory is available online.
Historical AttributesUsed in the Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory.
Primary SourcesCommodore Electronics, Commodore Color Video Monitor User's Manual; Model #1702. Printed in Japan, 1983.