Commodore.ca: The PET, VIC, 128, 64 & More Forum

You're probably aware that the C-64 was the best selling single computer model in personal computing history. Jeremy Reizer has compiled C-64 sales data for his article on personal computer sales history (1975 to 2005) at <http://jeremyreimer.com/postman/node/329> (In 1983 and 1984, Commodore sold more C-64 computers than the total of IBM compatible sales!)

What I'm looking for, but have been unable to find, is year-by-year sales figures for the entire 8-bit Commodore line, from the PET through the C-128 and other descendants of C-64. If you have or know where I could locate such information, I would be extremely grateful.

I'm hoping to use this information to update my 2003 article "Apple Has Always Been a Niche Player" on Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/musings/03/0131.html> Because Reiser's figures only include the C-64, not the entire 8-bit Commodore range, I don't have a complete picture of the Apple II's share of the 8-bit PC market.

Thanks in advance!

Dan Knight, publisher, LowEndMac.com
former VIC-20 and C-64 user

Hi Dan;

I do not have those numbers but I am certain someone does.

I spoke with Chuck Peddle and Brian Bagnal to see if they have any documentation and was surprised to find that there may be some hope for these numbers. In particular, Chuck will look through his information to see what he can scare up for you.

'Scuse me, Newbie here so please feel free to move post to somewhere more relevant.

I've just bought a (rather lovely) PET 2001-8. The woman who sold it said that her old boss said "it was the first one in the UK".
With serial number 1000219 I suppose it is entirely possible if they didn't leave the factory in order, or that was air freighted and the lower numbers went by sea.
I gather that the initial "1" denotes a 240V, and Roger "Dodger" on the vintage computer forum has serial number 1000001.
Can anyone here shed some more light on the possibilities?

Best wishes,
Nig.

Hello Nige;

I would have just started a new thread rather than REPLYing to one, but what the heck, its done now

As for the unit you are speaking of I would be surprised if anyone can claim the "first" rights in the UK for two reasons:
1: PETs where converted to 240V by dealers in the US, one in New York in particular, and then shipped to the UK for massive profit, prior the Commodore openning UK facilities.

2: PETs sold in the UK by Commodore would have gone through a sales channel as well as "direct" and they would not likely have been "picky" about delivering based on the serial number.

All that being said, you clearly have a very low serial number PET which makes for a good story and increased value. It could very well be the first official PET but unless you have a news article or something similar from the day, I don't think that claim could be proven.

You might find http://www.commodore.ca/products/pet/commodore_pet.htm useful.

I hope this helps and have a great day!

That's pretty well much as I expected.
It would be interesting to find out a bit more about the initial number "1", and whether the 240V units got re-serialised by the dealers, or did the initial 1's indicat it came through the official UK facility?
Maybe the link will tell me what I need to know.
Many thanks!

Commodore was founded by Jack Tramiel, an autocratic Polish-born Canadian who had survived the German Nazi concentration camps of World War II. In the succeeding four years Tramiel successfully moved Commodore first into the assembly and marketing of typewriters and mechanical adding machines and then into the manufacture of electromechanical typewriters and adding machines.

Once in control, Gould reduced Commodore's debt and sold company assets, including manufacturing facilities. He brought Commodore's designs to low-cost producers in Japan, where he and Tramiel also saw early electronic calculators. Impressed by these devices, he and Tramiel became convinced that the future lay in electronics and subsequently contracted Casio and others to manufacture calculators for sale in North America.