Emma II

[AnalogueMan]

Among another load of junk that came my way is an "Emma II", photos attached. The CPU is a 6502 and it sits in a wooden frame with a perspex cover over the top so the board itself looks to be in good condition. I haven't taken the cover off or tried powering it up in case I break anything.
Do any of you computer enthusiasts know anything about what this is and what it might be for? It came from a defunct training lab so I presume it to be some sort of demo or tutorial unit. And does it have any historical value like the Softy, or does it truly belong among the junk?

[Buzby123]

It's not junk !

There are plenty on here who can tell you more, but I'm not one.

[paulsherwin]

Apparently it's quite well known: http://retro.hansotten.nl/6502-sbc/e...nical-systems/

It seems too be an early 80s version of the Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

[SiriusHardware]

It's a 6502 microprocessor based 'trainer', so a similar concept to the MK14, KIM-1, Microprofessor, and many others. We used them when I did some microprocessor related city and guilds stuff. And there's the clue - these were made / sold to / used in some numbers by technical colleges etc to teach about microprocessor systems and microntrollers - so they don't quite attract the reverence which the early home kit build microprocessor trainers do, but there is still a lot of interest in any sort of bare-bones microprocessor system using microprocessors from this era.

I can not begin to guess what it would be worth, probably checking only sold listings on ebay would give you some idea. If you really are inclined to throw it away I expect that there will be a whole crowd of us here waiting to catch it, so please don't throw it away. If you don't feel inclined to use it yourself or sell it on, then someone here will definitely rehome it.

Fun fact: In one of the epic space shoot-em-up games for the Commodore Amiga there was a small enemy ground-based craft which looked like an Emm-Arrr-Two but was called the 'Emma II', a clear nod to this training system by the programmers, who obviously must have encountered one at some point during their computing education.

[pointsman]

Looks like it is some kind of teaching aid.
When I was at Technical College in the early 80's we used something similar using a Z80.
It showed us how to use machine code using a HEX keyboard and toggle switches to program the CPU. Tedious but fun, thank goodness for assembler programs!

If memory serves me right (no pun intended) it was called a Microprofessor.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-Professor_MPF-I

[AnalogueMan]

Thanks for the info. Not looking to make money on it and don't really have a use for it myself so happy to pass on to someone who has an appreciation for such things and will give it a good home. Mods - should I relist it in the 'Offered' section or is it okay to proceed with expressions of interest on here?

[SiriusHardware]

According to the 'sticky' at the top of this section all items offered (whether free or for a fixed price) have to be offered in the 'Offered' section.

[AnalogueMan]

I'll put an 'offered' over there - anyone who's interested please pop over