Cramer Intel 8080A Microcomputer

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Cramer Intel 8080A Microcomputer	by Bill Degnan - 11/12/2023 13:46
Cramer Electronics Incorporated started advertising this 8080 kit microcomputer, the "Cramerkit", in late 1975 for $495 (or was it $1495?) but none were delivered until the spring of 1976. The Cramerkit was a designed by Microcomputer Technique Inc. and was shipped partially assembled. Click image for larger view. I managed to find a partial view of the product advertising, from Electronics magazine April 1976. According to the advertisement, the assembly of the kit takes minutes, meaning the wirewrapping and sockets are done at the factory. Download The owner of this "cramerkit" made his from the plans and did not actually purchase all of the components from Cramer Electronics. So, this may not look exactly like the factory-assembled version. The kit was assembled on a single wire-wrap motherboard with four ribbon cables connecting to a wire-wrapped front panel. As you can see there was plenty of room for expansion on the mainboard, but no slots were included for expansion boards. Click image for larger view. Closeup of the Cramerkit motherboard section containing the 8080A microprocessor, ROM ePROM and additional logic. Click image for larger view. Sitting on the top of the main powersupply, the electronics pictured above is of the ePROM control, with OFF/ON switch for when the ePROM should be written. You can't quite see the switch in this photo. Click image to see the entire ePROM control assembly. Pictured here to the right of the CPU is the circuitry for the cassette storage, the only I/O installed. If I was to add a Teletype or display this is where it would go. Note at the top of the photo is the connector for the cable that ends in two RCA jacks for the cassette. Click image for larger view. More photos NEXT? Learn how to operate the front panel, learn how to use the cassette interface, see if I can find any cassette programs that might be available, and maybe even add a display terminal. The ROM monitor has the capacity for a terminal. Reply
Additional Details 8080 CramerKit	by Bill Degnan - 04/17/2025 10:00
Larry Yaeger added some additional details "...Keep in mind I built mine from scrounged parts. The wire panel was from my days at AEL in Colmar, PA. In 1976 I changed employers and went to Medcraft, Inc. in Skippack, PA. I used a scrapped base plate from one of their products. The front and rear panels were made in their machine shop. Medcraft paid for the Intel parts. The OEM linear supply was excess equipment, while the +/-12VDC supply was from a scrapped Medcraft product. The other parts were scrounged or I purchased. I spray painted the case in my apartment; not the best place to do it. The Kit, as I recall did not come with any cassettes; only the EPROM which I duplicated. I don't have any cassettes which I used. ..." IEEE Explorer writeup scans Reply