---
title: RAIR microcomputer Black Box
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1979'
cpus:
- '8085'
params:
  name: Black Box
  image: /media/museum/photos/rair_black-box_2s.jpg
  company: /companies/rair-microcomputer
  company_name: RAIR microcomputer
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Black Box
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: RAIR microcomputer
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1979'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Depends on the video terminal used
  - label: CPU
    value: 8085 (Later 8088)
  - label: SPEED
    value: '3 MHz then 5 MHz (8088: 5 MHz)'
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Unknown
  - label: RAM
    value: from 64 kb to 512 kb
  - label: VRAM
    value: Unknown
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: Commonly 80 chars. x 25 lines terminals
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: Unknown
  - label: COLORS
    value: Unknown
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 50.5 (W) x 40.5 (D) x 14 (H) cm.
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: from 2 to 8 serial ports (RS-232c / V24)
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: |-
      5''1/4 disk-drive (256 kb)\
      5 Mb ST-506 hard-disk, then 15 and 30 MB
  - label: OS
    value: |-
      Mono-user : CP/M\
      Multi-user : MP/M\
      Multi-machine : MP/M Network
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PRICE
    value: '64kb RAM and 2 x serial ports : 6097 (France, july 82)'
  tabs:
  - adverts
  forum_thread: 449
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (JAN. 1982)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/rair_black-box_pub_union_1.jpg
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (FEB. 1982)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/rair_blackbox_pub_1.jpg
  oc_id: 454
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230331024435/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=454
    date: '2023-03-31'
---

RAIR was a very early UK manufacturer of 8085-based systems and eventually licensed its designs to ICL.

This obscure system was sold with a hard-disk and a 5"1/4 disk-drive built-in. It was conceived to be used as a multi-user system.

The following languages were available : Basic, Cobol, Fortran, Pascal, PL/1.

More information about Black Box internal hardware in the [ICL Personal computer](/museum/icl-personal-computer/) page.

Pictured here is a model 3/30.

---

**Douro** says:\
This machine uses a Seagate st506 hard drive; I am quite certain that it could use many different drives through the interface.

**John Pettitt** adds:\
Later black boxes were 8088 based and used hard disks up to 15MB.\
RAIR was the first company in Europe to ship a 5.25 HD and the second world wide.

**Mark Sharples** reports:\
The boards on this model would sometimes come free from the mother board during transit. The engineer would arrive from Rair, wait for the client to leave the room, and then simply drop the computer from about two inches off the desk to re-install the system.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>