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---
title: TIMEX / SINCLAIR 1000
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80A
params:
name: '1000'
image: /media/museum/photos/timex_1000_system_1.jpg
company: /companies/timex-sinclair
company_name: TIMEX / SINCLAIR
specs:
- label: NAME
value: '1000'
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: TIMEX / SINCLAIR
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: '1982'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Sinclair Basic
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Membrane keyboard
- label: CPU
value: Zilog Z80A
- label: SPEED
value: 3.25 Mhz
- label: RAM
value: 2 KB
- label: ROM
value: 8 kb
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 32 x 22
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 64 x 44
- label: COLORS
value: None, black & white
- label: SOUND
value: None
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 16.5(W) x 17.5(D) x 3.8(H) cm
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Expansion bus, tape-recorder, video
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: 9V external power supply unit
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Memory modules, thermal printer
- label: PRICE
value: $99.95
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
- hardware
- emulators
- links
- docs
photos:
- title: LARGE VIEW
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to **Marvin Wolfe**
image: /media/museum/photos/timex_1000_system_s3.jpg
- title: LEFT SIDE CONNECTORS
subtitle: ''
text: |-
From left to right:
\- RF modulator output to TV set - Tape recorder jacks - External AC converter jack
image: /media/museum/photos/timex_1000_leftside_1.jpg
- title: RAM MODULE
subtitle: ''
text: System connected to the Timex 16 KB RAM module
image: /media/museum/photos/timex_1000_system_2.jpg
- title: MOTHERBOARD
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Never, in the computers industry, a computer was made using so few components.
**(1)** 2 KB RAM memory chip, here a Toshiba version\
**(2)** 8 KB ROM chip holding the Sinclair BASIC interpreter\
**(3)** Z80A microprocessor, here a NEC version\
**(4)** ULA (Uncommitted Logic Array) chip which manages the whole system\
**(5)** UHF modulator allows direct connexion to a TV set\
**(6)** Tape recorder Input/Output jacks\
**(7)** DC power jack. Power is supplied by an external AC adaptor\
**(8)** Voltage régulator with its metallic cooler\
**(9)** This metal rod was added in the Timex version to avoid radio frequency emission and comply with US FCC rules\
**(10)** Keyboard connectors
image: /media/museum/photos/timex_1000_motherboard_1.jpg
- title: TIMEX USER MANUAL
subtitle: ''
text: Like the European version, this manual provides clear and progressive introduction to BASIC language
image: /media/museum/photos/timex_1000_manual_1.jpg
- title: BOX
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/timex_1000_box.jpg
adverts:
- title: US ADVERT.
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/timex_sinclair-1000_leaflet.jpg
- title: 'ADVERT #2'
subtitle: ''
text: Picture courtesy of Steve Browning, www.sbrowning.com/vintage.
image: /media/museum/pubs/timex_1000_pub_1.jpg
- title: 'ADVERT #3 (1983)'
subtitle: ''
text: In March 1983, the price of the assembled version decreased of $20 ($79.95 instead of $99.95)
image: /media/museum/pubs/timex_1000_pub_6.jpg
hardware:
- title: 64 KB
subtitle: from Suntroncis
text: Suntronics T/S 1000 & ZX81 64K Memory Pack (Male Socket on Back, Female Socket on Front).
image: /media/museum/hardware/timex_1000-suntronics-64k_1.jpg
- title: TIMEX SINCLAIR 1016
subtitle: 16k RAM extension
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/timex_sinclair-1000_16kram-1016.jpg
emulators:
- title: EightyOne
url: http://www.chuntey.com/eightyone/
platform: Windows
text: Excellent emulator emulating nearly all ZX computers (80, 81, Spectrums, Timex, etc.). As well as emulating the machines themselves, numerous addon cards are supported, including hi-res graphics, custom character sets, sound and colour cards.
- title: VB81
url: http://freestuff.grok.co.uk/vb81/
platform: Windows
text: Sinclair ZX81 Emulator (with Visual Basic sources). Excellent emulator
- title: X-Tender
url: http://www.delhez.demon.nl/
platform: Windows
text: The best ZX emulator for PC compatibles
- title: ZX 81 Homepage
url: http://www.maxon.de/homes/r_kurz/
platform: Windows
text: ''
- title: ZX81
url: http://www.w-4.de/~kurz/
platform: Apple
text: ''
- title: XZ81
url: http://www.zx81.nl/
platform: Unix / Linux
text: And other ZX-81 emulators there...
- title: ZX-81 Emulator 2.1
url: http://www.hh.schule.de/hhs/mjaap/ftp/zx81_v21.zip
platform: Atari
text: ''
- title: Java ZX81 Emulator
url: http://home.clara.net/rsergeant/
platform: Other platform
text: Java emulator
- title: Timex/Sinclair 1000 Emulator (Java)
url: http://www.vavasour.ca/jeff/trs80.html#ts1000
platform: Other platform
text: With this JAVA emulator, you'll be able to run a Timex/Sinclair 1000 in your browser window
- title: zx81emu
url: http://www.tlienhard.com/ap800.shtml
platform: Other platform
text: ZX-81 Emulator for the SonyEricsson P800 Smart Phone
- title: MESS
url: http://www.mess.org
platform: Multiplatform
text: MESS emulates the ZX-81, Lambda 8300, Power 3000 and other clones !
links:
- title: Achromic's ZX81 Site
url: http://zx81.achromic.co.uk/
text: A small, ZX81 fan site. With games and links to some emulators
- title: DOCUMENTATION
url: http://www.8bit.ht.st/
text: The Lil Old Sinclair Computer Technical Information Repository
- title: DOCUMENTATION
url: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/sinclair.zx81/
text: ZX-81 on-line manual. Great work !
- title: Jame's Sinclair ZX-81 Page
url: http://james.istop.com/zx81/
text: Some technical infos and links
- title: Planet Sinclair
url: http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/computers/zx81/zx81.htm
text: Planet Sinclair has very interesting information on the ZX-81
- title: Sinclair ZX Hardware Website
url: http://www.xs4all.nl/~echorod/zx/index.htm
text: Features designs to build your own Sinclair computer
- title: The ZX81 Hardware and Software Collection
url: http://zx81.atspace.com/
text: Online museum for ZX81 hardware, software and literature
- title: TS1000.US
url: http://www.ts1000.us/
text: Documentation, software, hardware tips and more
- title: Zebra Systems, Inc.
url: http://www.zebrasystems.com/zebrasystems/zx81/index.html
text: Website where you can buy Timex/Sinclair products including ZX-81 kits !
- title: ZX81 Collection
url: http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/
text: Online collection of ZX81 tapes, books and hardware
- title: ZX-81 forum
url: http://zx81.tlienhard.com/
text: A new ZX-81 forum. cool.
- title: ZX81 Home Page
url: http://www.honneamise.u-net.com/zx81/
text: FAQ and ZX81 Charts.
- title: ZX-81 The Archive
url: http://www.imarshall.karoo.net/zx81/zx81technical.htm
text: Lot of info here
- title: ZX-81 webring
url: http://www.zx81.de/webring/index.htm
text: Very useful to explore other ZX-81 related sites
- title: ZX-Team Homepage
url: http://www.zx81.de/
text: Quite a reference for the ZX-80, ZX-81, TS1000-1500, PC8300, Lambda and Jupiter Ace !
- title: ZX-TEAM-homepage & ZX-81 Web-Ring
url: http://www.zx81.de/
text: Logically useful
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: Sinclair computers
docs:
- title: SINCLAIR ZX-81 BASIC PROGRAMMING
url: ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/books/ZX81BASICProgramming.pdf
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sinclair_zx81_basic-programming.jpg
text: |-
[**SINCLAIR ZX-81 BASIC PROGRAMMING**](ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/books/ZX81BASICProgramming.pdf)written by Sinclair Research Limited / Steven Vickers
 compiled/archived by Robin Stuart\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 5,2 MB\
 source : [www.worldofspectrum.org](http://www.worldofspectrum.org/)
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
- title: TIMEX SINCLAIR 1000 - USER MANUAL
url: http://www.ts1000.us/usermanuals.htm
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/timex-sinclair_1000_user-manual.jpg
text: |-
[**TIMEX SINCLAIR 1000 - USER MANUAL**](http://www.ts1000.us/usermanuals.htm)written by Timex / Sinclair / Steven Vickers
 compiled/archived by Bill Hicks\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 3.5 MB\
 source : [www.ts1000.us](http://www.ts1000.us/)
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
- title: THE COMPLETE TIMEX TS1000 & SINCLAIR ZX81 ROM DISASSEMBLY
url: null
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/sinclair_zx81_rom-disasembly.jpg
text: |-
**THE COMPLETE TIMEX TS1000 & SINCLAIR ZX81 ROM DISASSEMBLY**\
written by Dr. Ian Logan & Dr. Frank O'Hara
 compiled/archived by Bill Hicks\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 5 MB\
 source : [www.ts1000.us](http://www.ts1000.us/)
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
- title: TIMEX SINCLAIR 2020 COMPUTER PROGRAM RECORDER
url: null
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/ts2020_tape-recorder_manual.jpg
text: |-
**TIMEX SINCLAIR 2020 COMPUTER PROGRAM RECORDER**\
written by Timex Computer Corporation
 compiled/archived by Bill Hicks / www.ts1000.us\
 type of document : Online reader
**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
comments:
- author: R Perot (US)
date: Sunday 5th August 2018
text: I learned how to program basic on this one summer at my grandparent''s house when I was 9 or so. I remember writing a silly little RPG game in basic on this thing, this kickstarted a budding computer obsession.
- author: Jeffreson (Medford, Oregon USA)
date: Tuesday 6th February 2018
text: Just picked up one of these at an estate sale, pretty cool little device and a nice addition to the collection.
- author: Robert (usa)
date: Monday 13rd March 2017
text: |-
I had one of these in the 90s when i was a still a kid i had an older cousin who owned it before me while they were still in high school in the 80s\
my aunt and uncle gave it to me when my cousin finally moved out
- author: KenC (USA)
date: Thursday 28th April 2016
text: Wow, this brings back memories. A friend of mine in 1982 told me I should check out this little machine and he let me borrow it for a weekend. He handed it to me in a brown paper bag (not sure why I recall that). Now for over 30 years it has been my profession. It all started with this little Timex computer.
- author: Frank Foerr (Maryland Heights, MO)
date: Saturday 2nd April 2016
text: I have the 1000 model with printer, power supplies and tape recorder as well as lots of tapes. $100 + shipping and it''s all yours. frdoerr@juno.com
- author: Penguin
date: Tuesday 3rd February 2015
text: Wow, that was my first computer. Pretty cool!
- author: Chuck Rose (Vermont, USA)
date: Saturday 27th December 2014
text: |-
After I fried my mail ordered ZX-81 because the memory pack shifted I presume. I bought one of these from a local store. I also got the 16k memory pack by Timex Sinclair too. This time I used velcro to make the connection more stable and this worked pretty well.
The computer came bundled with software (whereas the ZX 81 did not) on cassette for Personal Finance, 2k games, 16k games, and Flight Simulator. I played flight simulator for hours on end. I also wrote some programs for it including a cassette file based inventory program in which you read the whole file in from cassette into arrays. Then you could manipulate the files as needed and when you were all done, you could write the file back to cassette. I also wrote an invoicing program but could never really test it because I never got a printer for this computer.
- author: Clay Bowen (USA)
date: Thursday 18th April 2013
text: I remember this being given away in boxes of Cheerios, like a "prize"
- author: Jim (Canada)
date: Wednesday 26th December 2012
text: |-
I had a Timex Sinclair 1000 with the 16K mem expansion and thermal printer.\
This thing was a throwback to the dark ages of time sharing when you used a teletype for input and then waited around for something to happen. In black and white.\
It was a computer however, and the esoteric methods of key entry were the initiation into a special cadre.
- author: Connor Krukosky
date: Monday 2nd April 2012
text: I have one new in the box with its clear wrapping on it completely unopened! Got it for 10 bucks!
- author: Goldminer69er (Arizona U.S.A.)
date: Wednesday 17th August 2011
text: Just got a Timex Sinclair 1000, I plan on having all kinds of fun rebuilding this machine and learning basic. Got mine in the original box, has all the cables, and the manual. bought it off ebay for $15.00 USD. I find myself completely hooked on vintage computers. I also collect vintage software and vintage computer books. I find these old books help me with repairing modern computers. It seems they provide a good foundation, Thanks for your time. P.S. This sight is awesome.
- author: Diogo
date: Wednesday 14th July 2010
text: hey people, sorry for the offtopic but, does anyone knows where can i find a market price or anything for the timex 2068? i own one, and i see that it is a extremely rare item! still no ebay as it for sale and no one really mentions it very much. coudl be a good sign for deal lol
- author: Albert
date: Friday 26th March 2010
text: I still have my Timex Sinclair. It sits on its end next to several of my programming manuals.
- author: Larry G. (Columbia MO.)
date: Tuesday 14th October 2008
text: |-
Like most here, this too was my first.\
I had the ZX-80 and 81, and for me back then haveing 2 of anythang was rare. like paul, i too was around 11 years old. I realy wanted the TS 2068 when i seen it.\
I had an old tape deck as well and a 16K back pack.\
You know what''s kinda funny?\
As i type this, the laptop is not much bigger. HA!
- author: Paul S. (Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.A.)
date: Wednesday 29th November 2006
text: Wow, seeing this brings back a flood of childhood memories; this was the first "real" computer that I had owned; I remember lusting over it, and the additional memory pack, for what seemed like a an eternity until my parents surprised me with it on Christmas morning. This was my first computer love and I spent many hours typing- keying in rather- those many lines of BASIC programs just to have the satisfaction of being able to see some line go across the black and white t.v. "monitor" (an old extra b/w tv my parents also gave me) or to play what could barely be considered a game now. Then, if all the stars alligned properly, I was able to save the program to a cassette tape (an old tape recorded- that can probably no longer be found in a store) and would be elated if I was then able to re-load the program from the tape (which, I seemed to have a very low success rate- but hey, I was only about 11 years old then). As I recall, I was able to make it produce some sort of sound, a
low pitch and a higher pitch, even though the specs seem to indicate that there was no sound. After a couple of years, my parents moved me on to the Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer 2. I wish that I still had both of these computers but had decided to hand them down to younger cousins to play with after Windows came out, those kids can now sling code in circles around me and are making triple my income; I wish I had never of gotten lazy with lazy operater systems and pursued programming. When I have a child, I am going to locate and buy one of these old systems so that he or she will "cut their teeth" properly; kinda like when Dad insisted that I learn to drive a stick shift car before being allowed to drive an automatic transmission car. If you have one of these old systems, please keep it nice because I might offer a tidy sum when the time comes.
- author: Craig Brophy (USA)
date: Monday 14th November 2005
text: This was the first computer I ever owned. I first learnt how to program on this one using code I found in Mad Magazine. I had a tape drive with it. It used regular cassette tapes. I had a flight simulator the used both side of the tape. It took 45 minutes to load up the game. I also had a 16k Ram pack (Yup, 16K!). A big black box that plugged into the back. The ram pack cost as much as the computer. On a side note, I had to return the thing two times because of the poorly designed keypad. It would just stop working.
- author: Bruce Roeser (Lake Mary, FL)
date: Monday 7th July 2003
text: |-
Oh man ... I remember this little guy. I had one of these back in '82. The computer allowed you to load BASIC programs off cassette. A friend of mine in California and I wanted to be able to work on software together but loading two halves of the program from cassette wasn't supported. SO ... I got a ZX80 manual and learned how to write assembly code for it. (To that point I had only written in BASIC or FORTRAN).
Using the manual, I HAND assembled (in Octal if memory serves) a loader that would enable the two of us to work on our respective halves of the program. The loader would enable me to load the first half of the program into memory then it would move "MEMTOP" below the loaded portion so the 2nd half could load - then the loader would "splice" the two halves of the program together. Worked the first time I loaded it. This little machine was one of a couple of machines that really got me into software development.
- author: tf (Ionia, MI)
date: Monday 9th June 2003
text: I actually remember learning to type on one of these little buggers, rofl... it SUCKED!!!
- author: Kevin (Dallas)
date: Sunday 28th April 2002
text: The Sinclair was so simple that it begged to be modified. SYNC magazine offered a monly forum for enthusiests share programs and hacks. If you had patience and small fingers you never needed to buy software. Just type whatever you want from redily available source code. There were dozens of companies who manufatured various add-ons for the Sinclair. You coul get a real keyboard, up to 128K of memory, a sound modual and long life baterie to take it on the road. There was also a 40 coloum thermal printer and a modem. Because the sinclar had a simple instruction set and consumed only 9 volts many of these handy little black wedges ended up being uncased and stared new carears as the brains of various home robotic projects. The direct descent of the machines is still alive and well today in the for of the Rabit Technologies prototype / experimentors board which is powered by a Zilog Z180. The Z180 is an 18 MHz update for the classic Z80 1MHz chip and uses virtually the same instruction
set. At one time Sinclars were used as door stops at Commodore headquarters. Comodore offered a short lized promotion where by they would give a $100 rebate on the purchase of a C64 with the trade-in of your old computer or video game system. At the time the promo went to press the sreet price of the TS1000 had slipped to about $44.95. So lots of people bought TS1000's just to turn into Commodore and get the $55. Commodore was flooded with the little black weges, some of which had never been opened!
related:
- /museum/czerweny-cz-1000
- /museum/czerweny-cz-1000-plus
- /museum/lambda-electronics-ltd-pc-8300
- /museum/microace
- /museum/sinclair-zx-80
- /museum/sinclair-zx-81
- /museum/tonel-pc
oc_id: 477
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230531221915/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=477
date: '2023-05-31'
---
This is the US version of the Sinclair [ZX-81](/museum/sinclair-zx-81/) marketed by Timex. The main difference is that the TS 1000 has 2 KB RAM instead of the 1 KB RAM of the original ZX-81.
See the [ZX-81](/museum/sinclair-zx-81/) pages for more info...
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