BBC Micro Model B — the machine that turned a national broadcaster into a computer retailer, built by Acorn specifically to headline the BBC’s own Computer Literacy Project.
Why it matters
The BBC’s decision to put its name behind one specific machine, rather than simply covering computing in the abstract, gave Acorn’s design an institutional reach no rival could match — reportedly present in around 80% of British schools by the mid-1980s, shaping how an entire generation first encountered programming, in BBC BASIC, in the classroom and on television. That educational dominance, more than any single technical feature, is why the Model B still gets treated as a foundational British machine rather than just another 6502-based micro of its era.
What to check before you buy
- Have the PSU checked before first power-on if it hasn’t been serviced — the original RIFA-branded mains filter capacitors are a genuine, well-documented fire-risk item on machines of this age
- Incorrect or missing keyboard input often traces back to the 74LS251/74LS30 keyboard controller chips rather than the keys themselves
- Screen corruption or a garbled display can point to the video ULA overheating — a known issue on the early VC2023 chip revision
- Ask which ROMs are fitted (DFS, BASIC version), since a Model B’s software capability depends heavily on what’s socketed inside
