On display we have a TS1500 with a faceplate that has been extensively modified and has a different ROM (EPROM). Due to where it came from, we believe it was an equipment used in the TIMEX factory, with the aim of developing something else.

We also have some equipment R. Morgado acquired from TIMEX, which allowed to monitor how programmes and games ran on a Z80 processor.

As you can see, the equipment would be connected to Spectrum’s processor in order to access the state of the processor at any given time. This allowed people to do what is called a debug. This means that the TS1500 accompanied and overlooked whilst a programme was running in order to understand where it was bugging. Nowadays, this is done by software on the source editor, where the programme writes its’ own code, but at the time this kind of technology and tools were not available yet.

From what we have been told, this also allowed to quickly remove protection from programmes who had them. However, that is not relevant now…