The Fairchild Channel F was the first home console to offer games using swappable cartridges. The cartridge system was designed by Jerry Lawson, a pioneering African-American electronics engineer - someone whose work we look forward to highlighting at future Retro Roadshow events.

The Magnavox Odyssey was the first commercial home video game console. Although its hardware capabilities were extremely limited, it opened the floodgates that led to the future of home video games. Designed by gaming pioneer Ralph Baer, the Odyssey is something we hope to share with future Retro Roadshow attendees.

As part of the “holy trinity of personal computers” that debuted in 1977 alongside the Apple II and Commodore PET, the TRS-80 Model 1 was a landmark system. Sold through the vast Radio Shack retail network, the TRS-80 Model 1 launched a product line that led the industry for years and introduced millions of users to the power of personal computing. The Retro Roadshow is proud to have both an early Apple II and a (later model) Commodore PET in our collection, and we very much hope to finish assembling our “1977 trinity” set for future exhibitions.

Although not technically the very first ‘personal’ computer (earlier kits like the Kenbak-1 can stake that claim), the Altair 8800 is widely credited with launching the personal computing revolution. Offered as both a “DIY” kit and as pre-built systems, the Altair’s iconic blinking lights, numerous switches, and standard-setting S100 architecture earn it a place as a revered milestone in tech history. The Retro Roadshow hopes to one day have an Altair (or similar early personal computer) to share with attendees.

During the “multimedia boom” of the 1990s, a number of vendors rushed to offer consoles offering CD-ROM drives and libraries of “edutainment” software. Although a number of models were offered in North America, the entire platform struggled to make a dent, and today these machines are fairly hard to find in good working order. The Retro Roadshow hopes to find one we can share with attendees at future events!

Released exclusively in Japan, the X68000 series blurred the lines between desktop computers and gaming consoles. Featuring striking industrial design, a unique OS, and a library of excellent games, The Retro Roadshow hopes to acquire one of these fascinating systems to share at future events.