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Czerweny Electrónica

Tadeo Czerweny S.A.^[1][2][3] is an Argentinian manufacturer of transformers and other high-power electrical equipment founded by Tadeo Czerweny in 1958.^[2]

In 1985 they entered microcomputer field as Czerweny Electrónica, by marketing three rebranded Timex Sinclair models assembled in Argentina:^[4][5] the CZ 1000^[6][7][8], CZ 1500^[9][10][8] and CZ 2000.^[11]

These machines had their hardware supplied by Timex Portugal, the portuguese branch of Timex Sinclair.^[5] Since Czerweny computers used Timex Sinclair chips and ROMs, their compatibility was close to 100% relative to the original Sinclair machines.^[8] They also look similar to the original Timex models. The CZ 1000 was a relabeled Timex Sinclair 1000, the CZ 1500 was similar to the Timex Sinclair 1500 and the CZ 2000^[12] is a Spectrum compatible in a Timex Sinclair 1500 case.^[8]

Afterwards, imported components were replaced with locally produced variants, and extra modifications were added, like a joystick port, composite monitor output and a restart button.^[5] This gave origin to new models, released in 1986 with original Czerweny cases: CZ 1000 Plus,^{[13][14][8][3]} CZ 1500 Plus^[15][8], CZ Spectrum^[16][17] and CZ Spectrum Plus.^[18][19] About 4000 machines were produced each month.^[5] Czerweny models competed in Argentina with the Brazilian TK 83, 85, 90x and genuine Sinclair machines, but were more successful.

The Paraná, Entre Rios province factory was destroyed by a fire in 1986, eventually ending Czerweny computer production.^[5]

Machines[edit]

• CZ 1000 - Relabeled Timex Sinclair 1000 (ZX81 clone with 2KB RAM).^[6][7][8]
• CZ 1500 - Relabeled Timex Sinclair 1500 (ZX81 clone with 16KB RAM).^[9][10][8]
• CZ 2000 - Uses a black version of the CZ 1500 case, with a ZX Spectrum rainbow logo added (ZX Spectrum clone).^[11][12]
• CZ 1000 Plus - A CZ 1000 in a similar case to the ZX Spectrum with rubber keys, adding two joystick ports, composite monitor out and a reset button.^{[13][14][8][3]}
• CZ 1500 Plus - A CZ 1500 with the same improvements as the CZ 1000 Plus.^[15][8]
• CZ Spectrum - A CZ 2000 with the same improvements as the CZ 1000 Plus in a larger box.^[16][17]
• CZ Spectrum Plus - A Sinclair ZX Spectrum clone in a Spectrum+ box, with added joystick ports, composite monitor out, a reset button and Sinclair BASIC messages were translated into Spanish.^[18][19]

References[edit]