Fidelity Champion Sensory Chess Challenger Septennial (1984)

FIDELITY ELECTRONICS LD. INC was an American company, founded in 1959, bought in March 1970 by Sidney and Myron Samole. From 1976, Fidelity Electronics developed and manufactured dedicated chess computers. On February 21, 1984, FIDELITY ELECTRONICS LD. INC filed its petition for relief under Chapter 7 of Bankruptcy Code and transferred its ownership to FIDELITY COMPUTER PRODUCTS INC. becoming later FIDELITY INTERNATIONAL,INC. Their computers won the first four World Microcomputer Chess Championships: London 1980 (Chess Challenger ), Travemünde 1981 (Fidelity X), Budapest 1983 (Elite A/S), and Glasgow 1984 (Elite). They won 4 consecutive years the United States Open Computer Chess Championships (Mobile, Alabama) in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. Sold in 1989 to Hegener & Glaser. Fidelity disappeared definitely in 1992.
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CHVL
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Fidelity Champion Sensory Chess Challenger Septennial (1984)

Unread post by CHVL » Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:23 am

This series was emitted to celebrate the Fidelity Seventh Year in the business of chess computers.
The series was limited at 500 exemplars (?).
This marketing operation was well orchestrated by Fidelity. Using the remaining stock cases of the Champion Sensory Chess Challenger Series to make the Septennial Series. This explains well the Septennial serial numbers pointing on different years (also before 1984). In this optic, the serial number gives only the year and the day number of the case production. The hardware inside the computer was modified in 1984. Reviewing the SN of Septennial published on the web of (collectors or eBay), different SN types could be identified:
- the year 1981: SN 1 37x xxxx
- the year 1982: SN 2 31x xxxx
... to be completed...

More surprising was the use of Sensory 9 pieces with rare/exceptional (?) green board.
The upgrade of regular Champion Sensory CC to Septennial at the demand of customers (?) was reported.

Specs:
- year: 1984
- model: CSC
- program: Dan and Kate Spracklen
- microprocessor: 6502 - 8 bit
- speed: 3 MHz
- ROM: 24 Kb
- RAM: 4 Kb
- library: 8160 half-moves
- 64 LED + LCD screen
- Elo: 1695

Septennial stickers:
- one on the box recto face and one on the box side, near/on the Serial number sticker (sometimes covering it);
- one on the front wood frame;
- one on the covert page of the user manual.

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