Help Identifying Manufacturer - Amstrad 1980s 3" Drive - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mumoto
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 09, 2023, 11:56:26 pm
content: Hello all,Apologies if this is a nonsense post, but I'm hoping that somebody out there might be able to help.I'm trying to write a referenced (!) article on this bit of it. This is the PCB from an 'Amstrad' 3" floppy drive circa 1985.There's a Mitsubishi generic FFD controller QFP and a Hitachi motor driver, they're the only ICs.Now, although lots of internet sources claim this is Hitachi (Sugar basically kept a facility open for a decade blah blah blah) I as ascienticancan not find a reference for this beyond various old forums, BBs etc. I'm trying my best to tell therightstory. I imagine the symbol highlighted in red is a clue.My suppositions:It's a registration mark for manufacture, MuMoTo is an idiot: ignore. I'm big enough, it's fine if I'm being an idiot say;This was made my Hitachi as per received wisdom;This is ORION (Japan) - this ties in with the literature I have found, but not the oft' told story;It's a common mark for some sort of compliance;Something elseI am trying to confirm the stories rather than just repeat stuff I've found online, if anybody can help please let me know!It's from an Amstrad PCW8256.Thanks for anybody who can help. Long time watcher of EEV but first post, hoping somebody might help me confirm or deny!Ben

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2023, 01:38:44 am
content: Matsushita.

author: mumoto
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 10, 2023, 01:26:18 pm
content: Thank you so much - kinda leads me full circle back to where I started but makes sense.Apart from them building the PCB there would no other reason for their logo on it would there? There's no Matsushita tech in this otherwise.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2023, 01:32:09 pm
content: Panasonic/Matsushita did make many industrial floppy drives and later optical drives. These were never really branded externally (some exceptions may apply but I've only ever seen OEM ones.) So my guess would be the logo is in fact the manufacturers logo and it would be peculiar for the drive's PCB to be made by one company but the mechanics/final assembly by someone else (though I suppose, not impossible.)

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2023, 01:50:00 pm
content: The drive is called CF2 and if you google around a bit there is a lot of information. Several places mention that there were more manufacturers like Hitachi, Matsushita and Maxell.

author: mumoto
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 10, 2023, 05:19:36 pm
content: Thanks all.Yes it is a CF2 drive (the horror). I was trying to see if the rumour that Hitachi had to sell them below cost for years after they were popular as some deal with Amstrad but that seems unlikely if Matsushita made these later ones.... You know sometimes you hear a rumour that's been going on for years but somehow think something doesn't add up.Maxell also were involved but that was Hitachi at the time. Two cheeks of the same bottom....Thanks again all for your help.