Today I have quite the input device spectacle for you. This is the Cromemco JS-1 Joystick Console. It was made for use with S-100 bus, mini and micro computers. This specific set was used with my grandfather’s Altair. Now this wasn’t just a standard joystick, it also included 4 Cherry M6 switches, a speaker, and an amplifier, along with the 2 axis joystick.

Cromemco were one of the first computer peripheral specialists in the world of early computing. Most of their peripherals and computers all centered around expansion and the S-100 bus slots. Creating interface devices for all of the S-100 bus hobby computers at the time. Cromemco created the first microcomputer interfaced digital camera, and color graphics. They needed something to be able to control these devices, and that is where the JS-1 Joystick Consoles were born.

You can find the actual manuals for these consoles, in PDF form here and here

I know that Cherry M6 switches are already pretty well documented and covered, so I did not feel the need to go super in depth with the switches themselves, on these consoles. There were different 1-2 digit numbers on the tops of each of the switches, but I don’t think they pose that much significance. If more photos of the switches would be appreciated, again, just let me know.

I thought this was a pretty neat find, and it is actually in pretty good condition. The PDF manuals seem to have the wiring diagrams and everything listed, but if anyone is interested I could pop open the case and take some more photos of the insides.