Capital Software C-Interface — Coleco ADAM Printer Expansion (1985)
ADAM Hardware
$45.00
Original Capital Software C-Interface expansion card (1985) with Digital Data Pack software and complete 34-page manual. Enables the Coleco ADAM to print to standard dot-matrix printers via Commodore Serial Bus or Centronics Parallel interface. Designed by Thomas J. Golab, St. Louis, MO. Extremely rare — one-man mail-order operation for a discontinued platform.
The Capital Software C-Interface (1985) is one of the rarest third-party hardware peripherals ever produced for the Coleco ADAM computer. This listing includes the original expansion card, the Digital Data Pack containing CDRIVER software and BASIC printing programs, and the complete 34-page instruction manual with hand-drawn schematics.
WHAT IT DOES:
The C-Interface plugs into the ADAM's internal Expansion Slot #1 and routes a 6-pin DIN cable through a user-drilled hole in the expansion cover to an external printer. It enables printing to standard dot-matrix printers — replacing the ADAM's slow, loud daisy wheel printer with faster, quieter alternatives like the Okidata 120 (120 CPS), Okimate 10 (color graphics), or Comrex CR220.
Two board variants were produced: Commodore Serial Bus (for Commodore-compatible printers and the MW-302C Centronics adapter) and Centronics Parallel (direct connection to parallel printers).
HARDWARE:
5 standard TTL ICs: 7406N, 74LS32N, SN74LS175N, 74LS368AN, SN74LS30N
All communication protocols implemented in Z80 software (bit-banging) — no dedicated protocol chip
Single-sided FR-4 PCB with bare copper traces
30-pin card-edge connector for ADAM Expansion Slot #1
6-pin DIN connector for external printer cable
SOFTWARE (on Digital Data Pack):
CDRIVER binary (1,481 bytes, loads at address 27986) — the core printer driver
8 BASIC programs: graphprint, comprint, cenprint, cdiagnosis, comtext, centext, bwtest, colortest
Supports text printing, B&W graphics screen dumps, and color graphics printing (Okimate 10)
PR#2/PR#3 patch support for transparent SmartBASIC printing (via December 1986 update)
MANUAL:
34 pages covering installation, software setup, printer compatibility, and troubleshooting
Hand-drawn schematics for both board variants
Board dimensional drawing and component placement diagram
12-point PCB fabrication specification
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Capital Software was a one-man operation run by Thomas J. Golab. The C-Interface was sold exclusively via mail order from St. Louis, Missouri between approximately 1985 and 1987. IC date codes on the board place component sourcing from October 1984 through April 1985. Production quantities are unknown but believed to be very small. This is among the rarest documented ADAM peripherals in existence.
Sold as-is. Untested vintage hardware.
WHAT IT DOES:
The C-Interface plugs into the ADAM's internal Expansion Slot #1 and routes a 6-pin DIN cable through a user-drilled hole in the expansion cover to an external printer. It enables printing to standard dot-matrix printers — replacing the ADAM's slow, loud daisy wheel printer with faster, quieter alternatives like the Okidata 120 (120 CPS), Okimate 10 (color graphics), or Comrex CR220.
Two board variants were produced: Commodore Serial Bus (for Commodore-compatible printers and the MW-302C Centronics adapter) and Centronics Parallel (direct connection to parallel printers).
HARDWARE:
5 standard TTL ICs: 7406N, 74LS32N, SN74LS175N, 74LS368AN, SN74LS30N
All communication protocols implemented in Z80 software (bit-banging) — no dedicated protocol chip
Single-sided FR-4 PCB with bare copper traces
30-pin card-edge connector for ADAM Expansion Slot #1
6-pin DIN connector for external printer cable
SOFTWARE (on Digital Data Pack):
CDRIVER binary (1,481 bytes, loads at address 27986) — the core printer driver
8 BASIC programs: graphprint, comprint, cenprint, cdiagnosis, comtext, centext, bwtest, colortest
Supports text printing, B&W graphics screen dumps, and color graphics printing (Okimate 10)
PR#2/PR#3 patch support for transparent SmartBASIC printing (via December 1986 update)
MANUAL:
34 pages covering installation, software setup, printer compatibility, and troubleshooting
Hand-drawn schematics for both board variants
Board dimensional drawing and component placement diagram
12-point PCB fabrication specification
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Capital Software was a one-man operation run by Thomas J. Golab. The C-Interface was sold exclusively via mail order from St. Louis, Missouri between approximately 1985 and 1987. IC date codes on the board place component sourcing from October 1984 through April 1985. Production quantities are unknown but believed to be very small. This is among the rarest documented ADAM peripherals in existence.
Sold as-is. Untested vintage hardware.
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