Need help to identify this graphic card

[David_M]

I got this card from a client as part of a bulk lot to test and repair.

Based on the chips it is some type of hires analog video card. But exactly what card and how to test it eludes me.
It has no ROM on the card so I assume it requires drivers or purpose built software to support it, hence the need to identify it so I can begin to track down software to test it.

 

[groink]

Found this: https://www.google.com/patents/US4704699

 

[dc99]

Hi David,

There is not a lot of info about this card available online. I believe it was made by Stoll and has something to do with knitting systems. I suspect you might be missing some of the hardware required to operate this.

Cheers

 

[olePigeon]

Could it be a video overlay card?

 

[RalfK]

I got this card from a client as part of a bulk lot to test and repair.

I've got some photos of that card and a name: "Stoll Farb-Controller", see on the backside. This is a normal bitmapped graphic card from West-Germany, AFAIK.

Several years ago I collected some technical "papers", see PM.

Based on the chips it is some type of hires analog video card. But exactly what card and how to test it eludes me.
It has no ROM on the card so I assume it requires drivers or purpose built software to support it, hence the need to identify it so I can begin to track down software to test it.

You must write your own driver because you can't use this card with standard software. Find the address of the graphics controller chip (2 addresses) and the colour palette. It's no miracle to configure the chips I've a similiar graphics adapter with a 68000 cpu. Probably you must change the oscillator for your screen.

- Ralf

 

[David_M]

Apparently it's a "Apple 2gs Stoll Farb-Controller" Video controller.

Thank you RalphK for the schematic. I did a quick comparison with the chips on the card and the schematic matches.

 

[stynx]

The Stoll Farb-Controller is a graphics card that was capable to display 256 indexed colors on up to 640x400. The computer system was used for Stoll flat-knitting machines.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Designing-System_11541836.html

More infos here:
http://www.apple2gs.republika.pl/

The Stoll CMS 400, 401 and CMS 300 were most likely the flat-knitting
Machines the VDU was intended for.

The Stoll VDU with a specially designed workspace won a design award in 1988
http://ifworlddesignguide.com/entry/18157-stoll-vdu-computerarbeitsplatz-f-gestrickmuster-erst/

Since i own a card myself, I had a short contact with a person that claimed to have manuals for the System but i have never received anything.
http://www.megalextoria.com/forum2/index.php?t=msg&th=13497&goto=35781&

if You are interested to sell the card, i'm interested.

-Jonas

 

[David_M]

if You are interested to sell the card, i'm interested.

-Jonas

The card belongs to a client, who gave me over 100 apple 2 cards to repair. I just asked him about it and he may be willing to sell if the price is right.
I also asked if he had software or manuals for the card and he said he might have but isnt sure. He does recall who he got the card from, apparently that guy sold the apple stuff when he upgraded to an SGI controller for the knitting machine.
I've asked him to hunt for the manual and or disks and perhaps even contact the guy he got it from.

If you PM an offer for the card I'll p[ass it along to him.

 

[stynx]

The card belongs to a client, who gave me over 100 apple 2 cards to repair. I just asked him about it and he may be willing to sell if the price is right.
I also asked if he had software or manuals for the card and he said he might have but isnt sure. He does recall who he got the card from, apparently that guy sold the apple stuff when he upgraded to an SGI controller for the knitting machine.
I've asked him to hunt for the manual and or disks and perhaps even contact the guy he got it from.

If you PM an offer for the card I'll p[ass it along to him.

The Stoll VDU was offered in an earlier Apple IIe version as well. The evolution of the system lead to the final IIgs VDU that was supported well into the 90s. Part of the IIgs system was a special color monitor, a king sized tablet and a printer together with a monochrome Apple II monitor and 5.25" drives. Im really interested to actually see a complete system in person. I actually own just the FC and im looking for documentation, software and the specs of the color monitor.

-Jonas