MOS Technology buildings to be demolished!

[Raffaele]

A friend of mine told me that MOS Tech buildings a.k.a. Commodore Semiconductor Group, are about to be demolished!

Site is under heavy cleanup from any pollution. The cleanup is performed by EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency).

The person who talked with this friend of mine has told him that in the warehouses are entire stocks of MOS chips that will be destroyed or given for free due to the fact that the boxes in which chips are stored has been ruined by water flood...

So it is not sure if these chips are still good or even functioning...

..But sure there should be plenty of 8520 CIA Chips that could be used as Amiga Classic spare parts...

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Recent news I found with a brief Google search about MOS Tech:

http://www.commodore.ca/text/mos.htm

http://www.antiquetech.com/companies/GMT%20Microelectronics%20Corporation.htm

http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/PAD093730174/index.htm

http://www.epa.gov/reg3hscd/npl/PAD093730174.htm

To contact EPA:

http://www.epa.gov/reg3hscd/super/sites/PAD093730174/index.htm#Contacts

MOS Tech/Commodore Semiconductor Group is based in Pennsylvania.

Is there any former amigan in Pennsylvania who could perform a survey and check if these stocks of chips are for real and it is also real that these chips are given for free?

Sites to be checked:

The Commodore Semiconductor Group site, located in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Also ()

integrated circuit manufacturing plant in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

I wonder if DiscreetFX or Individual Computers are interested in MOS CIA Chips, or even SID chips (if there any in the warehouse).

[bloodline]

If there are any chips there (which I humbly doubt), they need to be rescued!

[ChuckT]

I live in Pennsylvania and I'm not far from West Chester, Norristown and Valley Forge but I don't know where the MOS buildings were.

I don't even know whom to contact or whom the chips would belong to.

I know that you could probably contact David Hayne or Bill Herd at jersey.net and ask them if they are willing to help.
I think jersey.net is owned by Bill.

How can I help?

[CLS2086]

So it is not sure if these chips are still good or even functioning...

they just need a cleanup with isopropil alcool !!

[Matt_H]

Something tells me that there isn't any inventory left in there. At least, nothing that would be of any interest to the Amiga community. There were reports/rumors that non-retail stocks of parts dried up very quickly after the bankruptcy and that Escom received no actual product with their purchase of Commodore. Their 8520s and Kickstart ROMs are even labeled "Amiga Tech" instead of CSG or MOS, strongly suggesting a new production run elsewhere.

Still, with the possibility of something being there and plenty of contact addresses at the EPA links, I think it'd be good if someone local did check it out.

[Stedy]

More than likely, any remaing chips are from GMT Microelectronics, the last users of that site. See the Antiquetech link.

[Plaz]

Stedy wrote:
More than likely, any remaing chips are from GMT Microelectronics, the last users of that site. See the Antiquetech link.

I'd say that's a very good assumption. GMT would have probably tossed any left overs from CMD in the bin when they moved in and took over the building. However there is always a slim chance some bit of buried treasure might be found. Too bad I'm so far away or I'd go have a look.

Plaz

[bloodline]

http://www.antiquetech.com/companies/GMT%20Microelectronics%20Corporation.htm

Pretty much looks like any CSG stock would be gone by now...

[A6000]

If we cross all our fingers and toes, and wish really, really hard, someone might find the masks for the custom chips behind a filing cabinet or somewhere.

[bloodline]

A6000 wrote:
If we cross all our fingers and toes, and wish really, really hard, someone might find the masks for the custom chips behind a filing cabinet or somewhere.

Masks for processes that probably don't exist anymore... we are much better off  with MiniMig/CloneA/NetAmi...

[alenppc]

bloodline wrote:

Masks for processes that probably don't exist anymore... we are much better off  with MiniMig/CloneA/NetAmi...

Yeah, but wouldn't those help improve compatibility with the Minimig and/or give it a possibility of an AGA upgrade, etc?

I wonder if Amiga Inc still has them...

[bloodline]

alenppc wrote:

bloodline wrote:

Masks for processes that probably don't exist anymore... we are much better off  with MiniMig/CloneA/NetAmi...

Yeah, but wouldn't those help improve compatibility with the Minimig and/or give it a possibility of an AGA upgrade, etc?

No, and the designs might still be covered by some kind of copyright... best to stay well clear!!!

I wonder if Amiga Inc still has them...

Amiga Inc never had them.

[freqmax]

If someone is living near the facility. Then check it out..?
If you assume there's nothing worthwhile in there, well then it will be selffullfilling profecy :-D

My plan would be to go there and have a look. (If there's someone on site, ask them for access/tour of the facility)
If anything worthwhile is found, then contact EPA and ask them for permission to rescue remaining chips.
Any offices could ofcourse also be checked out. In particular spaces that look deserted (behind drawers, storage rooms etc..). As they are the most likely location for any CSG stuff to have survived GMT. So:

 * Don't wait.
 * Check out site & photograph.
 * Try to get indoor access.
 * Get permission for anything to be removed.

Some pocket money + combo car for quick deals could be useful aswell :-D
Looking forward for the final photodocumentation of the site ..

[ChuckT]

If anyone is willing to come to the Philadelphia International Airport then I may be willing to show them around if they can coordinate it with me.

I could survey the buildings but I wouldn't know what I was looking for.  It would be an undertaking to post lengthy videos on Youtube and the quality wouldn't be that great and going back and forth would be an issue for me.

I'm sure anything there left behind might be trash they were too lazy to throw out and I might be just taking home something that didn't work.

Even if I did rescue something, how would you get an export permit to share it with any Amiga people worldwide?

I called and left a voicemail with one ex-commodore employee and they didn't call me back which doesn't make me feel confident.

If anyone wants to get something from there legally and use my car trunk or store something at my house then I don't have a problem with that but this needs a project coordinator.

[Nlandas]

ChuckT wrote:
I could survey the buildings but I wouldn't know what I was looking for.  It would be an undertaking to post lengthy videos on Youtube and the quality wouldn't be that great and going back and forth would be an issue for me.

Don't let not knowing stop you - most of the chips - if you find any would be labeled CSG.

Take a look at an Amiga 4000 motherboard for example.

Photo of A4000 MB from hardware database

Others here would likely be able to give details on any chips that wouldn't be labeled. (I'd look for schematics too - and take any that you are allowed to but I doubt any are there.

-Nyle