Awa
Awa CPCs
Australian CPCs were distributed by Mitsubishi Electric AWA Pty Ltd. Externally, these CPCs are looking identical to english CPCs (with the normal Amstrad logo above the ESC key). Internally, LK1 and LK2 are shortened, so the BIOS displays Awa instead of Amstrad in the boot message:
- Awa 64K Microcomputer (for the 464)
- Awa 128K Microcomputer (for the 6128)
The australian variant is much less known than the german variant (which displays Schneider in the boot message, and which also has a Schneider logo on the keyboard). As by 2010, there has been little info about Awa CPCs in the internet. They were mentioned at amstrad.cpc.free.fr, and, confirmed in cpcwiki.eu/forum (where, thw australian users replied, one saying I just checked both my CPC464s and they show Awa 64K Microcomputer - I've never noticed that before, and the other said the 464 says Awa, but the 6128 I got a couple of years later says Amstrad). So it seems, not all australian CPCs were AWAs, and even users who did have them haven't always been aware of the existence of Awa CPCs.
Awa 64K Microcomputer
Awa 128K Microcomputer
Amstrad AWA Guarantee Card
Note: AWA stands for Amalgamated Wireless Australasia, which is an early example for Faulty Undenying Abbreviations.
Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd. (AWA)
An Australian company created in 1913 by the merger of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd (Australia) and the Australian Wireless Company (the local Telefunken lisencee), this merger was partly dictated or at the least encouraged by the Australian government which had a financial interest in the company. The company was active in making radios, hi-fi equipment, broadcast equipment and PA systems at the least into the early 80's and was one of the pioneers of the microgroove disks in the 1940's and the first company to make low noise 78'rpm pressings. Also made products sold using the Fisk and Radiola brands. Had by the 80's become a holding company with interests in Casino and IT services and changed it's name to AWA Limited in 1988.
