Early Video Game Cartridge Prototype

Made by Fairchild Channel F program (attributed)1976California, United States

A hand-labeled prototype game cartridge of the type developed for the first cartridge-based home console. Prototype carts carried hand-written labels and rewired edge connectors; they document the invention of interchangeable game software.

Provenance

1976

Assembled during console development

attributed

1984

Retained by developer

owner supplied

2017

Acquired by current collector

documented

2026

Digitally preserved in Relic

confirmed

Current Custodian

E. Vaughn

South Florida, United States

Request Research Access

Access Matrix

Digital viewingpublic
Additional photographsby request
Remote video inspectionavailable
Research visitowner approval
Temporary research loancase by_case
Museum exhibition loanavailable
Scientific samplingnot permitted
Commercial licensingcontact owner

Record Metadata

CategoryComputing

MaterialsABS plastic, PCB, EPROM

Dimensions14 × 11 × 2.5 cm

ConditionGood; label worn

Digital Record

24 high-res images (8,192 × 6,144)

3D Mesh / Photogrammetry

Precise digital measurements

Doc. Score: 63/100Scanned 8/30/2026

Cite this object

Relic Archive. (1976). Early Video Game Cartridge Prototype [Object record]. Relic Object RL-1976-000340.