Object of the week- Sinclair ZX Spectrum

Fondly remembered by the first generation of computer game enthusiasts, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum was a true trailblazer for the hi-tech consoles of today.

Originally released in 1982, the system was manufactured in Scotland and was one of the first mainstream home computers in the UK.

Most models used audio tapes to load software and gave users the chance to play a huge range of games created by a new wave of developers. Notable titles included Elite, R-Type, Chuckie Egg, Knight Lore and Football Manager.

The success of the Spectrum was credited with sparking a boom in the home computer and gaming industry that still continues today. Fans in Leeds till have the chance to relive some early chapters in the story of video games, including the Spectrum, through a display at Abbey House Museum.

Retro gaming memories and objects on loan from the people of Leeds have gone on display as part of the museums’ Decades of Youth exhibition, which ends in January .

Among the items in the exhibition are a Binatone TV game from the 1970s and a Nintendo Game Cube from 2002, which was the first Nintendo console to use optical discs.

Other items also on display as part of Decades of Youth include 7” vinyl records, Leeds Festival posters, items from 50s and 60 department stores in Leeds a Spice Girls doll from the 1990s.

The exhibition also features a mix of films and digistories from local residents and organisations talking about being young in Leeds in the 1950s, 60s, 80s and 90s.

Councillor Brian Selby, Leeds City Council’s lead member for museums and galleries, said:

“I’m sure Decades of Youth and some of the items on display at Abbey House Museum will bring back a lot of memories for visitors and will also be a window into what life was like for people from different generations.”

For more details and admission charges, visit: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/abbeyhouse/Decades-of-Youth.aspx

ENDS