[NTLK] Cadillac prototype (Matthias Melcher)

[David Arnold]

The serial / LocalTalk port might be a way to determine if the device is running even if the screen has an issue?

At the simplest, it might show up in Chooser, but even if not, it might be possible to see excursions on the pins as it looks for other LocalTalk devices?

A known-good OMP would likely have similar behaviour as a reference.

Congrats on the acquisition — a great device! 



d

> On 19 Sep 2026, at 05:23, Justin Ried <justin at ried.us> wrote:
> 
> Thank you for the informative reply, Matthias. Please note that this Cadillac prototype does indeed have a backlit display, and the CCFL tube runs along the bottom of the display. It’s wrapped in a silver reflective material, and is visible in both IMG_7676 and IMG_7691. The two potentiometers on the side of the Cadillac are for Brightness and Contrast. There is no volume control knob on the device.
> 
> The pen is indeed an “active” pen, according to the Apple industrial designer that I purchased it from. It requires that connection to the device and un-tethered commercial Newton pens will not work with the Cadillac.
> 
> The short, approximately half-height PCMCIA expansion slots under the battery pack are labeled RAM (expansion?) and ROM. The ROM slot is populated, while the RAM slot is not. The ROM card is also labeled with dates, updated on 4/13/93 according to the handwriting on it. This likely indicates the unit was running and updated close to the end of the Cadillac project.
> 
> Yes, the yellow round connector is for video. All ports on the back of the machine are labeled in the plastic body, though it is difficult to see in the clear plastic. This gallery on Flickr shows all of the same port labels more clearly:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/splorp/albums/72157623287193080/
> 
> Hammer is certainly an interesting thought. I do wonder if it has any ability to connect to this unit?
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> https://newtontalk.net
> https://bitbang.social/@newtontalk
> https://bsky.app/profile/newtontalk.bsky.social