Weird VCS Heavy Sixer. Maybe someone knows more?

[MegaDrive20XX]

Three notable things about this Heavy Sixer VCS. Two carvings of special numbers and lettering. One Anti-theft sticker.

The carvings read from left to right as followed

558-32-6-119 CP1255520676

What does it mean?

[Koa Zo]

The carvings read from left to right as followed

558-32-6-119 CP1255520676

What does it mean?

If you remove all the characters except the 6's, you are left with
666

This atari belonged to the Devil!!!!

[Bojay1997]

In the 1980s, it used to be common practice in many communities for the police to recommend to neighborhood watch programs that people etch unique serial numbers into valuable electronics so they could be identified in cases of theft. That looks to be the case here.

[Atarileaf]

That's not a heavy sixer BTW, its a light sixer

[Flack]

I did a quick check and 558-32-xxxx Social Security Numbers are assigned in Texas. (EDIT: I found other references to Arizona and California as well). I also see that the OP is from Texas. I suspect that the first of the two numbers you have there is probably someone's SSN with an extra dash tossed in.

[PingvinBlueJeans]

I did a quick check and 558-32-xxxx Social Security Numbers are assigned in Texas. (EDIT: I found other references to Arizona and California as well). I also see that the OP is from Texas. I suspect that the first of the two numbers you have there is probably someone's SSN with an extra dash tossed in.

I can't imagine that anyone would carve their SSN into their VCS console (unless it was good ol' KMD, of course).

[Flack]

Millions of people carve their SSN's into their home electronic devices, in hopes of having them returned if they are ever stolen.

[Gameguy]

I can't imagine that anyone would carve their SSN into their VCS console (unless it was good ol' KMD, of course).

Don't underestimate people, you'd be surprised what some people do.

[Thrillo]

That's not a heavy sixer BTW, its a light sixer

How can you tell? The color of the fonts?
The way I tell without actually holding the console is by the width of the left/right edges of the console, only heavy sixers had wide ones.

[Robocop2]

I can't imagine that anyone would carve their SSN into their VCS console (unless it was good ol' KMD, of course).

Yeah but he would have to have an unintelligible wall of text surround it.

[InsaneDavid]

How can you tell? The color of the fonts?
The way I tell without actually holding the console is by the width of the left/right edges of the console, only heavy sixers had wide ones.

Heavy sixers will have sides that curve straight up, while light sixers angle away diagonally. I think that's what you might have been trying to say though.

[PingvinBlueJeans]

Yeah but he would have to have an unintelligible wall of text surround it.

And his psychological test scores.

[dendawg]

How can you tell?

Heavy Sixer:





Lite Sixer:



Note the differences in the corner molding. Also a Heavy Sixer will be noticeably heavier than your typical 2600, due to extra RF shielding, hence the nickname.

[rik1138]

Years ago SSN theft wasn't an issue. Imagine that.

Yeah, it's interesting to note how paranoid people are about their SSNs these days (and rightfully so). When I was in college back in the early 90s, my college ID had my SSN printed right on it as it was also my student ID#. The student directory (accessible to ANYONE, even people off the street as it was just a printed book in the main lobby of the campus) listed every student's first, middle and last name, student ID# (SSN), birthdate (including year), and home address/phone number. I still have one of these books, so I have that information for every student at the college during that time... No one ever thought twice about it... In fact, many schools and jobs simply used your SSN as your ID number, that was quite a common practice barely 10-15 years ago.

So it's easy to believe that back in 80's police recommended that people carve their SSNs on valuable items (although usually in a more obscure place). Our local police dept would even loan you an engraver to ID everything in your home...

Another interesting fact: for $5, you could send a car license plate # to the Texas DMV (not sure about other states) and get the owner's name, phone number, address (and I think their 'public' driving record)... I don't believe it's that easy anymore...