The TRS-80 Micro Computer System Desk

written by Matthew Reed

The TRS-80 Micro Computer System Desk (catalog number 26-1301), also known as the TRS-80 System Desk, was Radio Shack’s recommended desk for the TRS-80 Model I. It was introduced in 1978 for a price of $199.00.

The TRS-80 System Desk was designed to hold a Model I, monitor, Radio Shack Expansion Interface, up to four floppy drives, and a TRS-80 Quick Printer, with all wiring hidden inside the desk. As one advertisement stated, the TRS-80 System Desk “concentrates your expanded TRS-80 system into one convenient area.”

Here’s a description of the TRS-80 System Desk from a 1979 newspaper advertisement:

Serious computer users can integrate expanded TRS-80 installations into our attractive, functional desk unit. The keyboard and Expansion Interface fit into recessed spaces in the desk top, with interconnecting wiring concealed. A bay under the right side of the desk can house from one to four Mini-Disk drive units. A TRS-80 Quick Printer can sit on the right side of the desk with work space left over.

Unlike most of Radio Shack’s later computer desks, the desk material was not wood. It was described as “sturdy gray metal, with a white top, trimmed with a black ‘comfort edge’in front.” The Model I keyboard unit and Expansion Interface fit into recessed areas that made them look as though they were built into the desk.

Floppy drives were placed underneath the Model I, on a shelf to the right. Proper ventilation could be a problem when multiple floppy drives were used. This was mentioned in the May 1979 issue of the TRS-80 Microcomputer News:

You may have noticed that the rear of the Disks can get rather warm — this is normal, but it is desirable that air move freely over the Disks to hold temperatures at a satisfactory level.

For systems with more than two floppy drives, Radio Shack recommended the $29.00 Model I Fan Kit (catalog number 26-1303). The Fan Kit was especially easy to install in the TRS-80 System Desk because all the necessary mounting holes were already in the desk.

For those with a TRS-80 Line Printer instead of a TRS-80 Quick Printer, Radio Shack recommended the $99.00 Line Printer Stand (catalog number 26-1302). The Line Printer Stand used similar styling to the TRS-80 System Desk. The Line Printer didn’t sit on the Line Printer Stand but was screwed directly into it. Radio Shack also sold the Line Printer III Stand (catalog number 26-4302) for $139.00.

Because the TRS-80 System Desk was designed around the TRS-80 Model I, it couldn’t easily be reused for another computer, even the TRS-80 Model III or Color Computer. For that reason, original examples of the TRS-80 System Desks are quite rare today.