Sega Master System/Power Base

Recently I managed to get hold of an "untested" Sega Master System. As is normally the case I was left alone for a short period of time, and this was the result. The listing was just for the console, no PSU, leads, controllers, or games, but I have those already with my Sega Master System 2...



The original Master System is a pyramid shaped plastic box, it's quite light for it's size. Looking at the top of the machine there is the text SEGA MASTER SYSTEM/Power Base on the left, and the cartridge slot with reset and pause buttons underneath, there is a kind of schematic block diagram of the machine with a power on LED, other than looking pretty, I'm not entirely sure what the point of this was



The front of the machine has a power button on the left. two Atari style control ports in the middle, and a game card slot on the right, the card slot was used for games that could be distributed on credit card sized cards, these had storage limitations and were hardly used even though they were cheaper to produce. The format was dropped from the later Master System 2



Close up of the red panel with and without the power on



Opening the dust cover reveals the cartridge slot, and on the front of the machine is a card slot



The rear of the machine has the A/V out, RF out, and the AC adaptor sockets, these are all compatible with the first Mega Drive. The hole in the middle was probably for the H-L switch used in some regions



There's no ports on the sides, but you can see the shape of the console



The underside of the machine has the label and a cover to some sort of expansion edge connector



There's a bit of plastic you need to break off to access the card edge connector



There are also these recessed clips on the bottom which makes me think there is some accessory that the console clips on to


Smoke test



I borrowed some bits from my Master System 2 and connected it all up, and switching the machine on for the first time and it works straight away



This one has the game Hang-on built in, the early versions of the system had a hidden snail maze game built in



Trying a cartridge gives this error, but with a bit of magic breath blown across the contacts...



Makes it works, and it works perfectly


For more retro hardware check out my online museum here