What It Does
The Cumana 5.25" Disk Drive is a large 15cm x 29m x 5cm expansion for the any of the BBC series machines. It connects via a cable to the port on the AP3, AP4, Cumana Disk Interface or Solidisk Disk Interface.
There are many varieties of design and many other 5.25" disc drive manufacturers apart from Cumana. Almost all will be compatible with the Acorn Electron as long as they have their own PSU (Power Supply Unit). Be wary of 40 Track only disc drives however as these are not compatible with any of the discs currently available from this web site.
The Cumana 5.25" Disk Drive came supplied with a User Guide and the original box, pictured on the right. Note that the box reads only "For the BBC Microcomputer".
The Cumana 5.25" Disk Drive was the favourite of the Acorn-owning public and came as standard with many models of the BBC B, B+ and Master 128 machines. It originally retailed in the early Eighties at £100 or more. A second hand Cumana 5.25" Disk Drive will usually sell on eBay for £10-£20.