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Comment by jakzurr | Hacker News Reader

In the UK, does "bread-bin" (as an adjective) mean "ordinary", or perhaps "stock"?

Sorry, I forgot that doesn't translate well outside the UK. It is a literal box for putting your bread in to keep it fresh and is a similar shape to the original C64. So the original C64 is nicked-named the "bread-bin" in the UK.

At least here in Germany 'breadbin' is quite wellknown. We call it 'Brotkasten', which means literally the same.

In the U.S., "bread bin," or more commonly "bread box," is also known. I have one.

I think it might be a generational lapse, rather than a geographic quirk, as bread boxes don't seem common in younger households.

Modern store-bought bread has so many preservatives that you don't need a breadbox. I wonder if the brief fad of people taking up baking during COVID-19 lockdowns will/has cause(d) an increase in breadbox sales.

Thanks!

Still puzzled about the hole in the bottom - I wonder if it was being used in a business for some special purpose?

I am puzzled by that too, it is roughly where the VIC II is and it doesn't appear that anything was soldered to it to tap it. My other guess was that this sat on top of something and the hole was needed so it would sit properly?

No, it's a container to put bread into. Usually with a sliding roller door type contraption like you might see on a garage door. They were often curved in a bullnose fashion, like the front of the origin C64. Which I guess is why they draw the comparison.

I think it means breadbox, which describes the shape of the original commodore 64, whereas this particular one has a different (compact?) shape, but apparently internals that would be expected in the original shape.

No, it means a bread bin. A kitchen countertop box that you keep bread in.

Example: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/magasin-bread-bin-66914300/

The original C64 case (thick, with rounded edges, same but for color as the VIC-20 case) was said to resemble a bread bin.

The other case variant is the Commodore 64C, which has a slimmer and more Amiga-like profile.

OK, I got ya. I was thinking stock components, but since the original case was like a "bread-bin", the original components were stock.

Thanks everyone; that was really stumping me. Now I'm still laughing.

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