1985-86 Nintendo NES Deluxe Set Contents Questions

[mrclean08 | 0]

I am trying to piece together a complete 1985-86 NES Deluxe Set (non Test-Market set), and I had a few questions.  I was able to find that my control deck's IC reads "8542 A", which would place an IC manufacture date around October 14-20, 1985.  ("85" for 1985, and "42" for the 42nd week in 1985.)

 

 

1. My serial number on my console is 114203.  In order for my Control Deck to be part of the New York Test Market population, it would have to be under 100,000, correct?

 

2. When I look at Deluxe sets (non Test-Market sets) offered online, I notice that there are plastic bags for the control deck, paperwork, and the R.O.B. robot that have the red CAUTION text either in all English, or some that have a mixture of French and English together.  Does anyone know if my set being one of the earlier ones would have only came with the English only plastic bags, or would it be possible that early sets could have also came with the bilingual caution plastic bags?

 

 

3. My set came with a larger paper Warranty insert that stated users could be eligible to be one of 500 winners of a Nintendo game pak which also has a stamp with a serial number that matches the serial number underneath my Control Deck.  However, I see some NES Deluxe Set systems on eBay packaged with skinnier 90-Day Limited Warranty card card-stock insert that invites customers to Join the Nintendo Entertainment Club.  Would this also have been originally included with my set? Or was this only on later manufactured sets?

 

 

 

 

Any help or insight would be appreciated.  Thank you in advance.

 

Edited March 21, 2022 by mrclean08

[Code Monkey | 2,011]

If your Deluxe Set doesn't have the Deluxe Set writing on it and instead just has the blank black space, it's a test set. If it has Deluxe Set written on it, then it's a post-launch release. Your NES would also have to have the smooth top instead of the later rough top.

[dogbowl | 150]

I've been trying to prove together a complete "Control Deck with free SMB" set and it's difficult to price together what specific paperwork came at which timeframe.

Serial number on my console is 205010 with a 8544 manufacture date (NES-CPU-03 board)

From what I've seen, the console bag (and also the paperwork plastic bag too) were 'all English' up until either the Control Deck with free players guide or the Control Deck with the white SoQ.

I believe that brochure version of the 'Nintendo Entertainment Club' sheet was with the early versions of the Deluxe Set and I believe that the single sheet 'get your red hot tips' Fun Club promo was with the SMB Control Deck. Note: There are even variants of the 'Nintendo Entertainment Club' brochure you have pictured above.

There's lots to figure out and I haven't found much in terms of chronological specifics on complete console boxes.

I've also noticed that the red/yellow A/V cables changed slightly at one point in time after about '88 or so.

Edited April 26, 2022 by dogbowl

[mrclean08 | 0]

On 4/24/2022 at 6:36 PM, dogbowl said:

I've been trying to prove together a complete "Control Deck with free SMB" set and it's difficult to price together what specific paperwork came at which timeframe.

Serial number on my console is 205010 with a 8544 manufacture date (NES-CPU-03 board)

From what I've seen, the console bag (and also the paperwork plastic bag too) were 'all English' up until either the Control Deck with free players guide or the Control Deck with the white SoQ.

I believe that brochure version of the 'Nintendo Entertainment Club' sheet was with the early versions of the Deluxe Set and I believe that the single sheet 'get your red hot tips' Fun Club promo was with the SMB Control Deck. Note: There are even variants of the 'Nintendo Entertainment Club' brochure you have pictured above.

There's lots to figure out and I haven't found much in terms of chronological specifics on complete console boxes.

I've also noticed that the red/yellow A/V cables changed slightly at one point in time after about '88 or so.

Thank you Code Monkey and dowbowl!!

I was able to find some answers to my questions from my original post and will post the answers below:

1. The test market was the first 100,000 serial numbers.  My control deck's serial number was after the test market batch.

2. You were correct regarding the paperwork plastic bag were all English. Later versions after the NES were manufactured in Canada (some by Mattel), and included a bilingual labeled bag with French writing. My early 1985-86 NES Deluxe set would not have had any bilingual labeled plastic bags for the Control Deck, paperwork, or R.O.B.

3. Earlier 1985 NES Deluxe Sets came with the larger paper Warranty insert.  The skinnier brochure version that advertised the Nintendo Fun Club was a 1987 insert.

 

After doing some considerable research, here is what I documented to be the contents of a 1985-86 Nintendo Deluxe Set bundle (post 1987 sets slightly may differ):

1. NES Deluxe Set Outer Box w/ handle
2. Styrofoam housing (top)
3. Styrofoam housing (bottom)
4. NES Control Deck
5. Poly bag for Control Deck (English "Caution" text only. Not bilingual)
6. Thin foam (sheet) separator insert for Control Deck
7. AC Adapter
8. Poly bag for AC Adapter
9. RF Switch
10. Poly bag for RF Switch
11. Controllers (2)
12. Poly bags for controllers (4 total; one for each controller and one for each of the cords)
13. 300/75 Converter pack
14. Poly bag for 300/75 Converter pack
15. Audio/Video cables (Red/Yellow. Stamped "Japan")
16. Poly bag for Audio/Video cables
17. R.O.B. Robot w/ removable battery cover
18. Poly bag for R.O.B. Robot (English "Caution" text only. Not bilingual)
19. Gyro Spinner Motor w/ removable battery cover
20. Poly bag for Gyro Spinner Motor
21. Gyro holder stand
22. R.O.B. Gyro Hands (2)
23. Controller holder attachment with buttons for R.O.B.
24. Spinning gyros (2)
25. Gyro "Caution" paper insert covers (2)
26. R.O.B. filter eye lens/paper insert (inserted in poly bag & stapled)
27. Zapper light gun
28. Poly bag for Zapper light gun
29. Duck Hunt box.  (Late 1986, Hangtab, NES-GP, no code)
30. Duck Hunt game pak
31. Duck Hunt instruction booklet
32. Gyromite box (Late 1986, Hangtab, NES-GP, no code)
33. Gyromite game pak
34. Gyromite instruction booklet
35. Poly bags for game paks (2)
36. NES Game Plan mini posters (included with Duck Hunt & Gyromite) (2)
37. Official Nintendo game pak plastic sleeve (red Nintendo logo tampographed) (2)
38. Styrofoam insert for game pak box (2)
39. NES Deluxe Set Instruction Booklet (R.O.B. cover)
40. Nintendo Game Plan poster large
41. 1985 Warranty Paperwork (500 game winner) with matching serial number stamp as Control Deck serial number.
42. NES Seal of Quality card insert
43. Poly bag for paperwork (English "Caution" text only. Not bilingual)

Hope this helps for anyone seeking the same information I was. Thanks.

Edited May 9, 2022 by mrclean08

[Code Monkey | 2,011]

My Deluxe Set has a 5XXX serial number, I can list all the inserts if you want.