The Transactor was started life in 1978 as a Commodore Business Machines publication used to explain low level details of the Commodore PET. In 1982 it was reborn as a bimonthly independent magazine published out of Milton Ontario (Toronto) covering all 8bit Commodore’s. This revised magazine used the slogan new slogan was “The Tech News Journal for Commodore Computers” and was paid for through advertising and subscription prices. A quick scan of the covers below and you will be able to see when this change occurred. The Commodore Transactors were mass produced using a very inexpensive mimeograph technology while the independent magazine was created using a proper printing press.

Both publications were known for their depth. They covered hardware hacking in detail and were read by serious users. One issue even boasted that it was 95% advertising free right on the cover.