RCS ExpoLead POS Control Unit Card Swiper Floppy Drive Registry Control Systems

RCS ExpoLead POS Control Unit Card Swiper Floppy Drive Registry Control Systems

The RCS ExpoLead is a self-contained point-of-sale and lead-capture terminal made by Registry Control Systems, designed for use at trade shows and expositions. The unit integrates a magnetic stripe card swiper, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive for data storage, a built-in receipt/printer paper slot, and a panel of programmable function buttons — all in a single desktop enclosure. This unit powers on and the indicator lights illuminate, but it has not been fully tested and is being sold as-is.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Registry Control Systems (RCS)
• Model: ExpoLead POS Main Control Unit
• Form factor: Desktop / tabletop enclosure
• Integrated magnetic stripe card swiper
• Built-in 3.5-inch floppy disk drive (data storage for sales leads)
• Integrated receipt/printer paper slot on top panel
• Front-panel green function buttons: Send Literature, Send Prices, Have Salesperson Call, Contact Immediately
• Top-panel operator buttons: Paper Advance, Print Lead Form, Re-Print Lead, Printer On/Off, Paper Feed
• Rear connectors: DB9 serial port, PS/2 mini-DIN port, IEC C14 AC inlet
• Rear: red rocker power switch (I/O), ventilation fan grille
• Stylus holder slot on top panel
• Unit only — no floppy disks, cables, or accessories included

Applications

The RCS ExpoLead system was a purpose-built trade show lead management solution used by exhibitors to capture and qualify visitor leads at conventions and expos. Booth staff would swipe an attendee's badge or business card through the magnetic reader; the unit would print a lead slip on the integrated printer and simultaneously save the contact record to the floppy disk. The programmable function buttons let sales staff instantly flag each lead with a follow-up action — sending literature, quoting prices, scheduling a salesperson call, or flagging for immediate contact — all without a separate computer. At the end of the show, the floppy disk was brought back to the office and the lead data uploaded into the company's CRM or mailing system. This type of hardware was widely used throughout the late 1980s and 1990s before laptop-based and badge-scan systems took over at trade events. Today these units are primarily of interest to collectors of vintage POS and trade show technology, or to organizations still running legacy ExpoLead software setups.