Wow, thank you thank you vtech
Yes, I have no doubt it has custom programming as it's the only chip on the board ... along with a 3.3v regulator and a couple of mosfet switches.
The boards have been wet with quite minor corrosion (on one anyway) ... but neither have any clock signal or other signs of life. I assume the micros are dead ... but at least now I can check properly.
Thank you again, much appreciated.
The new photo shows the crook board at the top ... the other 4 are earlier versions of the same device which seem bulletproof. They are heavily coated in a flowable silicone ... which protects them well.
But they are something like $180 each ... hence the desire to keep them going.