A list of Minicomputers
Attributed to Gordon Bell
A list of references - referred tp in the document, are at the bottom.
Here is Gordon's original list, with some models filled in from one of those 'every computer ever made' lists. Lots of little companies with no data on them..
--al (15Jun01)
======
91 US minicomputer company attempts from 1968 to 1972, with data from
http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/reach/435/complist.html
The following list Includes all general and special-purpose minicomputers for, real-time, communications, business etc., sold through QEMs, end users, and bundled for process control and testing, for example.
It does not include scores of military, AT&T, European, and Japanese computers.
At a later time, Tandem formed and array processing systems were developed for niche markets. 49 started up and retained autonomy
===================================
2 grew at significant rates and continue to grow
================================================Data General
Data General/NOVA/USA/Feb/1969/BW 479 Data General/Super Nova/USA/Apr/1970/BW 530 Data General/Nova 1200/USA//1970/IC Nov70 Data General/Nova 800/USA//1970/IC Nov70 Data General/Supernova SC/USA//1970/IC Nov70 Data General/Nova 1220/USa//1971/PCW V1#1 Data General/Nova 1210/USA//1973/PCW V1#1 Data General/Nova 840/USA//1973/IC May73 Data General/Eclipse S/100/USA//1974/IC Dec74 Data General/Eclipse S/200/USA//1974/IC Dec74 Data General/800/USA/// Data General/NOVA 2/USA/// Data General/Nova 2-10/USA///PCW V1#1 Prime
Prime/200/USA//1972/PFQ Prime/100/USA//1973/PFQ Prime/300/USA//1973/PFQ Prime/400/USA//1976/PFQ Prime/500/USA//1977/PFQ Prime/450/USA//1979/PFQ Prime/550/USA//1979/PFQ Prime/650/USA//1979/PFQ Prime/750/USA//1979/PFQ 8 grew at diminished or declining rates, or found small niches
==================================================Adage
Adage Ambilog-200//Aug/1964/BW 324 Basic 4
Basic Four/200/USA/// Basic Four/400/USA/// Basic Four/610/USA/// Basic Four/730/USA/// Computer Automation
Computer Automation/PDC 816/USA/Dec/1968/BW 464 Computer Automation/PDC 808/USA/May/1968/BW 445 Computer Automation/208/USA/Jul/1969/DM May71 Computer Automation/216/USA/Jul/1970/BW 534 Computer Automation/Alpha/LSI/USA//1973/IC Jun73 Computer Automation/Naked Mini LSI 1/USA//1973/IC Jun73 Computer Automation/Naked Mini/LSI/USA//1973/ Computer Automation/Naked Mini LSI 2/USA//1974/BW 585 Computer Automation/LSI 2/60/USA//1975/IC Feb75 Computer Automation/LSI 3/05/USA//1975/IC Feb75 Computer Automation/LSI 4/10/USA//1977/IC Jul77 Computer Automation/LSI 4/30/USA//1977/IC Jul77 Computer Automation/LSI 4/90/USA//1977/IC Jul77 Computer Automation/Naked Mini 4/USA//1977/IC Jul77 Computer Automation/108/USA///DM May71 Computer Automation/116/USA/// Computer Automation/808/USA///DM May71 Computer Automation/Alpha 16/USA/// Computer Automation/Alpha 8/USA///DP Jul72 Computer Automation/LSI 2/USA/// Computer Automation/Naked Mini 16/USA/// Computer Automation/Naked Mini 8/USA///DP Jul72 Computer Automation/Scout/USA/// Four Phase
Four Phase/System IV/70/USA//1970/IC Nov70 General Automation
General Automation/SPC-8/USA/Jan/1968/BW 443 General Automation/GA-18/20/USA/Jul/1969/BW 498 General Automation/SPC-12/USA//1969/BW 516 General Automation/LSI-12/16/USA//1974/GK p44 General Automation/GA-18/30/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/USA/// General Automation/SPC-16/20/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/40/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/45/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/50/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/60/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/65/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/70/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/80/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-16/85/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/SPC-18/USA///DP Jul72 General Automation/Zebra////WC Jan84 Macrodata
-- no data Microdata
Microdata Corp/Micro 1600/USA//1972/IC Mar72 Microdata Corp/32/S/USA//1973/IC May73 Microdata Corp/3230/USA//1973/IC May73 Microdata Corp/Micro 800/USA//1973/IC May73 Microdata Corp/Micro One/USA//1974/IC Jul74 Microdata Corp/Express I/USA//1976/IC Aug76 Microdata Corp/Express II/USA//1976/IC Aug76 Microdata Corp/Express X/USA//1976/IC Dec76 Microdata Corp/Reality 11/USA//1997/IC Jan77 Microdata Corp/Micro 820/USA/// Modcomp
MODCOMP/(various models)/USA///BW 678 MODCOMP/Classic 7860/USA/// MODCOMP/IV-25/USA///BW 679 39 ceased to manufacture
========================American Computer Tech.
-- no data Atron
-- no data BIT
BIT Inc/480/USA/Dec/1966/PAL p338 BIT Inc/80/USA/Dec/1966/BW 411 BIT Inc/483/USA/Dec/1969/DM May71 Cascade
Cascade Data Inc/Cascade 80/USA/Jan/1970/DM Jun72 Compiler Systems
-- no data Computer Development Corp
-- no data Computer Logic Systems
-- no data Computer Property
-- no data Datamate
Data Mate ECP-18//Nov/1966/BW 403 Data Technology Corp
-- no data Datac
-- no data Decade
-- no data Digital Electronics
Digital Electronics/3080/USA/Dec/1964/BW 333 Digital Electronics/3080-C/USA/Oct/1967/BW 427 Digital Computer Corp (ultimately merged with DG)
Digital Computer Controls/D-112/USA/// (8L clone ) Digital Computer Controls/D-216/USA/// (nova clone ) Digital Scientific
Digital Scientific/META 4/USA//1969/ Digital Scientific/4030 40/USA/// Digital Scientific/5010/USA/// Digital Scientific/5020/USA/// Digital Scientific/5030/USA/// Digital Scientific/Meta 4/USA/// Dresser
-- no data Electronic Engineering
-- no data Foto-Mem
-- no data GRI
GRI Computer/GRI-909/USA/Jan/1970/BW 525 GRI Computer/GRI-10/USA/// GRI Computer/GRI-20/USA/// GRI Computer/GRI-30/USA/// GRI Computer/GRI-40/USA/// GRI Computer/System 99/USA///IC Mar77 Hetra
-- no data Information Technology Inc
-- no data Infotronics
-- no data Linolex
-- no data Minicomp
-- no data Monitor Data
-- no data Multidata
-- no data Nanodata
-- no data (QM-1 ) Northeast Data
-- no data Nuclear Data
Nuclear Data/ND 812/USA//1971/IC Jan71 Omnicomp Computer
-- no data Omnus
-- no data Redcor
Redcor Corporation/RC-70/USA/Jul/1968/BW 448 Redcor Corporation/RC-77/USA/Jan/1970/BW 526 Scientific Control Corp
-- no data Standard Computer Corp
-- no data Spiras Systems
-- no data TEC
-- no data Unicorm Inc
-- no data Unicomp Inc
-- no data Viatron
Viatron/System 21/2140/IS/Apr/1970/BW 531 Viatron/System 21/2150/IS/Apr/1970/BW 532 10 started up and merged with larger companies
===============================================2 grew at significant rates and continue to grow
================================================Interdata -> Perkin Elmer
Interdata/3/USA/May/1967/BW 419 Interdata/2/USA/Apr/1968/PAL p339 Interdata/4/USA/Apr/1968/PAL p339 Interdata/15/USA/Jan/1969/BW 475 Interdata/Model 70/USA//1971/IC Nov71 Interdata/Model 80/USA//1971/IC Nov71 Interdata/Model 50/USA//1972/CI Mar72 Interdata/Model 55/USA//1972/CI Mar72 Interdata/Model 74/USA//1972/IC Sep72 Interdata/7/16/USA//1973/IC Dec73 Interdata/Model 85/USA//1973/IC May73 Interdata/7/32/USA//1974/GK p28 Interdata/8/32/USA//1975/GK p33 Interdata/5/16/USA//1976/IC Sep76 Interdata/8/16/USA//1976/IC Sep76 Interdata/5/USA/// Interdata/6/16/USA/// Interdata/60/USA/// Interdata/7/32C/USA/// Interdata/8/16E/USA/// Interdata/8/32C/USA/// Interdata/Model 1/USA///C&I Jul70 SEL -> Gould
SEL/820/USA/Aug/1964/PAL p336 SEL/810-A/USA/Jul/1965/PAL p337 SEL/840-A/USA/Jul/1965/PAL p337 SEL/840/USA/Nov/1965/BW 364 SEL/840-MP/USA/Jul/1967/PAL p338 SEL/810-B/USA/Dec/1968/BW 467 SEL/86/USA/May/1970/BW 533 SEL/88/USA/Nov/1970/BW 537 SEL/9400/USA/// SEL/SEL 32/USA/// SEL+/ER-56/DE//1957/ SEL+/SEL-B7/DE///pIRE Jan61 2 continued and now manufacture niche products
==============================================Comten -> NCR
-- no data on Comten Datacraft -> Harris
Data Craft/6024-1//May/1969/BW 489 Data Craft/6024-1/USA//1970/BW 540 Data Craft/6024-5/USA/// Datacraft/Slash 4/USA//1974/IC Mar74 Harris//7/USA//1975/IC Nov75 Harris/S110/USA//1975/IC Jul75 Harris/S120/USA//1975/IC Jul75 Harris/S210/USA//1975/IC Jul75 Harris/S220/USA//1975/IC Jul75 Harris/S230/USA//1975/IC Jul75 Harris/S240/USA//1975/IC Jul75 Harris//6/USA//1976/IC Jun76 Harris//4/USA/// Harris/500/USA/// Harris/570/USA/// 6 stopped manufacturing minicomputers in the merged division
============================================================ASI/EMR (Schlumberger)
EMR/ADVANCE 6000/USA/Mar/1965/PAL p337 EMR/ADVANCE 6130/USA/Jan/1967/PAL p338 EMR/ADVANCE 6120/USA///DM Nov69 EMR/ADVANCE 6135/USA///DM Nov69 DCC -> Honeywell
CCC/DDP-19/USA/May/1961/BW 218 CCC/DDP-25/USA/May/1961/PAL p334 CCC/DDP-24/USA/Jun/1963/BW 280 CCC/DDP-116/USA/Apr/1965/BW 339 CCC/DDP-224/USA/Mar/1965/BW 338 CCC/DDP-24A/USA//1965/DM Jan65 CCC/DDP-24P/USA//1965/DM Jan65 CCC/DDP-24VM/USA//1965/DM Jan65 CCC/DDP-124/USA/Jan/1966/BW 379 CCC/DDP-516/USA/Oct/1966/PAL p338 CCC/DDP-416/USA/Apr/1967/PAL p338 CCC/DDP-316/USA/// CCC/DDP-716/USA/// DMI -> Varian -> Univac
Varian/610/USA/Jul/1964/BW 323 Varian/620/USA/Nov/1965/BW 365 Varian/611/612/USA/Sep/1965/BW 355 Varian/520/i/USA/Sep/1968/DM May71 Varian/620/i/USA/May/1969/DM May71 Varian/V-73/USA//1972/IC Jul72 Varian/V-75/USA//1975/IC May75 Varian/620/F/USA///DM May71 Varian/622/i/USA/// Varian/629/L/USA/// Varian/V-70/USA///IC May75 Varian/V-72/USA/// Varian/V-74/USA/// PDS/EAI
-- no data SDS -> Xerox -> Honeywell
SDS/910/USA/Sep/1962/PAL p335 SDS/920/USA/Sep/1962/BW 253 SDS/9300/USA/Dec/1963/BW 295 SDS/925/USA/Jun/1964/PAL p336 SDS/930/USA/Jun/1964/BW 314 SDS/92/USA/Feb/1965/PAL p337 SDS/940/USA/Apr/1966/BW 390 SDS/Sigma 2/USA/Dec/1966/PAL p338 SDS/Sigma 7/USA/Dec/1966/BW 408 Tempo/GTE
Tempo Computers/1/1-A/USA/Sep/1969/DM May71 8 existing computer companies built minicomputers
2 made successful minicomputers and grew rapidly
Digital Equipment Corporation
DEC/PDP-8/USA/Apr/1965/BW 341 DEC/PDP-9/USA/Aug/1966/PAL p338 DEC/Linc-8/USA/Jul/1966/PAL p338 DEC/PDP-8/S/USA/Sep/1966/PAL p338 DEC/PDP-10 (KA10)/USA/Sep/1967/PAL p338 DEC/PDP-8/I/USA/Apr/1968/BW 468 DEC/PDP-8/L/USA/Nov/1968/BW 469 DEC/PDP-9/L/USA/Nov/1968/BW 460 DEC/PDP-12/USA/Apr/1969/BW 485 DEC/PDP-11/20/USA/Apr/1970/BW 529 DEC/PDP-15/USA/Jan/1970/BW 524 DEC/PDP-11/10/USA//1970/BW 542 DEC/PDP-8/E/USA/Mar/1971/BW 547 DEC/PDP-11/05/USA/Jun/1972/BW 572 DEC/PDP-11/45/USA/Jun/1972/BW 573 DEC/PDP-8/M/USA/Jun/1972/BW 571 IBM
IBM/1130/USA/Sep/1965/BW 352 IBM/1800/USA/Feb/1966/BW 387 IBM/System/3 Model 6/USA/Dec/1970/DM Jun72 IBM/System/3 Model 10/USA/Feb/1970/DM Jun72 IBM/System/3/USA/Jan/1970/BW 522 IBM/System/3 Model 8/USA//1974/IC Nov74 IBM/System/3 Model 15/USA//1975/IC Jun75 2 continued with diminishing success in minis
Bunker-Ramo
Bunker Ramo/BRIC-1/USA//1965/DM Jul65 Bunker-Ramo/330/USA/Dec/1960/BW 181 Bunker-Ramo/300/USA/Jan/1960/BW 163 Bunker-Ramo/400/USA/Mar/1961/PAL p334 Bunker-Ramo/130/USA/Oct/1961/PAL p334 Bunker-Ramo/230/USA/Jun/1963/BW 282 Bunker-Ramo/133/USA/Aug/1964/PAL p336 Bunker-Ramo/340/USA/Jun/1964/PAL 336 Bunker-Ramo/BR-1018/USA///IC Jan71 CDC
4 stopped manufacturing minicomputers
GE GE/405/USA/Feb/1968/PAL p339
GE/30/USA/Apr/1969/BW 486 GE/615/USA/Jun/1969/BW 493 GE/105/USA/Mar/1969/BW 480 GE/58/USA/Nov/1969/BW 508 GE/120/USA/Jan/1970/BW 523 GE/53/USA//1970/BW 538 GE/655/USA/Mar/1971/BW 546 GE/130/USA/// Packard-Bell
Packard Bell/PB 250/USA/Dec/1960/BW 178 Packard Bell/Cinch/USA/// Packard Bell/PB 240/USa/// Packard Bell/PBC 1004/USA/// Packard Bell/PBC 1006/USA/// Packard Bell/Saturn/USA/// Packard Bell/Trice/USA/// Recomp
-- no data Victor
-- no data 25 existing non-computer companies built minicomputers for backward Integration or special system niches
===================================================================1 acquired an embryonic company in the design state and formed a division to become a highly successful supplier
HP acquired Dymec
HP/2116-A/USA/Nov/1966/BW 404 HP/2115-A/USA/Nov/1967/BW 433 HP/2000-A/USA/Nov/1968/BW 461 HP/2114-A/USA/Oct/1968/BW 457 HP/2116-B/USA/Sep/1968/BW 454 HP/2114-B/USA/Nov/1969/BW 510 HP/3000/USA/Oct/1973/AE V3#1 HP/2100-S/USA//1973/IC May73 HP/3000CX/USA/Dec/1974/AE V3#1 HP/1000 model 30/USA//1976/IC Dec76 HP/1000 model 80/USA//1976/IC Dec76 HP/1000/USA///RWM email HP/1000A/USA///RWM email HP/2100/USA/// HP/2100-A/USA///DP Jul72 HP/2105A/USA///IC Jul74 HP/2108A/USA///IC Jul74 HP/2114-C/USA///DM May71 HP/2115-A/USA/// HP/2115-B/USA///AE V3#1 HP/2116-C/USA///DM May71 HP/21MX/USA///AE V3#1 HP/21MX/USa///IC Jul74 HP/3000-II/USA/// 3 continued to build and now supply minicomputers for niche Markets
===================================================================Hughes
Hughes/HCM-201/USA//1962/IC Jan71 Hughes/H330/USA/Jan/1963/PAL p335 Hughes/HCM-202/USA//1963/IC Jan71 Hughes/H3118/USA/May/1964/PAL p336 Hughes/H3324/USA/Mar/1965/PAL p337 Hughes/H3118 M/USA/Jan/1966/PAL p337 Hughes/HM4118/USA/Mar/1966/PAL p338 Hughes/HCM-205/USA//1966/IC Jan71 Hughes/H4400/USA//1970/IC Sep70 Hughes/HCM-231/USA///IC Jan71 Hughes/HDFM/USA/// Raytheon
Raytheon/250/USA/Dec/1960/PAL p334 Raytheon/440/USA/Mar/1964/PAL p336 Raytheon/520/USA/Oct/1965/BW 359 Raytheon/703/USA/Sep/1967/PAL p338 Raytheon/RAC-230/USA//1967/IC Jan71 Raytheon/RAC-250/USA//1967/IC Jan71 Raytheon/704/USA/Mar/1969/BW 482 Raytheon/706/USA/May/1969/BW 490 Raytheon/RAC-251/USA//1970/IC Jan71 Raytheon/RDS-500/USA//1974/IC Jun74 Raytheon/404/USA///DP Jul72 Texas instruments
TI/980A/USA//1972/IC Sep72 TI/960B/USA//1974/IC Jul74 TI/980B/USA//1974/IC Aug74 TI/960/USA///DM May71 TI/960A/USA/// TI/980/USA///C&I Jul70 ( and the 990 family
) 21 discontinued building minicomputers
======================================AC Electronics
AC Electronics/MAGIC 321/USA//1966/IC Jan71 AC Electronics/MAGIC 301/USA//1967/IC Jan71 AC Electronics/MAGIC 311/USA//1967/IC Jan71 AC Electronics/MAGIC 331/USA//1967/IC Jan71 AC Electronics/MAGIC 351/USA//1970/IC Jan71 AC Electronics/MAGIC 341/USA///IC Jan71 Bailey Meter
Bailey Meter 855//Dec/1968/BW 463 Beckman Instruments
Beckman Instruments/420/USA/Jun/1964/BW 316 Cincinnati Milling
Cincinnati Milacron/CIP/2200/USA//1972/IC Mar72 Cincinnati Milacron/CIP/2000/USA/// Cincinnati Milacron/CIP/2200B/USA/// Cincinnati Milacron/CIP/4400/USA/// Clary
Clary ?/Clary-Datacomp 404///1970/BW 539 Collins
Collins Radio Co/8400/USA/Nov/1962/BW 257 Collins Radio Co/Data Central//Mar/1963/PAL p335 Collins Radio Co/C-8311A-1/USA//1967/IC Jan71 Collins Radio Co/C-8561A-2/USA/// Collins Radio Co/C-8564-1/USA///IC Jan71 EAI (Electronic Arrays ?
) EA/8400/USA/Jul/1965/PAL p337 EA/8800/USA//1965/DM Feb65 EA/640/USA/Feb/1967/PAL p338 EA/EA 9002/USA//1977/IC Jan77 EA/EAI 2000/USA//1977/IC Mar77 EA/Pacer/USA///DP Jul72 Fabritek
Fabri-Tek/MP12/USA//1975/IC Jul75 (pdp8 clone ) Fairchild
-- no data Foxboro
Foxboro/97600/USA//1965/DM Jan65 Foxboro/97600A/USA//1965/DM Jan65 GTE
-- no data Interstate Electronics
-- no data Lockheed Lockheed Electronics/MAC-16/USA/Mar/1969/BW 481
Lockheed Electronics/SUE/USA//1972/IC Mar72 Lockheed Electronics/System III/USA//1973/IC Jul73 Lockheed Electronics/MAC Jr./USA///DM May71 International Telephone and Telegraph
ITT/ADX-9303/USA///BW 568 Litton
Litton/C7000/USA//1960/BW 189 Litton/L-304/USA//1965/IC Jan71 Litton/L-3050/USA//1969/IC Jan71 Litton/AN/GY K-12/USA/// Litton/L-3070/USA///IC Jan71 Motorola
Motorola/MDP-1000/USA/Jun/1968/DM May71 Philco-Ford
Philco/102 (CPS)/USA/Nov/1965/BW 363 Philco/200-213/USA/Oct/1966/BW 401 RCA
RCA/200 series/USA//1969/IC Jan71 Singer
Singer/System 10/102/USA/Nov/1970/DM Jun72 Singer/System 10/104/USA/Nov/1970/DM Jun72 Singer/System 10/106/USA/Nov/1970/DM Jun72 Singer/System Ten 110-1/USA//1974/IC Oct74 Singer/System Ten 110-3/USA//1974/IC Oct74 Singer/System Ten 110-4/USA//1974/IC Oct74 Singer/System Ten 110-5/USA//1974/IC Oct74 Teradyne
-- no data Westinghouse
Westinghouse/510/580/USA/Jun/1963/BW 283 Westinghouse/50/USA/Aug/1964/BW 326 Westinghouse/250 (S-2)/USA/Sep/1967/BW 426 Westinghouse/OBP/USA//1968/IC Jan71 Westinghouse/P-2000/USA/Aug/1969/DM May71 Westinghouse/WADSP 1802/USA//1969/IC Jan71 Westinghouse/SOLOMON/USA/// Westinghouse/W-2500/USA///DM May71
REFERENCES
----------BW - The original Big List dated 1992 by Bruce Watson. The reference number is the line number within this file beginning at the first machine reference (the Zuse Z1/Z2/Z3). Still archived at GN.Update.UU.SE:70/0/chp/art/bwatson or at freeflight.com/fms/comp/misc/List.txt
DM - Datamation. A monthly magazine reporting on the information processing industry since the early 1950's.
IC - IEEE Computer magazine.
PAL - Information Processing Machines, Panos A. Ligomenides, Holt Rinehart & Winston, 1969 ISBN 03-075585-9 Appendix A, Table A.2 pp332-339 : "Chronological table of Automatic Electronic Computers"