Text preview for : Computer_Hardware_Inc.txt part of chi Computer Hardware Inc . Rare and Ancient Equipment chi Computer_Hardware_Inc.txt
Back to : Computer_Hardware_Inc.txt | Home
Computer Hardware, Inc.
Vertical Systems
Willcox Services
--
James P. Lennane
"After receiving his master's degree in mathematics from the
University of Detroit, Mr. Lennane joined the International
Business Machines Corporation in 1964, spending two and a
half years as a scientific systems engineer and a salesman.
He then founded Computer Hardware Inc., which produced clones
of the I.B.M. 1130 and 1800 mid-size computers, and in 1973
founded System Integrators, which sold publishing systems
to small newspapers using the clone computers. The company
broke into the big time in 1980 with a $9 million sale to
The Los Angeles Times."
CHI built an expansion box for the 1130 (CHI-1114) and an
internal core memory add-on (CHI-1106).
CHI designed the 2130 and 2131, extended 1130's in '74-'75.
An expanded model (CHI-3230) was developed in the late 70's.
The assets of CHI appear to have been acquired by Vertical
Systems, Inc / Bob Willcox in the early 80's. As of 1976,
Willcox was western regional service manager for CHI. An extended
version of the 3230 with up to 2mb of memory was developed
in the early 80's.
VSI designed a follow-on system called the System 85
converting much of the discrete TTL logic to PALs and
gate arrays. It is unknown if
any of the redesigned systems were ever sold.
Willcox Services was still supporting CHI/VSI systems through
the late 80's.