Computer [Cromemco System Three]
Maker and role
Cromemco, Manufacturer
Object detail
Accession number
2015.24
Maker
Production period
Description
Computer, Cromemco System Three. Case is metal and medium brown in colour. 'Face plate' is larger than body of object. Face plate contains four slots labelled 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D' and a panel that contains a key mechanism to porovide power to unit. Maker's label at bottom of face: "CROMEMCO SYSTEM THREE". Back of unit marked "Cromemco / MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA U.S.A. / COPYRIGHT © 1979 BY CROMEMCO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.".
Power switch at back and several dials and plugs, reset button and a vent.
Power switch at back and several dials and plugs, reset button and a vent.
Brief History
Cromemco was founded in 1974 by two Stanford University students, Roger Melen and Harry Garland, who lived and worked in the Crothers Memorial Hall dormitory on the Stanford campus, California, USA.
The company's first products were add-on boards for the MITS Altair S-100 bus computers. (A bus is a connection between components or devices connected to a computer.)
The System Three was introduced in 1978. It was a microcomputer with provision for up to four floppy disk drives, capable of running both FORTRAN IV and Z80 BASIC programming languages under Cromemco’s disc operating systems CDOS or CROMIX.
Not designed as a desktop system, the System Three had a large and heavy chassis intended to be rack-mounted or built into an office desk. It was designed for multiuser professional use and included an optional hard disc, CRT (cathode ray tube) terminal, printer and the main computer unit.
By 1983 the company had about 500 employees and about $55 million annual sales. Cromemco was sold to Dynatech in 1987.
This example was used at the mechanical engineering company Raines, Rice, & Stevens Ltd.
The company's first products were add-on boards for the MITS Altair S-100 bus computers. (A bus is a connection between components or devices connected to a computer.)
The System Three was introduced in 1978. It was a microcomputer with provision for up to four floppy disk drives, capable of running both FORTRAN IV and Z80 BASIC programming languages under Cromemco’s disc operating systems CDOS or CROMIX.
Not designed as a desktop system, the System Three had a large and heavy chassis intended to be rack-mounted or built into an office desk. It was designed for multiuser professional use and included an optional hard disc, CRT (cathode ray tube) terminal, printer and the main computer unit.
By 1983 the company had about 500 employees and about $55 million annual sales. Cromemco was sold to Dynatech in 1987.
This example was used at the mechanical engineering company Raines, Rice, & Stevens Ltd.
Marks
CROMEMCO INC / MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA U.S.A. / MODEL: CS3 SER: 34319 Maker's Mark
Cromemco / MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA U.S.A. / COPYRIGHT © 1979 BY CROMEMCO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Maker's Mark
CROMEMCO SYSTEM THREE Maker's Mark
Cromemco / MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA U.S.A. / COPYRIGHT © 1979 BY CROMEMCO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Maker's Mark
CROMEMCO SYSTEM THREE Maker's Mark
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Cromemco. Computer [Cromemco System Three], 2015.24. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Public comments
Thank you for your comment, this record has now been updated. The records for the monitor, keyboard and printer are not yet available on Collections Online.
- MOTAT Curatorial Research posted 3 years ago.
It isn't a computer drive. Its a computer. In this entry it lacks a screen and keyboard but they are there somewhere. So too is the printer which can be connected to it.
- Eric Stevens posted 3 years ago.