Computer Peripherals

Computer Peripherals, Inc. (CPI) was an American manufacturer of computer printers and related peripheral equipment. Its principal base was in Rochester, Michigan, where it developed and produced high-speed drum and train printers for major computer-industry customers. The company emerged from Holley Computer Products, a joint venture established in April 1962 by Control Data Corporation (CDC) and Holley Carburetor Company. Holley developed a line of drum printers, creating the technical and manufacturing foundation for CPI. In June 1964, CDC bought out Holley and joined with NCR and ICL to establish Computer Peripherals, Inc. in Rochester. The company operated in a period when large institutional computers relied on specialized peripheral equipment, including high-throughput printers, punched-card readers, and magnetic-tape drives. CPI's products were associated with CDC and Fastrain branding and were aimed primarily at mainframe and business-computing installations rather than consumer users. The company's printer portfolio included the CDC Model 512, introduced in 1967, and a succession of Fastrain products. The Fastrain A 1200 LPM, released in 1969, was identified by its nominal throughput of 1,200 lines per minute, while the Fastrain 9372-III, introduced in 1976, reached a stated 2,000 lines per minute. These systems illustrate CPI's focus on continuous-feed, high-volume printing for data centers and other large-scale computing environments. CPI also broadened its activities beyond printers. During the early 1970s it maintained a Valley Forge, Pennsylvania division that produced punched-card readers and nine-track magnetic-tape drives for CDC and NCR systems. In 1977 the company began manufacturing printers at a Stevenage, Hertfordshire, facility in the United Kingdom. The plant had previously been used to manufacture ICL 1900 computers. By 1979, the Stevenage operation was also producing nine-track tape drives. Those drives were used with ICL and CDC computers and were offered with industry-standard interfaces for connection to computers made by other manufacturers. Control Data acquired a controlling interest in CPI in 1978, tightening the relationship between the manufacturer and one of its principal customers and corporate sponsors. CPI continued to operate as a peripheral-equipment producer, including through its United Kingdom manufacturing activity. In 1982, CDC acquired a controlling interest in Centronics in a transaction involving CPI and $25 million in cash. CPI was merged into Centronics, and its Rochester facility was eventually closed. The Computer Peripherals corporate identity therefore ceased to function as an independent operating brand, although its products and manufacturing capabilities became part of the successor company's broader printer business.

Computer Peripherals developed from Holley Computer Products, a joint venture formed by Control Data Corporation and Holley Carburetor Company in April 1962. Holley focused on the development and manufacture of drum printers for computer systems. The venture reflected the emerging need for dedicated peripheral hardware as mainframe computers became more widely deployed in government, commercial, and institutional settings. In June 1964, Control Data bought out Holley and partnered with NCR and ICL to establish Computer Peripherals, Inc. in Rochester, Michigan. The new company inherited the earlier printer-development capability and became a specialist manufacturer serving the mainframe-computing industry. Its Rochester plant was located near Rochester Road and Tienken Road, immediately north of North Hill Elementary School. CPI's best-known early activity was the production of high-speed train printers under CDC and Fastrain branding. The CDC Model 512 dates from 1967. The company followed it with the Fastrain A 1200 LPM in 1969 and the Fastrain 9372-III 2000 LPM in 1976. These machines were designed for continuous, high-volume output and were suited to data-processing installations that needed substantially greater throughput than office-oriented printers. The company expanded its peripheral portfolio during the early 1970s. A Valley Forge, Pennsylvania branch manufactured punched-card readers and nine-track magnetic-tape drives for CDC and NCR systems. This expansion placed CPI within the broader ecosystem of input, storage, and output equipment surrounding mainframe computers, rather than limiting it to printer production. CPI also established a United Kingdom manufacturing presence. In 1977 it began producing printers at a Stevenage, Hertfordshire factory that had originally been used to manufacture ICL 1900 computers. By 1979 the site was making nine-track tape drives as well. The drives supported ICL and CDC computers and were also sold with industry-standard interfaces for use with systems from other manufacturers, indicating an effort to serve a wider installed base than the company's parent-related systems alone. Control Data took a controlling interest in CPI in 1978. The change strengthened CDC's control over a supplier whose equipment was used with CDC systems and brands. CPI continued its printer and peripheral operations, including manufacturing in Stevenage, until a major corporate reorganization in 1982. In that year, CDC acquired a controlling interest in Centronics in exchange for CPI and $25 million in cash. CPI was merged into Centronics, and the Rochester facility was eventually closed. The Computer Peripherals name consequently disappeared as the identity of an independent company, while its business and manufacturing capabilities were absorbed into Centronics.

• 1982

  CPI is merged into Centronics

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  CDC acquired a controlling interest in Centronics in exchange for CPI and $25 million in cash. CPI was subsequently merged into Centronics.

• 1979

  Stevenage adds tape-drive production

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  The Stevenage facility was also producing nine-track magnetic-tape drives, including units sold with standard interfaces for non-CDC and non-ICL systems.

• 1978

  Control Data takes control

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  Control Data acquired a controlling interest in CPI.

• 1977

  United Kingdom printer manufacturing begins

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  CPI began manufacturing printers at a Stevenage, Hertfordshire factory formerly used for ICL 1900 computer production.

• 1976

  Fastrain 9372-III introduced

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  CPI produced the Fastrain 9372-III 2000 LPM, a high-throughput train printer.

• 1969

  Fastrain A 1200 LPM introduced

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  CPI produced the Fastrain A 1200 LPM, a high-speed printer identified with a nominal output rate of 1,200 lines per minute.

• 1967

  CDC Model 512 introduced

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  CPI produced the CDC Model 512, an early train-printer product associated with Control Data.

• 1964

  Computer Peripherals, Inc. is established

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  Control Data bought out Holley and joined NCR and ICL in forming CPI in Rochester, Michigan.

• 1962

  Holley Computer Products is formed

  [1]Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org

  Control Data Corporation and Holley Carburetor Company formed Holley Computer Products as a joint venture to develop and manufacture drum printers.

A business-to-business supplier of high-volume printers and peripheral equipment for mainframe computers, data centers, and institutional computing installations.

• Train printer · 1967

  CDC Model 512

  The CDC Model 512 was an early CPI train printer produced under the Control Data brand. It formed part of CPI's high-throughput printer business for mainframe and data-processing installations, where continuous output and reliable unattended operation were important.

• High-speed train printer · 1969

  Fastrain A 1200 LPM

  Introduced in 1969, the Fastrain A 1200 LPM was a CPI printer marketed under the Fastrain name. Its designation indicated a nominal throughput of 1,200 lines per minute, placing it in the high-volume output segment for large computer installations.

• High-speed train printer · 1976

  Fastrain 9372-III 2000 LPM

  The Fastrain 9372-III 2000 LPM was a later CPI train printer produced in 1976. Its stated 2,000-lines-per-minute rating reflects the company's emphasis on high-throughput continuous printing for mainframe and enterprise data-processing environments.

• Magnetic-tape storage peripheral

  Nine-track magnetic-tape drives

  CPI manufactured nine-track magnetic-tape drives for CDC and ICL computers. Production was carried out in the Valley Forge division during the 1970s and later at the Stevenage factory. Some drives were offered with industry-standard interfaces so they could be used with computers from other manufacturers.

• Input peripheral

  Punched-card readers

  The Valley Forge division produced punched-card readers for CDC and NCR systems. These devices supported the card-based input workflows that remained part of many mainframe installations during CPI's operating period.

• 1982

  Computer Peripherals transferred to CentronicsM&A

  Background

  Control Data reorganized its interests in the computer-printer sector and sought control of Centronics.

  Action taken

  CDC acquired a controlling interest in Centronics in exchange for CPI and $25 million in cash.

  Aftermath

  CPI was merged into Centronics, and the Rochester facility was eventually closed.

  Cash component of the transaction. $25 million (1982 transaction)

  Source

• 1978

  Control Data acquires a controlling interestM&A

  Background

  CPI had been created with Control Data as a founding corporate partner and supplied equipment associated with CDC systems and brands.

  Action taken

  Control Data acquired a controlling interest in Computer Peripherals.

  Aftermath

  CPI continued operating as a printer and peripheral-equipment manufacturer, including through its United Kingdom manufacturing operations.

  Source

1. 1Computer Peripheralsen.wikipedia.org