Calcomp Explained

Calcomp Technology
Type:	Public
Industry:	Printers and imaging
Founded:	in Anaheim, California
Founders:	-->
Fate:	Split
Successor:	Don Budde and Don Lightfoot

Calcomp Technology, Inc., often referred to as Calcomp^{[1] [2]} or CalComp,^{[3] [4]} was a company best known for its Calcomp plotters.

History

It was founded as California Computer Products, Inc^{[1] [2]} in 1959,^[5] located in Anaheim, California.

Sanders Associates, Inc., purchased Calcomp in 1980.^[6] In 1986, Sanders Associates was purchased by the Lockheed Corporation, and merged into Lockheed's Information Systems Group.^[7] Lockheed kept CalComp as a brand name.

Shutdown

Calcomp Technology shut down its operations in 1999,^[8] and transferred different product lines to various other companies, some of whom continue to use the "Calcomp" or other "Cal-" trademarks:^[9]

• Technical Services and spare parts: CalGraph Technology Services, Inc.
• TechJet 5500 Large Format Inkjet Plotter / Printer Information: CalComp Graphics.^[10]
• Digitizer, Tablets and scanners: GTCO CalComp, Inc.
• Film Imaging Systems: EcoPro Imaging (now part of OYO Instruments)
• Cutter and sign maker products: Westcomp

Products

It produced a wide range of plotters (both drum and flat-bed), digitizers, thermal transfer color printers,^[11] thermal plotters^[12] (InfoWorld June 13, 1994 p. 40) and other graphic input/output devices. In 1969, it produced about 80% of all plotters worldwide.

It also produced IBM plug compatible (PCM) disk and tape products. The disk products ranged from 2311 (CD-1,5, 17, 18, 24, 25) through 3350 equivalents. The tape product was a 3420 equivalent.

Calcomp acquired Talos and Summagraphics, which had acquired Houston Instruments.^[13]

Houston Instruments

Houston Instruments was another manufacturer of pen plotters. They used the DMPL plotting control language. They competed with Hewlett Packard plotters such as the HP 7470.They were purchased by Summagraphics.^[14]

• DMP-29
• DMP-40, DMP-41, DMP-42
• DMP-50, DMP-51, DMP-51MP, DMP-52, DMP-52MP, DMP-55, DMP-56
• DMP-60,^[15] DMP-61, DMP-61DL, DMP-62, DMP-62DL, DMP-63, DMP-64, DMP-65C
• DMP-161, DMP-162, DMP-162R

Computer division

In 1987, CalComp sold its computer division to a company that focuses on CAD/CAM.^[16]

External links

• Referenceforbusiness.com: "History of Calcomp (California Computer Products, Inc.)"

Notes and References

1. News: . $300-Million Sait (SIC!) Filed By Calcomp on I.B.M. . California Computer Products, Inc. filed suit yesterday ... Calcomp is a manufacturer of per pheral (SIC!) equipment. . October 4, 1973.
2. News: The New York Times. Art . John Canaday . August 30, 1970.
3. News: . Analyst Picks Redskins, Vikings, Dolphins, Steelers . and the CalComp computer . William N. Wallace . December 20, 1974.
4. News: The New York Times. Computer Rates Raiders Tepid Choice . into the CalComp computer. December 24, 1975.
5. Book: Sito, Tom . Moving Innovation: A History of Computer Animation. MIT Press . 2013 . 9780262019095 . 287.
6. News: . CalComp: Acquisition by Sanders . May 21, 1979 . 71.
7. News: The Los Angeles Times. Lockheed to Mesh CalComp Unit Into System . Lockheed acquired CalComp’s parent, Nashua, N.H.-based Sanders Associates, in July for $1.2 billion.. October 3, 1986.
8. News: . CalComp to Close After Lockheed's 'No' to More Credit . hopes to sell off major parts of its business and have an orderly shutdown over the next six months. . Jonathan Gaw . December 30, 1998.
9. Web site: Calcomp company and contact information. computerhope.com. 2015-01-06.
10. Web site: CalComp Graphics . calcompgraphics.com . 2015-01-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141217011147/http://calcompgraphics.com/ . 2014-12-17 . dead.
11. Book: Colormaster Plus: Models 6603PS and 6613PS User's Guide. Calcomp. 1991. CalComp. 2015-01-06.
12. InfoWorld. InfoWorld: The Newspaper for the Microcomputing Community. 1987-06-01. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.. 0199-6649. 111. 2015-01-06.
13. Web site: Spectragraphics has sold SMS Electronics and Total Electronics to New Kinpo Group's Cal-Comp Electronics. 2020-07-09. Lincoln International. en.
14. http://www.gtcocalcomp.com/supportsummasoftware.htm Drivers for Summagraphics tablets
15. Web site: Houston Instruments DMP-60 Plotter - YouTube Demo video . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/pMKNRkNPZIw . 2021-12-14 . live. youtube.com. 2015-01-06.
16. News: . CalComp Sells Computer Division . June 7, 1987.