Centurion Computer Corporation

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Centurion Computer Corporation
Formerly
  • Warrex Computer Services
  • Warrex Corporation
Company type Division
Industry Information technology
Founded1971;54 years ago (1971)
FounderJohn Warren
FateAcquired by Electronic Data Systems
Headquarters
Richardson, Texas
,
United States
Area served
USA
Services Computer services
Number of employees
300
Parent Electronic Data Systems (1981–1984)
Divisions Warrex Computer Corporation

Centurion Computer Corporation, or simply Centurion, was a manufacturer of small business computers that was founded in 1971 and eventually acquired by Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

Contents

History

Centurion was incorporated in Richardson, Texas, in 1972, under the name Warrex Corporation. [1] : 101  [2] It was the successor to Warrex Computer Services, a company founded in 1971 by John Warren. Initially, it provided consulting and programming services. In 1972, Centurion entered the business of selling and supporting magnetic tape cassette systems. [1] It sold these computer systems through another company, Warrex Computer Corporation, also based in Richardson. [2] By August 1974, Centurion had designed and manufactured its first minicomputer, combined it with peripherals and software, and delivered it as the initial member of the Centurion family of small business computers. [1] : 101  Unlike larger computer systems companies, Warrex sold its systems through independent dealers across the United States exclusively. [3] In winter 1976, Warrex Computer Corporation expanded into a second branch office in Fort Worth, Texas. [4]

After Warren died suddenly in June 1976, he was replaced as president and CEO by Brendan Morgan. [5] The company formally changed its name from Warrex to Centurion Computer Corporation in March 1980. [1] In March 1981, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) purchased Centurion for $7 million. [6] [7] : 124  Shortly after the acquistion, Centurion opened up its first international division in Scarborough, Ontario, in Canada, headed by David Snell. [8] Centurion of Ontario was one of the few Canadian minicomputer manufacturers active at the time, competing with Geac Computer and MLPI Business Systems (both also of Toronto). [9]

After roughly three years under ownership of EDS, a group of 12 investors who previously worked for Centurion (including some co-founders) bought back the company from EDS. [10] [11] This group of investors was headed by James H. Smith, who was named president of the new Centurion following the buyback. [10] The terms of the buyback were undisclosed. [11] The company immediately announced plans to release updated minicomputers and to increase the number of its authorized resellers. [10]

A year after becoming independent again, Centurion Computer Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. In November 1985, it submitted its reorganization plans to the bankruptcy courts of Texas and was allowed to exit bankruptcy. By February 1986, it was down to ten employees. [12]

Business computers

Over its lifetime, Centurion produced an entire series of small business computers. The following is a partial list with the capabilities of each series and prices taken from February 1982. [1]

Centurion minicomputers
NameCPUMemoryFloppyHard disksCRTsMinimum priceFirst delivery
MicroPlusCPU-564 kB1-21x 8/24 MB Winchester2$11,3871982-01
Series 200CPU-532 kB0-22x 10-20 MB Hawk/Pertec 4$27,6681979-03
Series 6200CPU-664-128 kB0-24x 10-20 MB Hawk/Pertec 8$34,7421979-10
Series IIICPU-532-64 kB02x 10-20 MB Hawk/Pertec 4$35,3421975
Series 6300CPU-664-256 kB0-44x 10-20 MB Hawk/Pertec 32$37,6281979-10
Series 6400CPU-664-256 kB0-48x 26-96 MB Finch/Phoenix32$41,4651979-10
Series 6500CPU-664-128 kB0-42x 26-96 MB Finch/Phoenix8$45,5451979-10

By default, all Centurion systems (except the MicroPlus) were equipped with at least one four-port multiplexer (MUX) which provides four channels of asynchronous control for the keyboard, printer, CRTs, or remote units (via Modem cards). Each device was on its own independent channel and operated independently of all other devices. Data transfer was either in low-speed mode under software control or high-speed mode with Direct Memory Access at a rate up to 1.2 MiB/second.

All Centurion systems used customized video display units to interface with the computer. Available types were R-40, R-100 or CT-520. They all communicated via RS-232 or modem at a speed of 1920 to 9600 baud with the main computer. Printers were supported via teletype or specialized controller cards supporting off-the-shelf printers like the TI-810, TI-840 or DP-B-600 printers capable of speeds from 75 chars/sec up to 600 lines/minute (~800-1300 chars/sec). [13]

Compatible storage systems

Centurion did not create custom storage media. Instead they manufactured storage controllers for existing off-the-shelf systems, mostly created by the Control Data Corporation (CDC).

Storage Media
NameTypeSizePrice
CDC 9400 SSDD8" floppy disk0.6 MiB$950 [14]
Qume DSDD8" floppy disk1.2 MiB$1,683
CDC Hawk 9427hard disk10.4 MiB$12,215
CDC Falcon 9414 [15] hard disk10.4 MBN/A
CDC Finch [16] hard disk8-24 MiBN/A
Pertec D3000Ehard disk20.8 MiB$12,215
CDC Phoenix CMD-32 disk drivehard disk26.5 MiB$7,600
CDC Phoenix CMD-64 disk drivehard disk52,9 MiB$9,050
CDC Phoenix CMD-96 disk drivehard disk79.4 MiB$9,960

Prices were taken from 1982, [1] unless otherwise indicated. The disk sizes is the usable storage space, since all Centurion computers used 400 byte data blocks with the rest of the native block size being used for control structures like checksums.

IBM compatible PC clone

As a division of EDS, Centurion also created an IBM PC–compatible clone as part of a negotiation strategy of EDS with IBM. EDS intended to acquire PCs from IBM, but didn't like IBM's pricing. To persuade IBM that their initial cost-per-unit offer was too high, EDS tasked Centurion to build a fully compatible PC clone from off-the-shelf parts at a lower price, even though EDS had no intention of starting to compete with IBM. The effort succeeded and IBM reduced their price offer, rather than to contend with another competitor in the market. [17]

Restoration efforts

As part of the vintage computer movement, David Lovett of the YouTube channel Usagi Electric is running a project to restore several Centurion microcomputers to working condition. [18] [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Holmes, Thomas B., ed. (February 1982). Datapro Who's Who in Microcomputing (PDF). McGraw-Hill. p. M11-128-101–M11-128-109. ISBN   0070154058 – via Bitsavers.
  2. 1 2 Staff writer (February 10, 1976). "Jury Selected in Civil Suit". The Odessa American. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Kull, Hersh (May 25, 1979). "A New Look for the Computer Business". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Hanley, Edward (March 5, 1976). "New Business Opens". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 5-C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Hanley, Edward (June 18, 1976). "Southwest Orders Aircraft". Fort Worth Star-Telegram: 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Staff writer (March 24, 1981). "EDS buys business-systems manufacturer" (PDF). Electronics. 6 (54). McGraw-Hill: 48 – via World Radio History.
  7. ↑ Wright, Peter; Kay Anderson (June 1981). "The Datamation 100: The Top 100 U.S. Companies in the DP Industry" (PDF). Datamation. 27 (6). Dun and Bradstreet: 102–192 – via Bitsavers.org.
  8. ↑ Chevreau, Jonathan (March 19, 1981). "Overcrowded computer market seen as dangerous to customer". The Globe and Mail. Bell Globemedia: B8 – via ProQuest.
  9. ↑ Chevreau, Jonathan (March 19, 1981). "Competition expected to slow word processor sales". The Globe and Mail. Bell Globemedia: R2 – via ProQuest.
  10. 1 2 3 Staff writer (May 21, 1984). "Investors Buy Back Centurion". Computer Systems News. UBM LLC: 112 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 Zipper, Stuart (May 21, 1984). "Report GM to Offer $2.5 Billion for Electronic Data System". Electronic News. 30 (1498). Sage Publications: 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Rogers, Walter M. (February 17, 1986). "Development Flows Like a River Up the North Central Corridor". Dallas Business Courier: 15 – via ProQuest.
  13. ↑ Major, Lou (September 7, 1977). "Computer lifts city finance office out of horse and buggy days: Lots of person hours saved". The Daily News . Bogalusa, Louisiana: Wick Communications: 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Holmes, Thomas B., ed. (October 1980). Datapro Who's Who in Microcomputing (PDF). McGraw-Hill. p. M11-128-101–M11-128-109. ISBN   0070154058 – via Bitsavers.
  15. ↑ "CDC Maintenance Training Course" (PDF). Control Data Corporation. Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. February 1980. p. 104. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  16. ↑ "CDC Finch Product Specification" (PDF). Control Data Corporation. Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. October 1980. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  17. ↑ "The Rarest IBM PC Clone in the World!" . Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  18. ↑ Wilkinson, Chris (March 20, 2022). "Minicomputer Restoration Hanging In The Balance". Hackaday. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Bringing a Centurion Vintage Minicomputer from 1980 Back to Life". Adafruit Industries. Archived from the original on October 15, 2024.
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