Percom

Percom Data was an early microcomputer company formed in 1976 to sell peripherals into the emerging microcomputer market. They are best known for their floppy disk systems, first for S-100 machines, and the later for other platforms like the TRS-80. The company was purchased by Esprit Systems in 1984.

Origins

PerCom Data Company's cassette tape interface

Percom started after the meeting that produced the Kansas City standard for storing data on cassette tapes. The final version of the standard was written in February 1976, co-authored by Lee Felsenstein and Harold Mauch. Mauch published an article on the technical aspects of the standard in the next month's Byte magazine, entitled "Digital Data on Cassette Recorders".^[1]

Mauch and his wife Lucy started what was originally PerCom Data that same month, selling the CIS-30 adaptor allowing any portable cassette player to be connected to the Motorola 6800-based micros from SWTPC. The CIS-30 was a success, and soon followed by similar devices for other platforms. Floppy disk drives followed, along with rapid growth. Percom incorporated (dropping the capital C in the name) in 1978.

In 1979 the company branched out into the TRS-80 market, starting with the Percom Separator, and add-on device that corrected deficiencies in Radio Shack's own floppy disk interface. In 1980 they introduced the Percom Doubler, the first double-density floppy disk for the TRS-80 platform. They later introduced Electric Crayon, a color graphics system that communicated with the TRS-80 through the printer port and output to a separate composite monitor or color television. Floppy disks for the Atari 8-bit family were also introduced during this period.

After Mauch

Harold Mauch's sudden death in August 1982 upset the company considerably. Focussing on business products, leaving the home compute field, the company started branching out into new product lines. PerComNet for the IBM PC was licensed by Western Digital and was sold under the name PC-LAN.

In 1984, Esprit Systems purchased Percom and folded many of their product lines. Esprit made video terminal systems, which it continues to do to this day.

References