Centurion 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).

History

Centurion was incorporated in Richardson, Texas, in 1972, under the name Warrex Corporation.[1] 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. It sold these computer systems through another company, Warrex Computer Corporation, also based in Richardson.[1] 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. Unlike larger computer systems companies, Warrex sold its systems through independent dealers across the United States exclusively.[2] In winter 1976, Warrex Computer Corporation expanded into a second branch office in Fort Worth, Texas.[3]

After Warren died suddenly in June 1976, he was replaced as president and CEO by Brendan Morgan.[4] The company formally changed its name from Warrex to Centurion Computer Corporation in March 1980. In March 1981, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) purchased Centurion for $7 million.[5][6] Shortly after the acquisition, Centurion opened up its first international division in Scarborough, Ontario, in Canada, headed by David Snell.[7] 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).[8]

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.[9][10] This group of investors was headed by James H. Smith, who was named president of the new Centurion following the buyback.[9] The terms of the buyback were undisclosed.[10] The company immediately announced plans to release updated minicomputers and to increase the number of its authorized resellers.[9]

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.[11]

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.[12]

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).

Prices were taken from 1982,[12] 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]