NLS

History

Company Names

Initial Filing as "Non-Linear Systems, Inc." - Feb 17, 1953
Name change to "Kaypro Corporation" - Jun 29, 1983
Subsidiary formed "Kaypro International" Jul 28, 1983
(California Secretary of State Listing, https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business?name=kaypro)

History written in November 1982 (Excerpts)

Andrew F. Kay founded NLS in 1952 in order to develop a product that e first envisioned ten years earlier: the digital voltmeter. Kay felt that conventional meters require toomuch interpretation to be accurately read by inexperienced production line personnel. This often resulted in indifferent quality or costly post-production adjustments. Kay was certain that a non-ambiquous read-out would be welcomed by any industry to which the accurate setting of voltages was important. He was correct:the first digital voltmeter, or DVM, was delivered to the U.S. Naval Electronics Laboratory on Pt. Loma, San Diego, CA, in February 1953. It was esaily readable from a distance of forty feet, and inspired "Electronic Design" magazine to credit Andy Kay and NLS with starting the "digital revolution." In the ensuing three decades, more than a quarter million DVM's have been supplied by NLS, but they are by no means the company's only product.

NLS has designed, manufactured and marketed a wide range of Digital Panel Meters and Portable Electronics Test Instruments, products that are known and used in laboratories and factories throughout the world. These include multi-function digital multimeters (both for permanent installation and portable use), portable oscilloscopes, and MLS [NLS?] Dynatracer (which adapts any oscilloscope input for use as a circuit assembly test instrument), and the Tracer (which is a self-contained CRT instrument that incorporates the features of the Dynatracer, and goes beyond that product by automating many of its manual functions).
(Company Background, November 16, 1982)

Changes in NLS's Product Line

The evolution of Kaypro Corporation began under the name Non-Linear Systems, Inc., organized in 1953. The company developed the first digital voltmeter and quickly established itself as a leader in the field of electronic test equipment. NLS has been a major supplier of digital voltmeters and ratiometers to large corporations in the aerospace industry.

In 1972, NLS decided to concentrate its efforts on small, consumer-oriented, electronic testing devices. They set up a world-wide network of distributors to provide portable multimeters, oscilloscopes, counters, frequency meters, temperature meters, and digital panel meters.
(Kaypro, The Complete Business Computer Brochure, Nov. 1983 Likely)

Organized in 1953 as Non-Linear Systems, Kaypro Corporation developed the first digital voltmeter and quickly established itself as a leader in the field of electronic test equipment used in missle systems. Within five years, the firm had grown to 150 employees, with annual sales exceeding five million dollars. Non-Linear Systems' products set standards of quality and accuracy for digital test equipment in aerospace and defense electronics.

In 1972, the company developed a variety of consumer-oriented electronic test devices, including portable multimeters, oscilloscopes, temperature meters and other products. In addition, a world-wide network of distributors was established to provide sales and service for this growing line of products.

(Presentation to the New York Society of Security Analysts, February 1, 1984)

From an interview of Andy Kay:
Peter Ruber: After manufacturing test instrumentation for 30 years, why did you switch to making computers?
Andy Kay: Most of the instrumentation we manufactured was for the military. By the early 1970s my contracts with the government began to evaporate. I learned through reading the electronics magazines that 90% of the electronics business was in computers. I was in the other 10%. And I said I wanted to be in the 90% group. PR: Did you have computer engineering expertise in-house? AK: I did not have computer engineers in-house, and I did not have money in-house either, so I couldn't do it. Instead, I bided my time by decreasing my dependence on the military by making much less expensive equipment that could be sold through distributors, and we built up a business that way. We gradually got away from the dependence on the military that by 1978, well, we weren't out of the military business entirely, but we were pretty much out of it.
(Computer Shopper, August 1989)

Also see NLS HiFi for the attempted stereo receiver.

Samples from a 1960's computer catalog

NON-LINEAR SYSTEMS, INC., Del Mar Airport, Del Mar, Calif. / SKyline 5-1134 / *C 60

Digital voltmeters, ohmmeters, ratiometers; oscillogram trace readers, precision wirewound resistors, electronic measurement instruments for missile, nuclear, scientific and manufacturing fields; digital readouts, data processing and recording equipment, scanners, visual output devices, analog to digital converters / RMSa Ms(240) Se(1952) DAle A. F. Kay, pres. / R. C. Wynne, V.P., Sales (pg 40)

C40. CONVERTERS, INFORMATION, ANALOG TO DIGITAL

NON-LINEAR SYSTEMS INC., Del Mar Airport, Del-Mar, Calif. / Analog to Digital Convertors and Data Logging Systems / DESCR: convert electrical parameters into digital visual and electrical form. Complete systems permit automatic recording of up to 1000 input channels / USE: computer set-up and solution recording / converters,$985 to $8500; systems, $7000 to $80,000 (pg 59)

D2A. DATA REDUCTION EQUIPMENT

NON-LINEAR SYSTEMS INC., Del Mar Airport, Del Mar, Calif. / Oscillogram trace readers / DESCR: converts trace deflections into digital form, applies linear or non-linear calibrations and records time and data in column form on electric typewriter / USE: simplifies and speeds reduction of oscillographic data / $20,000 (pg 62)

Il. INDICATORS (COMPUTER TYPES)

NON-LINEAR SYSTEMS, INC.. Del Mar Airport, Del Mar, Calif. / digital readouts / DESCR: displays up to 12 symbols or messages per window. Standard units have up to 6 windows in 3 window sizes. Display is actuated by energizing the one proper lamp out of the 12 lamps per window. No moving parts. Only 1 1/2" deep. Message display plates are easily changed by user / USE: for displaying alphanumeric or other symbolic data available in contact closure or voltage form from computers, analog-to-digital converters, etc. / $25 to $150 (pg 64)
(Computers and Automation, 6th Annual Issue, June 1960)

Sample Large System

NLS S-1 Base Configuration
This is an example of NLS's mid 1960's laboratory voltmeter systems which including the ability to record data to a printer, paper tape or electronic reels for further analysis.

Datico Missle System with M-24

(Electronics, Jan 30, 1959)

Datico Details

Manuals and Videos

"The Digital Voltmeter - An Inside Story" This is a booklet produced by NLS in 1963 to explain how their DVM works.

NLS Manuals

NLS videos

NLS Promotional Material

1959?

1961?
1961?

1962

1965

NLS Meters

NLS 406 Digital Voltmeter "The First Commercial Voltmeter" 1954
NLS 451 Digital Voltmeter "An ecomony version" of the 406 1955
NLS 451B2 Digital Voltmeter A "B" model appears to be a rackmount unit with the internal modules moved around so it is narrower and taller. Intended for desktop use rather than rack mounting.
NLS 500 Digital Voltmeter
NLS M24 Volt-Ohm-RatioMeter
NLS V35 Digital Voltmeter
NLS 2900 Series Digital Voltmeter
NLS 5000 Series Digital Voltmeter
NLS X2 Series Digital Voltmeter
NLS X3 Series Digital Voltmeter
NLS MX1 Series Digital Multimeter

NLS Comparators

NLS 50 Digital Comparator

NLS Tape Punch

NLS 156 (RS3) Tape Punch

NLS Oscilloscopes

NLS MS-15 (Single Probe 15MHz) NLS MS-215 (Double Probe 15MHz) NLS MS-230 (Double Probe 30MHz)

Charger 41-134-1 for the MS-15 & MS-215 Charger 41-184-1 for the MS-230

Oscilloscope Case and Probe

AC to DC Converters

AC to DC Converters allowed for the DC Volt Meters to read an AC currents voltage.

NLS 125E AC to DC Converter