Kaycomp Machines
The prototype evolution of the Kaycomp Machine
(I believe I have these prototypes in order of development based on an evolution of the design. If you have any evidence to the contrary please let me know.) I would like to thank Thomas Brase who has also researched this topic. You can find his write-up here.
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This prototype is unique in that the keyboard has large lettering of "KAYCOMPII" on it. Also the numeric keypad only has 3 columns of keys (10 keys) where the final design has 4. The contrast knob, power light, and reset button appear to be in the upper right corner. (Electronic Engineering Times, March 15, 1982) |
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This version may only be a keyboard upgrade. It also doesn't have a ribbon cable (or it is painted/covered in black) and uses the 3 column numeric keypad. There are 5 screws on the side of the keyboard so the keyboard is likely made of more than 2 pieces of sheet metal. There appears to be screws coming through the top to connect the keyboard to it's case. (Computer Merchandising Magazine, unknown date)
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This prototype may also just be a keyboard upgrade, but there is clearly a ribbon cable connecting the keyboard to the machine. The ribbon cable appears to just slip through the keyboard case parts and not have any cutouts. The keys appear to match the later models including a 4 column numeric keyboard (14 keys). It is a Keytronic keyboard. See examing keyboards (Industrial Research Magazine, unknown date) (A more cropped version of this photo is in Popular Computing, September 1982, Thank you to Claudio Grossi) |
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We finally find the common "Kaypro" style Racing Stripes. Based on my discussions with Andrew Kay I believe he and Henry Hester had a major part in the design of this case. The vent holes that we are used to in latter models do not appear in this marketing photograph. It is a Keytronic keyboard as mentioned in the attached article and visible from the photo. (Desktop Computing, Aug 1982) |
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This prototype/production machine appears to match the "Kaycomp" machines/keyboards that have surfaced in the past decade. The monitor has shifted to the left and both vertical floppy drives are now on the right. This was due to minimizing the screens affect on the disk drives and vice-versa. The keyboard case also matches the one that we have seen on later models. The keycaps are all black rather then the black and blue common in the production machines. This matches machine #2767 but not the Kaycomp keyboard for #43168. It is a Keytronic keyboard. This version has the vent holes at the top sides of the case. The contrast knob is on the front. Based on my conversations with Janice and Micheal Batter the colors and font were designed by them. (Interface Age, October 1982) |
Why did they move the monitor to one side?
"While we held up production, we also decided to put both floppy drives on the right side of the case, instead of having one on either side of the CRT. A visiting customer from Switzerland told us that computers don't seem to work too well when you did that. The EMI emanating from the flyback transformer and the cathode display created a powerful magnetic field that resulted in erratic disk read/writes. We scrapped the first 20 chassis, moved the drives to one side, and the system worked just great." (Computer Shopper, August 1989)
Suppliers
Bolding means I have seen these in actual early Kaypros.
Floppy drives
"... two built-in 5 1/4 inch 100K disk drives, with drives supplied by Tandon, Shugart and MPI."
(Electronic News, April 19, 1982)
Monitors
"A 9 inch 80-columns by 24-line monitor, sourced from Motorola, Dotronics, and C. Itoh, is also built in."
(Electronic News, April 19, 1982)
Kayboards
Pricing
"It costs $1795"
(Electronic Engineering Times, March 15, 1982)
"The Kaycomp II caries a $1,875 retail tag. Dealer discounts are 25 per cent for a yearly volume of less than $250,000 and 32 per cent for purchases of $250,000 or more, he said. OEM discounts are set on a per unit basis with no discount on one to nine units, 10 per cent on 10 to 49 units, 15 per cent on 50 to 99. units, 20 per cent on 100 to 499 units and 25 per cent on 500 to 999 units."
(Electronic News, April 19, 1982)
"It retails for $1795"
(Coast Dispatch, July 31, 1982)
"Kaycomp II costs $1,795"
(Desktop Computing, August 1982)
The Kaycomp machines around Campus
And I remember the Kaycomp. It predated the Kaypro 2. When I went to work there in 84, there were only 3 of them on campus. There was one in repair. I think there might have been one in David Kay's office, that was sort of on display. I know there was another one somewhere, but I don't remember where.
If you went to the Ford Motor Company and they had the official Ford Motor Company museum, they'd have the Model T as the first one. That was the Kaycomp.
(Interview with Marshall Mosley)
Example machines that have surfaced
Both a Kaycomp Keyboard and Shell #2767
Kaycomp Shell #2749
Kaycomp Keyboard #43168