Computer Peripherals

This article is about the company. For auxiliary devices, see Peripheral.

Computer Peripherals, Inc. (CPI) was an American manufacturer of computer printers, based in Rochester, Michigan.

Computer Peripherals, Inc.

Company type	Private
Predecessor	Holley Computer Products
Founded	1964
Defunct	1982 (1982)
Fate	Merged
Successor	Centronics
Headquarters	Rochester, Michigan , United States
Products	Printers
Parent	Control Data Corporation

CPI's precursor, Holley Computer Products, was formed as a joint venture between Control Data Corporation (CDC) and the Holley Carburetor Company in April 1962. Holley developed and produced a series of drum printers. In June 1964, CDC bought out Holley and partnered with NCR and ICL to form CPI in Rochester.^[1]

In the early 1970s CPI also had a branch in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This division made punched card readers and 9-track magnetic tape drives for both parent companies (CDC and NCR).

In 1978 CDC bought controlling interest of CPI. CPI produced several train printers under the CDC and Fastrain brands, including the CDC Model 512 (1967), the Fastrain A 1200 LPM (1969) and the Fastrain 9372-III 2000 LPM (1976).^[2]

In 1977, CPI began manufacturing printers at a factory in Stevenage, Herts, UK that was originally used for the manufacture of ICL1900 computers. By 1979, the factory also made 9-track tape drives which were used in ICL and CDC computers, and were sold with industry-standard interfaces for use with other manufacturer's computers.

In 1982, CDC acquired a controlling interest in Centronics in exchange for CPI and $25 million in cash. CPI was merged into Centronics and eventually the Rochester facility was closed.

References

1. "CDC Acquisitions to 1984". Charles Babbage Institute.
2. Webster, Edward (2001). Print Unchained: 50 Years of Digital Printing, 1950-2000 and Beyond. Dra of Vermont. ISBN 0-9702617-0-5.