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| location = [[Anaheim, California]]
| location = [[Anaheim, California]]
| key_people = Larry Goshorn, co-founder
| key_people = Larry Goshorn, co-founder
| products = [[Minicomputers]]
| products = [[Minicomputer]]s
}}
}}


'''GA General Automation''' was an American company, founded in 1968 by Larry Goshorn (a former marketing executive and a salesman from [[Honeywell]]), which manufactured minicomputers and industrial controllers.
'''GA General Automation''' was an American company, founded in 1968 by Larry Goshorn (a former marketing executive and a salesman from [[Honeywell]]), which manufactured [[Minicomputer|minicomputers]] and industrial controllers.

In 1994, General Automation announced it would be relocating from Anaheim to Irvine. It announced it would be phasing-out its manufacturing operations but would retain its 50 employees.<ref>{{cite news |title=General Automation Inc.: The company said Tuesday... |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-30-fi-3270-story.html |access-date=5 July 2023 |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=November 30, 1994}}</ref>


==Products==
==Products==
Line 15: Line 17:
:*Priced at $6400 and claiming $4,000 worth of free options
:*Priced at $6400 and claiming $4,000 worth of free options
:*Totally integrated, binary, parallel, single address processor
:*Totally integrated, binary, parallel, single address processor
:*8-bit data and 12 bit address
:*4,096 words (8 bit bytes) of memory with a 2.2 microsecond cycle time
:*4,096 words (8 bit bytes) of memory with a 2.2 microsecond cycle time
:*Shared command concept that permits the SPC-12s 8-bit memory to handle 12-bit instructions.
:*Shared command concept that permits the SPC-12s 8-bit memory to handle 12-bit instructions.
:*Features included a real-time clock, expandable memory to 16K, a teletype interface, a control panel and a priority interrupt
:*Features included a real-time clock, expandable memory to 16K, a teletype interface, a control panel and a priority interrupt
*GA SPC-8 (Nov 1968)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Low Cost Computer Has 4K Memory |journal=Computerworld |date=25 Sep 1968 |volume=2 |issue=39 |page=7 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xdtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lE4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3932%2C3357338}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Across the Editor's Desk - Computing and Data Processing Newsletter: SPC-8, A NEW GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTER FROM GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC. |journal=Computers and Automation |date=Oct 1968 |page=60 |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_computersA_9801715/page/n59?q=%22SPC-8%2C+A+NEW+GENERAL+PURPOSE+COMPUTER+FROM+GENERAL+AUTOMATION%22}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=SPC-8 general purpose computer |date=1968 |publisher=General Automation, Inc. |url=https://archive.org/stream/TNM_SPC-8_general_purpose_computer_-_General_Auto_20171108_0094#page/n1/mode/2up |language=english}}</ref>
*GA SPC-8 (Nov 1968)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Low Cost Computer Has 4K Memory |journal=Computerworld |date=25 Sep 1968 |volume=2 |issue=39 |page=7 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xdtOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3932%2C3357338}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Across the Editor's Desk - Computing and Data Processing Newsletter: SPC-8, A NEW GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTER FROM GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC. |journal=Computers and Automation |date=Oct 1968 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_computersA_9801715/page/n59 60] |url=https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_computersA_9801715}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=SPC-8 general purpose computer |date=1968 |publisher=General Automation, Inc. |url=https://archive.org/stream/TNM_SPC-8_general_purpose_computer_-_General_Auto_20171108_0094#page/n1/mode/2up |language=english}}</ref>
*GA 18/30 (June 1968, [[IBM 1800]] compatible)<ref>Datamation, May 1969, p. 136</ref>
*GA 18/30 (June 1968, [[IBM 1800]] compatible)<ref>Datamation, May 1969, p. 136</ref>
*GA SPC-16/30, /50 & /70 (November 1971)<ref>Datamation, November 15, 1971, p. 112</ref>
*GA SPC-16/30, /50 & /70 (November 1971)<ref>Datamation, November 15, 1971, p. 112</ref>
*GA SPC-16/40, /45, /65 & /85 (January 1972)<ref>Datamation, January 1972, p. 5</ref>
*GA SPC-16/40, /45, /65 & /85 (January 1972)<ref>Datamation, January 1972, p. 5</ref>
*LSI-12/16 (January 1974)<ref>Datamation, January 1974, p. 105</ref>
*LSI-12/16 (January 1974)<ref>Datamation, January 1974, p. 105</ref>
::These computers were initially produced with silicon on sapphire circuit technology<ref>Datamation, January 1974, p. 105</ref> but yield problems caused a switch to conventional ICs by 1975.<ref>Datamation, January 1975, p. 18</ref>
::These computers were initially produced with silicon on sapphire circuit technology provided by [[Rockwell International]]<ref>{{cite journal |title=Rockwell Cancels SOS uC |journal=Microcomputer Digest |date=January 1975 |volume=1 |issue=7 |pages=1, 4 |url=http://bitsavers.org/magazines/Microcomputer_Digest/Microcomputer_Digest_v01n07_Jan75.pdf |access-date=11 January 2023}}</ref><ref>Datamation, January 1974, p. 105</ref> but yield problems caused a switch to conventional ICs by 1975.<ref>Datamation, January 1975, p. 18</ref>
*GA 16/110 & /120 (December 1976)<ref>*{{cite web
*GA 16/110 & /120 (December 1976)<ref>*{{cite web
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-2ZtoSPs5IEC&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=general+automation+GA+16/110&source=bl&ots=raQTomWgnE&sig=ACfU3U1nHS4jZzAEW8TCtq-fWV0a77t85w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj899vNjIDhAhWzCTQIHY3yCUcQ6AEwCXoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=general%20automation%20GA%2016%2F110&f=false
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-2ZtoSPs5IEC&dq=general+automation+GA+16/110&pg=PA50
|title=Mini Maker Offering Micro
|title=Mini Maker Offering Micro
|date=December 6, 1976
|date=December 6, 1976
|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref>
|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref>
*GA 16/220
*GA 16/220 (July 1978)
*GA 16/330
*GA 16/330
*GA 16/440
*GA 16/440
*GA 16/460
*GA 16/460
*GA Zebra 1700/1750 (Introduced in 1985, a [[Motorola 68000]] computer running [[Pick operating system|Pick Operating System]])
*[[Parallel Computers, Inc.]] – fault-tolerant supermicro/minicomputer based on Unix, acquired 1987, sold 1988<ref name="lat-1988">{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-03-fi-6568-story.html | title=Parallel Computer Acquired 16 Months Ago: General Automation to Sell Money-Losing Subsidiary | author-first=David | author-last=Olmos | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=August 3, 1988}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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*[http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2010/06/102640462-05-02-acc.pdf 18/30 Fortran IV Software Data Sheet]
*[http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2010/06/102640462-05-02-acc.pdf 18/30 Fortran IV Software Data Sheet]


[[Category:Computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Minicomputers]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in California]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Technology companies based in California]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies based in California]]
[[Category:Defunct technology companies based in California]]
[[Category:Companies based in Anaheim, California]]
[[Category:Companies based in Anaheim, California]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1968]]
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1968]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:Defunct computer systems companies]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1968]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1968]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in California]]

Latest revision as of 02:27, 10 November 2023

General Automation, Inc.
Company typePublic
Founded1968
HeadquartersAnaheim, California
Key people
Larry Goshorn, co-founder
ProductsMinicomputers

GA General Automation was an American company, founded in 1968 by Larry Goshorn (a former marketing executive and a salesman from Honeywell), which manufactured minicomputers and industrial controllers.

In 1994, General Automation announced it would be relocating from Anaheim to Irvine. It announced it would be phasing-out its manufacturing operations but would retain its 50 employees.[1]

Products[edit]

  • GA SPC-12[2] (Jan 1968)
  • Priced at $6400 and claiming $4,000 worth of free options
  • Totally integrated, binary, parallel, single address processor
  • 8-bit data and 12 bit address
  • 4,096 words (8 bit bytes) of memory with a 2.2 microsecond cycle time
  • Shared command concept that permits the SPC-12s 8-bit memory to handle 12-bit instructions.
  • Features included a real-time clock, expandable memory to 16K, a teletype interface, a control panel and a priority interrupt
  • GA SPC-8 (Nov 1968)[3][4][5]
  • GA 18/30 (June 1968, IBM 1800 compatible)[6]
  • GA SPC-16/30, /50 & /70 (November 1971)[7]
  • GA SPC-16/40, /45, /65 & /85 (January 1972)[8]
  • LSI-12/16 (January 1974)[9]
These computers were initially produced with silicon on sapphire circuit technology provided by Rockwell International[10][11] but yield problems caused a switch to conventional ICs by 1975.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "General Automation Inc.: The company said Tuesday..." Los Angeles Times. November 30, 1994. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. ^ Datamation, September 1968, p. 137
  3. ^ "Low Cost Computer Has 4K Memory". Computerworld. 2 (39): 7. 25 Sep 1968.
  4. ^ "Across the Editor's Desk - Computing and Data Processing Newsletter: SPC-8, A NEW GENERAL PURPOSE COMPUTER FROM GENERAL AUTOMATION, INC". Computers and Automation: 60. Oct 1968.
  5. ^ SPC-8 general purpose computer. General Automation, Inc. 1968.
  6. ^ Datamation, May 1969, p. 136
  7. ^ Datamation, November 15, 1971, p. 112
  8. ^ Datamation, January 1972, p. 5
  9. ^ Datamation, January 1974, p. 105
  10. ^ "Rockwell Cancels SOS uC" (PDF). Microcomputer Digest. 1 (7): 1, 4. January 1975. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  11. ^ Datamation, January 1974, p. 105
  12. ^ Datamation, January 1975, p. 18
  13. ^ *"Mini Maker Offering Micro". December 6, 1976. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Olmos, David (August 3, 1988). "Parallel Computer Acquired 16 Months Ago: General Automation to Sell Money-Losing Subsidiary". Los Angeles Times.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=General_Automation&oldid=1184383212"