Alloy Computer Products
| Company type | Public company (historically) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Information technology, Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1979 in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Tape drives, computer peripherals, multi-user microcomputer systems, PC expansion cards (PC-Slave, PC-Slave/286), DOS-73 co-processor card, networking and VoIP solutions |
Alloy Computer Products is an Australian-based IT manufacturer located near Melbourne. By 2007, the firm specialized in networking and VoIP solutions. Established in 1979 in Framingham, Massachusetts, Alloy was historically a significant manufacturer of QIC format tape drives and various computer peripherals. Encountering financial difficulties during the mid-1990s, Alloy filed for bankruptcy in the United States, after which its Australian branch was purchased by local management.
The company initially produced hard disk and tape backup devices for S-100 bus systems operating on CP/M, later extending support to IBM PC platforms. Alloy broadened its product range to include multi-user microcomputer systems and hardware designed to accelerate printing processes.
In 1984, Alloy introduced the PC-Slave expansion card equipped with an x86 (8086 or V20) CPU, memory configurations up to 1 MB, and serial communication ports. A subsequent model based on the Intel 80286 processor, known as the PC-Slave/286, utilized RTNX (later NTNX) software to allow host machines to supply disk and print services. This setup enabled cost-efficient operation of DOS applications on simple PC-terminals compared to fully networked PCs. Additionally, Alloy developed a PC-Bus expansion chassis capable of supporting up to 32 PC-Slave cards connected to a single host system, facilitating independent multi-user network environments.
Building on this technology, in 1985 Alloy created the DOS-73 co-processor card for the AT&T UNIX PC, allowing it to execute MS-DOS applications.
By 1986, Alloy reached $50 million in yearly revenue and completed a successful initial public offering. By the early 1990s, the company served approximately 150,000 users—predominantly small enterprises—in the multi-user DOS segment. Its "386/MultiWare" platform supported up to 20 dumb terminals running simultaneous DOS virtual machines with isolated stability. Subsequently, the "MultiNode" product integrated Novell network operating system compatibility to provide client/server connectivity alongside serial terminal access.
See also
External links
- Corporate website
- Buyout information
- 1983 magazine ads showcasing product line
- [1] [2] Alloy bankruptcy filings
- [3] Marketing of Micro Advice's JETstream! printer accelerator card by Alloy
- [4] AT&T Unix-PC system