Delta Computer

Delta Computer Corporation

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Computer hardware
Founded	1986 in Canton, Massachusetts, United States
Founder	Eugene "Gene" F. Taylor
Defunct	1990
Fate	Filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations
Headquarters	El Segundo, California (final headquarters) , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Eugene "Gene" F. Taylor (founder, former CEO), Jim Patterson (Vice President)
Products	IBM PC compatible computers (Deltagold series), laptops (Voyager series), modems (DM-1200 Voyager)
Owner	Inspectorate International Group (parent investment company)
Parent	Inspectorate International Group

Delta Computer Corporation was a brief-lived American computer systems manufacturer that operated between 1986 and 1990, initially headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts. The company specialized in IBM PC compatible machines powered by Intel 8088, 80286, and i386 processors, marketed under the Deltagold brand name. Alongside computers, Delta also sold accessories like modems. Their products were notable for their unique two-tone charcoal black chassis highlighted with gold accents, a striking departure from the conventional beige cases prevalent at the time. Following an unsuccessful attempt to relocate its main office to Akron, Ohio, Delta filed for bankruptcy in 1990 and subsequently ceased operations.

Establishment (1986–1987)

Delta Computer was established by Eugene "Gene" F. Taylor in October 1986 in Canton, Massachusetts. Before founding Delta, Taylor served as vice president of sales for Samsung Electronics’ U.S. division from 1984 to 1986, managing marketing efforts across America. He strategically hired several key personnel from local rival Leading Edge Products with the intention of emulating Leading Edge’s approach of selling Korean-made PCs—this time through a partnership with Samsung. Delta functioned as a subsidiary of Inspectorate International Group, an investment company based in Birmingham, England. Early in 1987, Leading Edge filed a lawsuit against Delta alleging misappropriation of trade secrets related to employee recruitment.

Delta introduced its first offerings in May 1987: two IBM PC compatible models produced by Samsung. The Model TX utilized an Intel 8088-2 processor similar to the original IBM PC, while the Model A incorporated an Intel 80286 chip modeled after the IBM PC AT. These machines were priced approximately at $1,000 and $2,000 respectively, targeting budget-conscious buyers within the personal computer market. Soon after their release, Delta initiated legal action against Samsung for violating an exclusivity agreement when Samsung began direct sales in the U.S., resulting in a temporary court order preventing Samsung from selling directly until October 1987.

Deltagold series and growth (1987–1989)

By mid-1987, Delta switched production to a Taiwanese manufacturer and launched the Deltagold series in September. This lineup featured models such as the Elite (equipped with up to a 10-MHz Intel 8088 processor and either floppy or 20-MB hard drive options), the Prestige (powered by a 10-MHz 80286 with floppy or 20/40-MB hard drives), and the Premier (featuring a 20-MHz i386 processor with floppy plus a 40-MB hard drive).

Deltagold computers were distinguished by their striking two-tone charcoal black cases trimmed with gold highlights, smoked plastic covers for power buttons, a separate LCD clock/calendar display, and a microprocessor speed indicator—features that stood out amid an industry dominated by beige-colored enclosures. Vice President Jim Patterson highlighted how these designs were intended to aesthetically complement office settings. Reviews praised the attractive appearance and included productivity software bundles along with VHS tutorial tapes and quick-start manuals.

In May 1987, Delta moved its headquarters from Canton to Mansfield, Massachusetts. Initial sales momentum was strong particularly along the East Coast, culminating in $80 million revenue by fiscal year 1988. The Taiwanese manufacturing partner also became a significant investor, supplying funds for further product development. Toward late 1987, Delta expanded into portable computing with the Voyager I and II laptops featuring monochrome LCD screens and single floppy disk drives. Early in 1988 marked their debut peripheral product: the DM-1200 Voyager external portable modem.

In May 1988, Delta updated its product range: Voyager I and II were succeeded by Voyager 88 and Voyager 286 models equipped with Intel 8088 and 80286 processors respectively; similarly, Elite and Prestige models were upgraded to Elite II and Prestige II versions offering faster CPUs and increased memory capacity. Additionally, the DG-630 was introduced as an IBM PS/2 Model 30 clone featuring MCGA video capabilities.

By January 1989, Delta formed a partnership with Digital Research to ship DR-DOS instead of MS-DOS on their Deltagold machines; by March of that year they also included Digital Research's GEM graphical user interface. Around this period, Delta relocated its headquarters to El Segundo, California while retaining Mansfield as a regional sales office.

Unsuccessful Relocation to Akron and Subsequent Decline (1989–1990)

From February through April 1989, Delta Computer announced plans to transfer its headquarters to Akron, Ohio, utilizing a former B. F. Goodrich manufacturing facility. This initiative was expected to generate between 1,500 and 2,000 assembly-line positions during the initial years and was viewed as a reversal of the prevailing trend of American technology companies outsourcing production abroad. Delta intended to maintain its overseas assembly agreements while launching domestic manufacturing operations focused on ultra-lightweight laptops and LCD glass components. Recruitment efforts commenced in the Akron vicinity, with the factory's inauguration scheduled for May 1989. Concurrently, Delta’s International division invested $825,000 to acquire a controlling interest in Cache Technologies, a struggling reseller of IBM PS/2 systems.

Nevertheless, in late April 1989, founder and CEO Taylor unexpectedly stepped down amid disputes with Delta’s board of directors—comprising Taiwanese investors engaged in manufacturing collaborations—who reportedly opposed the domestic production approach. Although company officials initially described the Akron relocation as postponed rather than canceled, the plan ultimately fell through. By January 1990, Delta sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and withdrew from the personal computer sector. Taylor’s subsequent venture producing disk drives for Delta also filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter.

This botched move and leadership upheaval represented a pivotal moment in Delta’s operational trajectory and financial stability, highlighting difficulties related to strategic management and corporate governance amid conflicting investor agendas.

See also

• Blue Chip Electronics