Diablo Data Systems
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | George E. Comstock, Charles L. Waggoner, and associates |
| Fate | Acquired by Xerox in 1972 |
| Products | Daisy wheel printers, computer terminals, detachable hard disk drives, computer systems |
| Parent | Xerox |
Diablo Data Systems became part of Xerox following the acquisition of Diablo Systems Inc. for $29 million in 1972. Established in 1969 by George E. Comstock, Charles L. Waggoner, and associates, Diablo introduced the pioneering daisy wheel printer in 1970.
The firm gained recognition for its HyType I and HyType II typewriter-based computer terminals, the Diablo 630 daisy wheel printers, and detachable hard disk drives utilized in the Xerox Alto, which were also marketed by DEC under the names RK02 and RK03.
Overview
Diablo manufactured the RK02 and RK03 disk drives for DEC, which stored data digitally on IBM 2315-style disk cartridges. Unlike DEC's subsequent RK04 and RK05 models that featured voice coil head positioning, the RK02 and RK03 used a rack and pinion system for head movement.
The RK02 and RK04 represented lower-density storage solutions, each holding 600K 16-bit words, whereas the RK03 and RK05 offered increased storage capacity of approximately 1.2 megabytes. These capacities were achieved through their specific arrangements of sectors and cylinders, resulting in storage sizes near 1.22 MB or 2.45 MB depending on density.
In addition to storage hardware, Diablo produced full computer systems and printing devices. Their terminal products incorporated unique printing mechanisms; for instance, the Model 1560 Matrix Terminal interfaced directly with remote systems via Bell 103A, 113A, 202, and 212 protocols at speeds up to 1200 baud. This terminal combined microprocessor technology with mechanical components to enable sophisticated editing and data input functions.
Diablo systems
The Xerox Diablo 3100 was one of Diablo’s complete computing solutions, comprising a central processing unit, a 10 MB hard drive, and a floppy disk drive.
Diablo printers
In 1970, under the leadership of engineer Dr. Andrew Gabor, Diablo Systems created the first commercially viable daisy wheel printer, which surpassed IBM's Selectric models by delivering printing speeds of 30 characters per second compared to Selectric’s 13.4 cps. Dr. Gabor was awarded two essential patents related to this innovation.
Prominent printer models included the 9R87201, the HyType I (introduced in 1973), and the HyType II. Printwheels were produced in both plastic and "metalized" variants. The lineup also encompassed the Diablo 630 and 635 printers, solidifying Diablo’s standing within the printing industry.