Ramtek Corporation

Ramtek Corporation
Company type	Defunct
Industry	Electronics
Founded	September 4, 1971; 55 years ago in Palo Alto, California, United States
Founders	Charles McEwan, John Metzler, Jack Teeters
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Fate	Dissolution
Products	Digital displays; Video games;

Ramtek Corporation was a manufacturer headquartered in California that produced computer display terminals, established in 1971 by engineers Charles E. McEwan and John W. Metzler, who previously worked together at Data Disc, Inc. The firm concentrated on digital CRT displays, primarily serving the medical sector with monitors and providing advanced graphical terminals tailored for industrial and academic applications. Ramtek also ventured early into the video game industry, manufacturing coin-operated arcade games from 1973 through 1979. The company went public in 1979 and by 1981 had become a prominent player in the raster graphics display terminal market.

History

Ramtek was founded on September 4, 1971 by engineers Charles McEwan (1935–2006), John Metzler (1935–1982), alongside attorney Jack Teeters. The founders brought experience from Philco-Ford's Western Design Labs and Data Disc’s terminal division. Operating out of Palo Alto, California, Ramtek introduced its initial raster graphics terminals—the GX-100 and GX-200—in early 1972, entering the medical imaging field through collaborations with Johns Hopkins University.

Initially, Ramtek encountered challenges due to extended payment schedules from corporate customers but managed to obtain venture capital backing from entities including Exxon. The company’s breakthrough emerged when it entered the coin-operated video game sector, aided by connections such as CFO Tom Adams’ association with Andy Capp's Tavern, a testing venue for Atari’s Pong. Ramtek’s inaugural game, Volly—a Pong derivative—launched in March 1973 and rapidly gained market presence through partnerships with distributors like Rowe International.

The company broadened its arcade game lineup with titles such as Hockey and Soccer, establishing itself within the growing arcade industry. Nevertheless, departures of key staff members led to the creation of rival firms like Exidy Inc., which attracted former Ramtek engineers. Early adoption of microprocessor technology was evident as Ramtek developed products including the MM 80 in-circuit emulator for Intel processors and incorporated microprocessors into their graphics terminal designs.

In 1975, a fire damaged Ramtek’s manufacturing plant in Sunnyvale; however, swift efforts by employees facilitated a quick recovery and relocation to a new facility by mid-1976. Their display monitors were utilized in notable projects such as Bendix’s Viking space program and advanced research initiatives at UCSC.

Over approximately three years, Ramtek sold close to 20,000 video game units, marking it as one of the more successful companies in that era’s gaming market. Despite this success, escalating competition during the late 1970s prompted diversification into electro-mechanical games. Eventually, shareholder pressure led to Ramtek’s exit from the coin-operated game business in 1979. The amusement division was spun off as Rainbow Games and later acquired by Meltec in 1980.

Following its initial public offering in 1978, Ramtek shifted focus back to high-end computer graphics terminals. In 1979, it purchased Omtron Electronics’ display terminal assets for $1.6 million and expanded internationally through a distribution agreement with Japan’s Ikegami Tsushinki. Although an acquisition by Loral Corp. was announced in 1981, the deal was subsequently canceled. During the early 1980s, Ramtek entered strategic OEM partnerships with Digital Equipment Corporation and Control Data Corporation.

The company consciously avoided entering the consumer microcomputer segment despite releasing some standalone systems. Financial difficulties arose mid-decade: a reported loss of $15.4 million for fiscal year 1984 contrasted sharply with prior revenue forecasts of $150 million. Control Data Corporation extended a $5 million loan which included options to acquire controlling shares or purchase interests held by Digital Productions.

In 1985, layoffs were implemented and debt restructuring occurred via a public offering coordinated with the SEC in 1986. After restating revenues in 1988, CEO Charles McEwan transitioned to Chairman while James Swanson assumed the presidency; later that year Ramtek filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company recovered and reported profitability by early 1990 alongside acquiring British firm GEMS.

Legal troubles emerged when executives Thomas Adams and G. William Theriault faced allegations of revenue misrepresentation between 1986 and 1988; they reached settlements with the SEC without admitting wrongdoing. Ultimately, Ramtek ceased operations in 1996.

Legacy

As a trailblazer in the early video game sector, Ramtek significantly influenced the evolution of gaming technology. Key releases include Clean Sweep (1974), which preceded Atari's Breakout (1976); Knockout (1974), credited with initiating the ball-and-paddle pinball craze; Baseball (1974), one of the earliest video games to feature detailed human figures; and Trivia (1975), recognized as the first video game designed as a quiz machine.

A number of Ramtek’s former staff went on to join Exidy, a prominent early developer active during the 1970s.

Additionally, Ramtek’s RM-3300 terminal appeared prominently in the television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

GX series

GX-100 (April 1972)
GX-200 (April 1972)
GX-300 (1972)
GX-1000 (June 1973)

FS Series

FS-2000 (June 1974)
FS-2500 (1979)

RM 9000 Series

RM-9000 (July 1976)
RM-9050 (June 1978)
RM-9100 (September 1976)
RM-9150 (1978)
RM-9200 (1977)
RM-9202 (1978)
RM-9250
RM-9300 (1977)
RM-9350
RM-9351
RM-9400 (April 1979)

RM 3000 Series

RM-3000
RM-3100
RM-3150
RM-3200
RM-3202
RM-3250
RM-3300
RM-3350
RM-3351

6000 series graphics computer family

6114 Color-graphic Computer (1979)
6214 Color-graphic Computer (1980) featuring a palette of 64 colors with 16 simultaneously displayable, powered by a 4 MHz Zilog Z80 processor, equipped with 64 kB RAM and a floppy disk drive, priced at $19,250
2020-4228 CAD workstation (1985) offering 750 kB of RAM expandable up to 5 MB, starting at $10,995

Terminals

GM-613
GM-619
GM-301
GM 850
GM 870
GM 865C
GM 713
GM 714
GM 719
8100
8400
6000 Series Micrographic Terminal
6110 Colorgraphics
6200A (also referred to as the 6831)
6310 Colorgraphics
6114 Colorgraphic Computer (black & white variant: 6113)
6214 Colorgraphic
Ramtek 8410
Ramtek Model 8210 interactive data entry terminal compatible with UNIVAC systems
8025
RM-6212 Colorgraphic

This range underscores Ramtek’s dedication to advanced color graphics computing and terminal products, serving sectors that demand sophisticated visual display and CAD functionality.

Other products

Ramtek 3000
Ramtek 9000 Series Display Controller
Ramtek 9050 Series Display Controller

Microcomputer Utilities

MM 80 (1975), an in-circuit emulator for the Intel 8080 processor
MM 80-211 (1976), a ROM programmer accessory designed for the MM80

Computer Peripherals

Model 4100, a printer capable of producing four colors
8910, a modem operating at a data rate of 300 baud

Software

GRAPHPRO, software providing color graphics support for PASCAL programming language

Arcade video games

Volly (March 1973)
Hockey (September 1973)
Soccer (December 1973)
Wipe Out (February 1974)
Clean Sweep (May 1974)
Baseball (October 1974)
Knockout (1974) Unreleased
Deluxe Baseball (July 1975)
Trivia (October 1975)
Sea Battle (April 1976)
Hit Me (May 1976)
Barricade (January 1977)
M-79 Ambush (June 1977)
Star Cruiser (September 1977)

Electro-mechanical Games

Horoscope (October 1976)
Lie Detector (1976) Not released
Boom Ball (November 1977)
Dark Invader (August 1978)
Test Driver (1978) Not released
GT Roadster (February 1979)