Teleram

Teleram Communications Corporation

Company type	Public
Industry	Computers
Founded	December 1973 (1973-12) in Mamaroneck, New York
Founder	Charles J. Satuloff
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Fate	Bankruptcy liquidation (Chapter 7)
Products	Portable computers Portable video display terminals

Teleram Communications Corporation was a pioneering American computer firm recognized for launching the first commercially viable portable computers during the mid-1970s. The company was established in 1973 by Charles J. Satuloff and headquartered in Mamaroneck, New York.

1973–1980

In December 1973, Charles J. Satuloff (1929–2022) founded Teleram Communications Corporation in Mamaroneck, New York. A Brooklyn native and graduate of the United States Military Academy, Satuloff brought experience from both computer engineering and telecommunications sectors, having served in the Korean War before transitioning into technology sales. Prior to founding Teleram, he launched Cane Technical Services in 1961, a firm specializing in the sales and representation of computers and electronic instruments, which eventually evolved into Teleram.

The company's inception stemmed from a concept to create a portable device that would allow journalists to electronically write and submit articles. This proposal was presented to the American Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA) and The New York Times. Out of four submissions, only Satuloff’s idea was approved. Consequently, he incorporated Teleram to develop this innovative product, setting up its main office in Mamaroneck along with a 9,000-square-foot manufacturing facility located in Denville, New Jersey. By February 1974, Teleram produced its first prototype: a portable video display terminal that also functioned as a word processor with scratch RAM and cassette tape storage. The P-1800 model was publicly unveiled in May 1974; production scaled up by July, with widespread availability by September.

The P-1800 terminal was compact—measuring and weighing —often described as resembling a "small blue suitcase." It included a seven-inch CRT display and a Selectric-style keyboard equipped with function keys for editing tasks. Its scratchpad memory could hold 2,048 characters, while additional data was automatically saved onto cassette tapes capable of storing up to 170,000 characters. The device supported mid-sentence text insertion and enabled remote document transmission via an acoustic coupler connected to mainframe systems. Power sources included an optional battery pack, AC wall power, or lead–acid car batteries suitable for automotive use.

By June 1975, The New York Times had widely adopted the P-1800, followed by other newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, Louisville Courier-Journal, and South Bend Tribune. In April 1978, The New Yorker took a significant step by acquiring a 35% ownership stake in Teleram—marking its first external investment—reflecting strong confidence in Teleram’s expansion prospects. The subsequent month saw Teleram announce enhanced versions of its portable terminals along with two new desktop models that had been under development since the original P-1800 release.

1980–1985

From late 1979 into early 1980, Teleram became involved in a conflict with the International Printing and Graphic Communications Union (IPGCU) Local 406 and Newsday magazine concerning alleged excessive RF emissions from the Model 2277 terminal—an OEM-produced device. Independent testing verified that the terminal met safety standards; nonetheless, Newsday requested metal shielding to minimize interference, which Teleram supplied. Despite further confirmatory tests demonstrating safety compliance, both the union and Newsday continued to demand aftermarket safety covers priced at $40 each.

In 1981, Teleram expanded its Mamaroneck facility by leasing an additional 3,200 square feet. The company introduced its Portabubble series of portable terminals beginning with the TM/81 model—a compact unit weighing approximately 15 pounds featuring a five-inch screen and memory capacity for around 20,000 characters—priced near $5,000. By May 1982, smaller models were launched weighing just under 10 pounds.

By 1983, Teleram had established a client base of roughly 500 organizations worldwide across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. In February of that year, it released the T-3000—a battery-operated portable computer powered by a CMOS Z80 microprocessor with an LCD capable of displaying four lines of text at 80 columns each. The following month marked the relocation of manufacturing operations from Denville to a newly constructed 30,000-square-foot facility in Randolph, New Jersey—tripling previous production space. Volume manufacturing commenced in April for an 8.75-pound portable terminal model backed by dealer contracts amounting to $10 million in orders. At this stage, Epson's HX-20 represented their primary competitor.

Teleram went public midway through 1983 via an IPO managed by Laidlaw, Adams & Peck. For fiscal third quarter of that year, the company reported losses amounting to $259,000 on revenues totaling $4.7 million due largely to production expenses associated with the T-3000. In September, plans were announced to acquire Franklin Electronic Publishers aiming to diversify offerings and reduce financial deficits; however, this acquisition was abandoned by November. Following this setback, Teleram implemented significant price reductions on terminals but ultimately closed the year with record sales reaching $5.4 million and employment peaking at approximately 110 staff members.

In May 1984, Teleram secured exclusive United States distribution rights for Dulmont Electronic Systems' PC-compatible Dulmont Magnum laptop; however, Dulmont entered administration later that year which halted supply deliveries. Confronted with mounting competition from IBM's PC and particularly from the more affordable Tandy TRS-80 Model 100—a similarly sized portable word processor introduced in 1983—Teleram experienced a sharp decline in sales. By late 1984 workforce numbers shrank to just 32 employees company-wide including only twelve at headquarters.

Mounting financial difficulties led to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 1985; by November court ruling mandated Chapter 7 liquidation effectively dissolving the corporation. Subsequently, founder Satuloff launched Channel Group, Inc., providing computer system sales along with repair services and parts support for existing Teleram customers.

See also

• Computer Transceiver Systems, Inc., a rival portable teletype manufacturer located in New Jersey

References

• Scheidawind, Lynn J. (May 11, 1974). Editor & Publishers Conference Planning Issue for the 46th ANPA Research Institute Production Management Conference. Editor & Publisher, 107(19), 43–56. Available via the Internet Archive.
• Staff writer (March 13, 2022). "Charles Satuloff". The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/charles-satuloff-obituary?id=33604971

Further reading

• Harrison, Fred (December 3, 1983). "Portables: Trying to find the right market". The National Post. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p. 15.
• Iervolino, Lisa (June 5, 1984). "Teleram unveils remote network". The Daily Times. Mamaroneck, New York. p. D1.
• Metz, Robert (August 28, 1984). "Fortune systems still in the battle". The Cincinnati Post. p. 4C.
• Staff writer (November 29, 1983). "New Teleram Portables". Citizen Register. Ossining, New York. p. D1.
• Staff writer (April 23, 1985). "Teleram Communications". Citizen Register. Ossining, New York. p. D1.
• Staff writer (February 18, 1986). "Ex-Teleram group purchases StarLink communication system". The Daily Argus. White Plains, New York. p. C3.