Micro Computer Machines Collection

In April, 1972, Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, California, announced its first 8-bit microprocessor — the 8008. In just a few months, the prototypes of the first general purpose computers powered by the 8008 chip were already working on site at the French company Réalisations et Études Électroniques located in the suburbs of Paris and at Micro Computer Machines (MCM) with headquarters situated on the outskirts of Toronto. These firms fully recognized, articulated, and acted upon the immense potential of the budding microprocessor technology for the development of a new generation of cost effective computing systems. However, it was MCM which built and, later, manufactured the first microprocessor-based computer designed specifically for personal use — the first PC.

MCM's first computer—the MCM/70—was designed in the period between 1972 and 73 and announced on September 25, 1973, in Toronto. The computer was unveiled in New York on September 27th and, the following day, in Boston. One of its early prototypes was demonstrated in May of 1973 during the Fifth International APL Users' Conference in Toronto. The MCM/70 computers were purchased in North America and Europe by acedemic institutions as well as large organizations and companies including Chevron Oil Research Company, Firestone, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission, NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, and U.S. Army.

The MCM/70 was followed by the MCM/700 (1975), /800 (1976), /900 (1977), the Power (1980) computers.

Acquisition: The objects in the collection have been donated by E.M. Edwards Estate, A. Arpen, R. Bernecky, R. Elliott, L. Gladstone, M. Kutt, J. Laraya, G. Ramer, R. Rea, G. Seeds, M. Smyth, Z. Stachniak, and J. Woods.

HARDWARE

• Early MCM/70 prototype (based on Intel SIM8-01) (1972)
• Memory board from the rack-mounted MCM/70 prototype (1972)
• MCM/70 Executive (1973)
• early MCM/70 ROM board (1973?)
• MCM/70 Model 708 computer (1974)
• MCM/70 power supply (1974?)
• MCM printer, Model MCP 132 N (1975)
• DDS-1000 Diskette Subsystem (1975)
• MPD-1000 Diskette Subsystem (1975)
• A prototype of an MCM/700 variant designed by E.E. Edwards (1975?)
• MCM/800 Model 808 computer (1976)
• A prototype of an MCM/800 variant designed by E.E. Edwards (1977?)
• MCM/900 Model 924 computer (1978)
• MCM Micro Power Model 524 computer (1981)

 SOFTWARE 

• MCM/70 Mathematics Library, May 7, 1974
• MCM/70 Statistics Library, May 7, 1974
• MCM/70 Finance Library, May 7, 1974
• MCM/70 Electricity and Electrical Engineering Library, May 7, 1974
• MCM/70 Fun and Games Library, May 7, 1974
• APL A* code listings, June 4, 1980

 MANUALS and GUIDES  

• MCM/70 Introductory Manual, Micro Computer Machines (1973)
• J. Morgan Smyth, MCM/70 User's Guide, Micro Computer Machines (1974) (spiral bounded preprint)
• J. Morgan Smyth, MCM/70 User's Guide , Micro Computer Machines, Toronto and Kingston (1974)
• MCM/70 Installation Guide, MCM (1974?)
• MCM/70 Desk Top Computer, Distributor Service Manual, Preliminary issue, Micro Computer Machines (September 1974)
• MCP-132 (HyType) Printer Operating Guide, MCM (July 1975)
• MCM/APL Reference Cards, MCM (1976 and May 1981)
• SCI-1200 Communications Sub-System, Installation Instructions and Reference Manual, MCM (1976?)
• MCP-132 Printer User's Guide, rev. 1 (June 1, 1977)
• DDS-500 Dual Disk System User Guide [preliminary], Micro Computer Machines (June 8, 1977)
• MCM System/800 Utilities Manual, rev. AA, MCM (August 1977)
• MCM Computers System 800: Using The MCM Computer as a Terminal and Transferring Data to and from APL Plus, manual nr. 018 033, rev. AA, MCM (January 1978)
• VDU-9620 Reference Manual, MCM (August 1978)
• DDS-1000 Diskette Drive User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (October 1978)
• TEXT/900 Word Processing System, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AC (November 1978)
• MCM/900 User's Manual, rev. AB, MCM (December 1978)
• MCM LIB/8 System Documentation [describes a collection of APL functions which facilitate the creation and maintenance of a library of user application packages for the MCM/800], Micro Computer Machines (197?)
• FAS: Financial Accounting System User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd. (197?)
• Fast Functions on the MCM/900, MCM Computers Ltd. (197?)
• FAS: Financial MCM System/900 Utilities Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (February 1979)
• MCM System/900 Utilities Manual, rev. AA, MCM (February 1979)
• Communications Subsystem Reference Manual, rev. AB, MCM Computers Ltd. (March 1979)
• MCM/900 User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AC (May 1979)
• TEXT/900 With Data Files, Supplementary Documentation, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (July 1979)
• CAS-900 Client Accounting System, MCM Computers Ltd. (September 19, 1979)
• DCS: Data Communication System User's Guide, version 3, MCM Computers Ltd. (April 1980)
• Small Business System: Programmer's Reference Manual, version 1, MCM Computers Ltd. (August 1980)
• MCM/APL User's Guide, preliminary release, MCM Computers Ltd. (September 1980)
• Client Accounting System, General Ledger, Accounting Reports, MCM Computers Ltd. (February 1981)
• Client Accounting System, Time and Charges, MCM Computers Ltd. (February 1981)
• 924/1024 System Technical Manual [preliminary], MCM (February 27, 1981)
• []ZZ System Functions User's Guide, preliminary release, MCM Computers Ltd. (March 31, 1981)
• Power Mail: Message Processing Facility, MCM (May 1981)
• POWER Utilities User's Guide, preliminary release, MCM Computers Ltd. (June 1981)
• Distributor Announcement, No. 44, MCM (May 11, 1982)

 CORPORATE DOCUMENTS
     1971 

• Hypothecation of Shares and Purchase of Shares Agreements Between Gordon Ramer and Merslau Kutt (December 28, 1971)
• Kutt Systems, Inc., Micro Computer Machines Inc., and MCM Computers Ltd. corporate data, Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Toronto, file number 251340 (copy on micro-fish)
• Intel's Invoice for: SIM4-01, MP7-01, and MCS-4 chip set to be sent to Mers Kutt, December 28, 1971
• Intel's Form of Invoice for: SIM4-01, MP7-01, and MCS-4 chip set to be sent to Mers Kutt, signed by Hank Smith, December 28, 1971

      1972

• Intel, Shipping Request for SIM4-01, SIM8-01, MP7-02, to be delivered to Mers Kutt, May 12, 1972
• Intel, Packing Slip for SIM4-01, SIM8-01, MP7-02, to be delivered to Mers Kutt, May 12, 1972
• Intel's Form of Invoice for: SIM4-01, SIM8-01, MP7-02, to be sent to Kutt Systems Inc., May 12, 1972
• Intel's Form of Invoice for: SIM8-01 to be sent to Kutt Systems Inc., May 23, 1972
• Minutes of the Special General Meeting of the Shareholders of KUTT SYSTEMS INC., Saturday, November 11, 1972, 1 page
• Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1972 Financial Statements (draft), 7 pages
• Letter from Hal Fenney (Intel) to Mers Kutt, October 4, 1972 [re SIM8-01 board], 1 page
• Note from Hank Smith (Intel) to Mers Kutt, October 4, 1972 [re SIM8-01 board], 1 page
• Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1972 Financial Statements, 7 pages
• Micro Computer Machines Company Certificate from the Registry Office for the Registry Division of Toronto (April 17, 1972)</l i>

       1973

• Collection of design documents of two MCM/70 prototypes (April-July, 1973)
• Agreement to Purchase and Transfer Stock (March 7, 1973?)
• Receipt for MCM shares purchase (April 5, 1973)
• Portfolio of MCM Shareholder Documents (May 7 and May 14, 1973)
• Agreement between G. Ramer and M. Kutt, 4 pages (May 16, 1973)
  Letter to MCM shareholders, signed Mers Kutt, President, 2 pages (August 24, 1973)
• Letter from Micro Computer Machines to Canadian Consulates, signed Mers Kutt, President, 2 pages (November 1, 1973)
• Letter to MCM shareholders, signed Mers Kutt, President, 1 page (November 1973)
• Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1973 Interim Financial Statements (unedited), 6 pages
• Micro Computer Machines Inc., 1973 Financial Statements, 6 pages
• Collection of MCM corporate information documents (1973)
• Collection of Kutt Systems Inc. and MCM Inc. Corporate Documents (1973)

       1974

• MCM corporate information, 31 pages, 1974
• Letter to potential users of MCM products, February 1974, signed by Peter J. Wolfe, Manager, Business Systems, 1 page.
• Micro Computer Machines Inc., Purchase Order no 10199 [for Intel's MCS8s], March 1, 1974, 1 page
• Data Device Corporation price list for MCM products, May 13, 1974, 1 page
• Micro Computer Machines Inc., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, May 17, 1974, signed ?, Secretary
• Data Device Corporation quotation for an MCM/70 system, May 21, 1974, signed Ted Berg, Vice President, 1 page
• Letter to shareholders of Micro Computer Machines Inc,. May 28, 1974, signed Mers Kutt, President, 2 pages
• Letter from Micro Computer Machines Inc. to APL'ers, 1974(?), signed Ted Berg, President, 1 page

       1975

• Letter to potential users of MCM products, 1975(?) [re the announcement of the IBM 5100], signed Ted Berg, President, 1 page
• Letter from Ted Berg to Sales Representatives "Notice of Upcoming Product Features", November 27, 1975, signed T.M. Berg, 1 page

       1976

• Letter from Borden and Elliot to Gordon Ramer, November 26, 1976, 2 pages
• Micro Computer Machines Inc., Common Shares, issued in 1976
• MCM/700 Configuration, technical specification, May 7, 1976

       1977

• Letter from Borden and Elliot to Gordon Ramer, March 9, 1977, 2 pages
• Agreement to Purchase and Transfer Ownership of Stock, October 29, 1977

       1978

• Powerful New Business Computer System Introduced by MCM, MCM Computers Ltd. press release, 1978, 1 page
• MCM Computers Ltd., 1978 Auditors' Report. 8 pages
• Distributor Price List, September 27, 1978, 1 page
• Interactive Computer Systems, Inc., Price List, November 1, 1978, 2 pages
• System 800/900 Actuarial/Insurance Users, November 1978, 1 page
• Distributorship Agreement, 1978, 12 pages

       1979

• 1978 Auditors' Report, February 13, 1979, 8 pages
• Canadian Price List, MCM, March 1, 1979, 2 pages
• Distributor Price List, MCM, March 1, 1979, 1 page
• Letter to shareholders of MCM Computers Ltd, May 24, 1979, 2 pages, signed C.M. Williams, President
• Notice of Correction, letter to shareholders of MCM Computers Ltd, June 4, 1979, signed B.C. Wallace, Chairman, 1 page
• MCM Computers Ltd., Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, May 25, 1979, signed by W.S. Robertson, Secretary, 1 page
• MCM Computers Ltd., Proxy, May 1979, 1 page
• Representative System 800/900 Installations, May 1979, 3 pages
• Canadian Price List, MCM, July 1, 1979, 2 pages
• Distributor Price List, MCM, July 1, 1979, 2 pages
• TAS-900 Pricing, November 26, 1979, 1 page
• Cost Justification for the DMS/FAS on the System 900, MCM, 1979(?), 2 pages

  MARKETING MATERIALS
       1973

• Media/Press Release, September 28, 1973, 4 pages [the announcement of the MCM/70]
• MCM/70 Desk Top Computer, Preannouncement, Confidential Information [promotional brochure with an MCM/70 prototype on the first page], 2 double-sided pages, August 1973
• MCM/70 Desk Top Computer [promotional brochure with an MCM/70 prototype on the first page], 1 double-sided page, 1973
• The MCM/70T Intelligent Terminal [promotional brochure], 1 page, November(?) 1973
• A Sample of Quotations from Letters Received, November 1973, 2 pages [quotations from letters received by MCM re the MCM/70]
• Collage of articles on the MCM/70 prepared by MCM for shareholders, 1973, 6 pages
• Inquiries & Responses Received After Trip [to Europe with the MCM/70 prototype], 2 pages

       1974

• MCM/70 Desk Top Computer [promotional brochure with the production model of the MCM/70 on the front page], 4 double-sided pages [includes information on the MCM/70 hardware, preliminary specifications of the MCM/APL interpreter, information on the MCM/70 in science, business, and education], February 1974
• The MCM/70 in education [promotional brochure], 2 double-sided pages, 1974?
• MCM/70 Desk Top Computer [promotional brochure with the production model of the MCM/70 on the front page], 5 double-sided pages [includes information on the MCM/70 hardware, preliminary specifications of the MCM/APL interpreter, information on MCM as well as on the MCM/70 in science, business, and education], 1974
• MCM/70 Desk Top Computer, MCM/APL [promotional brochure with the production model of the MCM/70 on the front page], 5 double-sided pages [includes information on the MCM/70 hardware, preliminary specifications of the MCM/APL interpreter, information on MCM as well as on the MCM/70 in science, business, and education], 1974

       1975

• Introducing The Smallest, Least Expensive, Stand-Alone APL Desktop Computer MCM/700 [promotional brochure], 6 pages
• MCM Sales Reference, 21 pages, 1975?
• SDS-250/DDS-500 Diskette Subsystems [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1975?
• PMR-400 Card Reader [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1975?
• MCP-132 Printer/Plotter [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1975?
• Application Libraries [list of software for the /700 system], 4 pages
• Promotional letter from Peter J. Wolfe, Marketing Manager, to potential MCM clients, 2 pages.
• MCM price list, 1 page.

      1976

• MCM News, Newsletter, vol 1(?) [most likely published in the early 1976], 8 pages
• Micro Computer Machines, Inc., Distributor Information Kit, Micro Computer Machines, 1976
• System 800, [MCM Computers promotional brochure for the MCM/800 system], 6 pages
• System Software" [information on software for the MCM/800], 2 pages
• Applications Library Summary [information on software libraries for the] MCM/800, 4 pages
• PVAS A new concept for Performing Pension Actuarial Valuations and Pension Plan Administration [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 6 pages
• TEXT 800, Word Processing with System 800 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 3 pages
• TEXT 800, Word Processing with System 800 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 2 pages
• VDU-9620 Video Display For System 800 [promotional brochure], 5 pages
• < VDU-9620 Video Display For System 800 [promotional brochure], 2 pages
• MCP-132 Printer/Plotter [promotional brochure], 2 pages
• DDS-500 Diskette System [promotional brochure], 2 pages
• Here's what other Actuaries say about the MCM/800 system [promotional brochure], 6 pages
• MCM's System 800: the combination of data processing and word processing [promotional brochure], 1 page
• The MCM/800 System Software, 2 pages

1977

• MCM FI-PLAN [the MCM/800 promotional brochure], 2 pages
• System 800 Demonstration Package, Rev. AA, October 1977, 9 pages
• O. Zimmerman, MCM/800 and APL Gain Acceptance in Insurance Applications at Crown Life, 9 pages

1978

• MCM FI-PLAN: Sample Projection , 6 pages
• MCM 800 vs Timesharing , 6 pages
• If you spend more[...] [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages
• APL and Virtual Memory [...] [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages
• MCM 800 vs IBM 5110, 2 pages
• Introducing.... [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 4 pages
• MCM Computers: System 900 [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 4 pages
• Businesses today are faced with a maze of problems [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1978?
• APL and Virtual Memory -- two main reasons why... [the MCM/900 promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1978?

1979

• DCS/900 Data Communications with System/900 [promotional brochure], 1 page, 1979?
• AID/900 Utilities and Libraries for System/900 [promotional brochure], 1 page, 1979?
• LIB/900 Program Development with System/900 [promotional brochure], 1 page, 1979?
• PLOT/900 Plotting Software for System/900 [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1979?
• MCM Computers System/900 [promotional brochure], 4 pages, 1979?
• System 900: The Affordable Solution [promotional brochure], 2 pages, 1979?
• CAS-900 Client Accounting System [promotional brochure], 4 pages, 1979?
• TEXT/900 Word Processing with System/900 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 3 pages, 1979?
• TEXT/900 Word Processing with System/900 [promotional brochure for the /800 system], 1 page, 1979?

      1980

• Power [MCM Power promotional brochure], 4 pages, 1980?
• Product Data Sheet and Hardware Tech Spec[brochures for the MCM Power], 2 pages, 1980?
• MCM User Support Notes, May 15, 1980 -- March 20, 1981.

  PHOTOGRAPHS

• Photograph of the MCM/70 wide-case prototype, b/w original (1973)
• Photograph of E.E. Edwards with the MCM/70 Executive, b/w original. Photograph for Politiken (1973)
• Photograph of the MCM/70, b/w original, (1973?)
• The announcement of the MCM/70, Toronto, Sep. 25, 1973 -- b/w original (Sep. 25, 1973)
• Photograph of the MCM/800 with CRT -- b/w original (1976?)
• Photograph of the MCM/900 business system -- b/w original (1978?)
• Photograph of the MCM/900 computer -- b/w original (1978?).
• The MCM/700 production line, MCM's manufacturing facility in Kingston. Photograph by Jose Laraya(?) (1975?)
• DDS-500, photograph by Jose Laraya(?) (1975?)
• 3 photographs of the MCM/800 by Jose Laraya(?) (1976?)
• 6 photographs of MCM team at York University (photographs of Andre Arpin, Don Genner, Mers Kutt, Morgan Smyth, Gord Ramer). Photograph by Z. Stachniak (November 2001)

MCM DIGITAL LIBRARY

• Andre Arpin speaking at York University, Toronto, March 28, 2003 (audio)
• Andre Arpin, MCM/70 -- The First Portable Microcomputer presentation, York University, Toronto, March 28, 2003 (PowerPoint)
• interview with Andre Arpin, Kingston, April 10, 2001 (audio)
• interview with Don Genner, Guelph, August 31, 2001 (audio)
• interview with Mers Kutt, Toronto, March 1, 2001 (audio)
• interview with Mers Kutt, Toronto, March 6, 2001 (audio)
• Mers Kutt speaking at York University, Toronto, October 24, 2001 (audio)
• interview with Mers Kutt, Toronto, November 11, 2002 (audio)
• interview with Jose Laraya, Toronto, September 13, 2001 (audio)
• interview with Jose Laraya, Toronto, September 28, 2001 (audio)
• interview with Gordon Ramer, Toronto, March 27, 2001 (audio)
• nterview with Reg Rea, Stoney Creek, October 20, 2005 (audio)
• interview with Morgan Smyth, Toronto, July 25, 2001 (audio)
• interview with John Woods, Milton, October 22, 2008 (audio)
• e-mail communications with former users of MCM hardware

BOOKS, RESEARCH PAPERS, ARTICLES

• A. Arpin, External Allocation System (EASY) / A Virtual System (AVS). In Proc. of the APL 75 Congress, Pisa, Italy (1975)
• R.F. Bauer, Implementation of APL on Small Computers. In Proc. of the APL 79 Conference, Rochester N.Y. (1979)
• B.J. Bleackley and J. LaPrairie, Entering the Computer Age. The Computer Industry in Canada: The First Thirty Years, The Book Society of Canada Ltd, 1982
• J. Chevreau, The Third Coming of Mers Kutt, Report on Business Magazine, November 1985, pp. 111--118
• M. Kutt, microcomputer development notes, (1972), 36 pages
• J. Morgan Smyth, York APL, Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Toronto (1972)
• J. Morgan Smyth, EASY and AVS: The Two Auxiliary Storage Subsystems of the MCM/70. In Proc. of the APL 75 Congress, Pisa, Italy (1975), pp. 313--319
• G. Ramer(?) York APL Users Guide, APL Systems, November 15, 1971
• Stachniak, Z. Learning from Prototypes, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 42, no. 2 (2020), pp. 63-71.
• Stachniak, Z. Software Recovery and Beyond: The MCM/70 Case, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing vol. 41, nr. 4 (2019), pp. 110-118.
• Stachniak, Z. MCM on Personal Software, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 39, no. 1 (2017), pp. 29--51.
• Z. Stachniak, The Making of the MCM/70 Microcomputer, IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, vol. 25, issue 2 (April-June 2003), pp. 62--75.
• Z. Stachniak, The MCM/70 Microcomputer, Core 4.1, The Computer History Museum (September 2003), pp. 6--12
• A. Wahl, Kutt's last stand, Canadian Business (October 11--24, 2006), pp. 56--64.

  OTHER

• Collection of documents concerning EE.Edwards' participation in the 1973 International APL Conference in Denmark. The collection includes an invitation from the Danish Computing Society (Jun 8, 19073), an English translation of the "Computer in a briefcase" article that appeared in Politiken on August 23, 1973, and a photograph of E.E. Edwards with the MCM/70 Executive.
• Several MCM digital cassettes
• I love APL, MCM sticker
• Pavement Management System, manual, MCM/POWER, 83 pages (198?)
• Lecture notes from an MCM seminar taken by Russell Elliott on June 9--10, 1977
• Seven files of various software printouts
• Intel 4004 uComputer; the first single board computer received by MCM from Intel in 1972
• MCM's ten-th anniversary coffee mug.