Escom
Encyclopedia
ESCOM, previously Schmitt Computer Systems Ltd., was a German
computer company, best known in the United States
, United Kingdom
, Germany
, and the Netherlands
as the successful purchaser of Commodore International
in 1995.
Escom was founded by Manfred Schmitt of Darmstadt
, Germany
as the computer division of his music company in 1986. It became a separate company in 1991. In 1993, it became a publicly traded company, and it grew rapidly, controlling 11.2% of the German PC market by 1994.
During 1992 and 1993, a British operation was set up,with a distribution and assembly base in Irvine, North Ayrshire
and a small number of retail stores. These followed the model established in Germany with small town-centre shops which would customise PCs to order, rather than the out-of-town superstores and mail-order businesses which dominated the UK market.
In 1995 Escom's retail presence on the high streets of the United Kingdom expanded massively when it took over many branches of the Rumbelows
electrical chain, which were being sold off by Rumbelows owner Thorn EMI
. Also in 1995 Escom bought Commodore International for US$14 million, primarily to get the Commodore brand name. It started using the Commodore name on computers sold in Europe
, and established a separate division for Amiga
-related technologies. The company grew too quickly, however, and lost 185 Million Deutschemarks that year. With no bailout from its shareholders, the company declared bankruptcy
on 15 July 1996 and was liquidated.
The Commodore assets were purchased the following year by Tulip Computers, and the Amiga assets by Gateway.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
computer company, best known in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
as the successful purchaser of Commodore International
Commodore International
Commodore is the commonly used name for Commodore Business Machines , the U.S.-based home computer manufacturer and electronics manufacturer headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which also housed Commodore's corporate parent company, Commodore International Limited...
in 1995.
Escom was founded by Manfred Schmitt of Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as the computer division of his music company in 1986. It became a separate company in 1991. In 1993, it became a publicly traded company, and it grew rapidly, controlling 11.2% of the German PC market by 1994.
During 1992 and 1993, a British operation was set up,with a distribution and assembly base in Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
and a small number of retail stores. These followed the model established in Germany with small town-centre shops which would customise PCs to order, rather than the out-of-town superstores and mail-order businesses which dominated the UK market.
In 1995 Escom's retail presence on the high streets of the United Kingdom expanded massively when it took over many branches of the Rumbelows
Rumbelows
Rumbelows was an electrical and electronics retailer in the United Kingdom which once rivalled Currys, Dixons and Comet.-History:Fred Dawes established the company as a chain of television and radio rental shops in the 1950s, naming it Fred Dawes...
electrical chain, which were being sold off by Rumbelows owner Thorn EMI
Thorn EMI
Thorn EMI was a major British company involved in consumer electronics, music, defence and retail. Created in October 1979 when Thorn Electrical Industries merged with EMI, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but it demerged again in...
. Also in 1995 Escom bought Commodore International for US$14 million, primarily to get the Commodore brand name. It started using the Commodore name on computers sold in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and established a separate division for Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
-related technologies. The company grew too quickly, however, and lost 185 Million Deutschemarks that year. With no bailout from its shareholders, the company declared bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
on 15 July 1996 and was liquidated.
The Commodore assets were purchased the following year by Tulip Computers, and the Amiga assets by Gateway.