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Last revision of this page: May 25, 2025

• The Kay Family
  • Father and Son
• The Company
  • Background Information
  • History of Company Names and Locations
  • Properties and Facilities
  • Device production
  • Employees
  • NLS
• Kaypro on the NASDAQ
• Lawsuits
• Sales and Marketing
• Stories and Rumors
• External Links

The name Kaypro is of course associated with the person of Andrew F. Kay, the founder of this company in 1953. But what has probably been forgotten today is that there are other „Kay's“ associated with this company.

• Frank (Fyodor) Kopischiansky & Julia Berezny formerly Halkowich
  • Andrew Francis Kay aka Kopischiansky & Mary Catherine Kay formerly Marble
    • Allan M. Kay
    • David A. Kay
    • Janice Kay
    • Nancy Kay
  • Steven Francis Kopischiansky (According to my information, he had not changed his surname.)

[1] [2] [3] [4]

United States Census

Andrew F. Kay

His nickname or call name was Andy. According to an obituary in the San Diego Union Tribune [44], in the late 1940s or early 1950s he was already known professionally as Mr K., because no one could pronounce the name "Kopischiansky". Thereupon he changed surname to Kay.

A founder of the company, has served as its Chairman, President and Chief Financial Officer since its inception in 1952. He holds the Bachelor of Science degree in General Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]. [8]

Andrew Kay (aka Kopischiansky) was the son of poland immigrants (in 1909). His parents worked as weavers in a silk mill in New Jersey. Kay finished school in 1938 and graduated from MIT in 1940. In 1942 Kay was placed in charge of test engineering at the Jack and Heintz Company. [52] In 1949 Kay and his family moved to California and joined the Bill Jack Scientific Instrument Company in Solana Beach as vice president of engineering. In 1952 he left the company and started Non-Linear Systems (NLS) in Del Mar. NLS made the first commercial digital voltmeters.

Extensive information about Kay, especially about his early professional years, can be found in the IEEE Spectrum, Dec. 1984, page 66.

The MIT student directory [36, p.323] lists his residence in 303 Hope Ave, Clifton, New Jersey. In the 1940 Census, however, it says 305 Hope Avenue.

David A. Kay

Youngest son of Andrew Kay.

Most articles about Kaypro usually focus on Andrew Kay. But the other family members too, and especially David Kay, made Kaypro what it was, one of the leading computer manufacturers in the early 1980s.

Joined the company on a full-time basis in 1980 and has served since that date as Vice President, Marketing and Product Planning. Mr. Kay has served as a director of the Company since 1972. He holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of California at San Diego. [8]

But perhaps the foremost family employee is 30-year-old David, who started to work full time for Kaypro in 1980 as vice president of marketing and product planning. During the previous five years, David, who holds a B.A. in mathematics from the University of California at San Diego, sold windmills [Cojo wind company, Gaviota, CA] and managed his own construction business. His experience as a dealer enabled him to bulld up Kaypro's tiny marketing department to more than 150 employees.

An industry observer who has worked closely with the company calls David Kay "a visionary with all kinds of fantastic ideas for where technology is taking computers." It was David, for example who told the press that portables would overtake desktop models during 1984, and it was David's idea to add a 10 megabyte hard memory to the Kaypro 10. [52]

David, a six-foot-three-inch surfer with a degree in math and a hobby of collecting dictionaries, had himself started with the company several years before the birth of the Kaypro. Now he was vice-president for marketing, and when an investment banker asked Andy if David was a vice-president because he was Andy’s son or because he was the best man for the job, Andy replied: “Both.” He believed that David’s role in the development and marketing of the Kaypro “was extremely important. In thirty years I’ve never seen a man in marketing who measures up to one-tenth the dedication and performance he’s shown.” [53, C2]

Allan M. Kay

Eldest son of Andrew Kay.

Joined the Company in 1964. He became Vice President, Administration in 1980. Mr. Kay has served as a director of the Company since 1972. He attended Goddard College. [8]

Mary M. Kay

Wife of Andrew Kay.

A founder of the Company, has served as its Secretary and a director since its inception in 1953. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Applied Arts from Boston University. [8]

Her name is given as Mary M. in the annual report. FamiliySearch.org and other sources on the Internet, however, give her name as Mary Catherine.

Frank Kopischianski

Father of Andrew Kay.

Frank Kopischiansky - an Eastern European immigrant and an ex-coal miner — worked in silk mills and wool factories and as a chauffeur. Frank had come to the United States from what is now Poland.

Frank had lost most of his savings in a bank crash, but his wife somehow scraped up enough money to help Andy reach M.I.T. on a partial scholarship.

... his eighty-six-year-old father, known around the plant as “Grandpa,” repaired electronic equipment and ran a forklift.

[53, C2]

Janice Batter Kay

Andrew Kay's daughter Janice Batter Kay (and her husband Michael Batter) architecturally designed a number of Kaypro's buildings and manufacturing facilities in 1983 and 1985. Janice Kay graduates of the Harvard School of Design.

In addition, both also designed the metal cabinet of the Kaycomp II (later Kaypro II) [84] and both Robie's.

Other Family Members

The Financial Review report of June 22, 1990 also reveals that the company employed Andrew Kay's brother Steven Francis (head of the print shop) and his father Frank Kopischiansky (grounds supervisor and mechanics).

Andy Kay's oldest son, Allan, who has been employed by Kaypro since 1964, is currently vice president of administration and a director; Andy's wife, Mary, is corporate secretary and a director; his 87-year-old father Frank Kopischiansky, arrives at Kaypro every morming before sunrise to work as grounds supervisor and mechanic; Andy's brother Stephen heads the print shop; and one of Andy's two daughters, Janice, and her husband, Michael Batter, are the architects for Kaypro's new coporate offices. [52]

Father and Son, the Company's Strategy and the Slow Demise

The main reason for the demise of Kaypro was the difference of opinion on the company's strategy (marketing and manufacturing) between father and son - Andrew and David. This conflict is described in the Financial Review of 22 June 1990 (TECHNOLOGY RIDE SWAMPED BY REALITY). The conflict between father and son culminated in David's leaving Kaypro in October 1988. [34] He did come back on February 6, 1990, but on Friday March 2, 1990 Kaypro Corporation was done, over and out.

Fathers and Sons, Personal accounts from fathers and their sons on what it's like to run a family business together.
ANDREW KAY: "I think I know exactly what the Wangs are going through, because one of my sons was president for a while, too," says Andrew Kay, founder and CEO of Kaypro Inc., a Solana Beach, Calif., personal-computer company that, like Wang Laboratories, is publicly traded with a large portion of its stock family owned. "Things went sour not because he was a son, but because we had a difference of opinion, and that can happen to the best of professional managers. He wanted to bring in outside funds and sell the company. So he's gone into some venture capital work for a while. Nothing else has changed. The Kays remain a close family.
"So, who knows? My son might be back in the presidency someday. Someday I'll decide I've got things squared away. Then, when the direction of the company is set, and if we can agree on certain principles, maybe my son and I will start all over again. After all, it wasn't my desire to take the job back. He left, and there it was. Somebody had to take over.
"Now, we're supposedly an example of 'a troubled family business.' Well, there are managerial conflicts and differences of opinion in most companies that don't have family members, but in those circumstances, people look for other reasons. Where there's family, they figure that's reason enough. They don't look any further. It's like saying that if milk consumption's going up, and so is cancer, milk must cause cancer. It doesn't mean anything, but it makes a great headline.
"When we ran into trouble, one sharp guy wrote a headline that said, 'Too many Kays, not enough pros.' He even had me believing it for a while. Then I realized something: if it hadn't been for the family and its cohesiveness, the company wouldn't have stayed together. When people stopped buying Kaypro products because the media told them we were going out of business, it was the family funds and the family relationships that held it together. If Wang survives this, I suspect it will be for similar reasons." [69]

This article appeared in the Inc. on 04/01/1990. By March, however, Kaypro had filed for bankruptcy. By that time, Kaypro Corporation was finished. Only Andrew Kay might not have wanted to admit it. If you don't adapt, you perish. A principle of life! In the beginning of June 1990 Andrew Kay was fired as an "employee"! All other employees were laid off too; due to no cash to pay. [70]

Julie Pitta wrote in Financial review on Jun 22, 1990: "What went wrong with this once promising computer maker? Some analysts blame nepotism -- "too many Kays and not enough pros" -- but that is only part of the answer. The truth is, the bizarre dynamics of the Kay family kept the company from focusing on its main business."

I have also often read that Kaypro missed the transition from CP/M to DOS, hence the demise of the company. Yes, that may also have played a role, but a minor one in my opinion; Kaypro has made 286, 386 and 486 computers! According to my discussions, however, it was due to the sales and manufacturing strategy. What was still good at the beginning with the Kaypro II was from 1984/85 only a hindrance and obsolete. David Kay and others could not prevail against Andrew Kay and so the descent began. The very family-oriented company management probably also played its part.

The following statement sums it up perfectly.

Elaine Montemarano, Director of Sales: "Yep, we had the tiger by the tail .. but sadly his [Davids] father [Andrew] was not up on the times and we couldn’t progress to be like the big guys, Compaq etc. Just couldn’t compete in price." [63]

Any company that did not have production facilities in Asia from the mid-1980s onwards was doomed. But for Andrew Kay, that was not an option! The reason that made Kaypro computers so outstanding in the beginning was their low price. And that was Andrew Kay's downfall: the price!

Kaypro Corporation (formerly Non-Linear Systems Inc.) ("Kaypro" or the "Company") has developed, manufactured and sold electronic instruments since organisation in 1953, primarily for aerospace, defense and industrial applications. In 1981, The Company began to apply its engineering and manufacturing capabilities to the development of a low priced, portable microcomputer system for business and professional use. The company shipped its first microcomputer system, the Kaypro(TM) 2 [II], in June 1982. [60]

Background Information

The next articles (1984 - 1990) show the up's and down's of Kaypro Corporation.

• Jan 1984, Jeannette DeWyze: THE STORY BEHIND KAYPRO
• Aug 1984, John Gantz: KAYPRO HUNKERS DOWN
• Oct 1984, Kathy Chin: KAYPRO PARTS MYSTERY
• Dec 1984, Kathy Chin: FIRST LOSS FOR BOOM COMPANY
• Oct 1988, John Gantz: KAYPRO FACES UPHILL BATTLE TO CONTINUE AS PC PLAYER
• Jun 1990, Julie Pitta: TECHNOLOGY RIDE SWAMPED BY REALITY

History of Company Names and Locations

The name change from NLS to Kaypro took place on 06/29/1983.

The following date information I got from magazines and the like. They only mean that company name and location appear at that time in the media. These are not exact from-to dates!

• Non-Linear Systems Inc.
  • 1953-xx: Non-Linear Systems; foundation year [8]
  • 1968-xx: Non-Linear Systems; Solana Beach [7] [9]
  • 1982-07: Non-Linear Systems; POB N, Del Mar, CA 92014 [24]
  • 1982-08: Kay Computers; division of Non-Linear Systems Inc., POB N, Del Mar, CA 92014 [27]
  • 1983-08: Kaypro Division; division of Non-Linear Systems Inc., 533 Stevens Ave, Solana Beach. CA 92075 [11, p.214]
• Kaypro Corporation
  • 1983-09: Kaypro Corporation; 533 Stevens Ave, Solana Beach. CA 92075 (with Non-Linear Systems as a division of Kaypro Corporation) [26]

Properties and Facilities

[04/1982] The Company’s [Kaypro's] manufacturing and warehousing operations are conducted in a facility located on 8.16 acres of land in Solana Beach, California. The Company’s administrative, sales, research and related activities are conducted out of a different facility (the “Original Facility”) also located on this land. The Company leases this land, the Original Facility and certain equipment currently used for its administrative, engineering and manufacturing operations from Andrew F. Kay. The Company sold the land and the Original Facility and the equipment to Mr. Kay in August 1975 and August 1981, respectively, and immediately leased them back from Mr. Kay at those respective times. [8]

Although the following image shows the new buildings (2021), the original NLS-Kaypro plot size has not changed. It is 8.16 acres.

Kaypro's manufacturing and warehousing is conducted in an approximately 58,000 square foot facility (the "Manufacturing Facility") located on 8.16 acres [33,124 square meter] of land in Solana Beach, California. The Company's administrative, sales, research and related activities are conducted out of an approximately 38,000 square foot facility (the "Original Facility) located on this land. [60]

The following aerial photograph shows the original arrangement of the four elongated buildings, all of which have a slight change in angle on the right. There is a single smaller building at the rear right. According to the information I have, this was the (first) warehouse.

The move from Del Mar airport to Solana Beach took place in August 1968. [9]

The following site plan basically reflects the above-mentioned building layout. In addition, the first two modifications of Batter Kay Associates (in grey) are now shown in the first row of buildings. On the left is the striking entrance and reception building and on the right the long loading ramp. These building extensions were carried out in 1983.

The access road to the company premises is located in front of the turnaround circle.

In the following picture collage, numbers 1-7;9 and 8;10-12 belong together in terms of content. The pictures with the red numbers indicate the subsequent modification or extension with a new loading bay.

These Kaypro's buildings and manufacturing facilities were designed by Janice Batter Kay and Michael Batter in 1983 and 1985.

The next building (reception area) does not exist today any more. It was demolished when the site was remodelled into a storage complex. From the architecture, this is the Bauhaus style, although the curved form could also be attributed to Le Corbusier.

In fiscal 1984, the Company was billed a total of approximately $855,000 (including cost reimbursements of approximately $510,000 for fees to unrelated third parties) by entities owned by Janice K. Batter, the daughter of Andrew F. and Mary M. Kay, and her husband Michael Batter for architectural interior design and construction supervision services rendered in major building refurbishments, reconstruction of existing Company facilities and design of contemplated office facilities. [32]

As Kaypro could no longer keep up with the completion of the many orders in 1984, the delivery of goods, the warehouse and production had to be replanned. The result was the new large building at the top left of the site. This building was built in 1985.

[06/1985] The $2.4-million, 62,000-square-foot computerized material handling facility for Kaypro Corp. in Solana Beach has been completed, according to Dunphy Construction Co., the contractor. The structure was designed by Janice Kay, principal in Batter Kay Associates, AIA, and the daughter of Andrew Kay, president of Kaypro, a personal computer firm. [40]

In its heyday in the mid-1980s, Kaypro Corporation was one of the largest seller of desktop computers behind IBM, Apple and Tandy/Radio Shack. The number of employees is reported in 1984 to be around 500. [8]

The current property is shown on an advertising video. On the video is also recognizable one building from 1984.

The result of the three construction phases (197x, 1983, 1985) can be seen wonderfully on the next aerial photograph. I have inserted 18 simplified sections with numbers. Let's see if I can assign the former work areas with the help of former employees.

Originally (1968), sections 01 to 16 and 18 belonged to NLS. In 1983, sections 00 and 02/03 were extended and converted. The final section no. 17 was added in 1985.

According to the site plan from 1983 the sections 00, 01, 05, 09, 13, 14, 15 belong to the administration area. The production area included section 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18. That was the original concept by BatterKay. It is not known (to me) whether this was also realised later.

The following years (1968, 1983, 1985) always mean from this year onwards. They virtually represent the three construction phases. By 1968, for example, I mean the period up to 1983!

No.	Working area	Date	Notes	Reference
00	Reception	1983	xyz	BatterKay (site plan)
01	Loading dock	1968	xyz	BatterKay (site plan)
01	Purchasing	1985	xyz	David Kay, 04.06.2025
	Employee gate	1983	xyz	BatterKay (site plan)
02	Network support	1983	xyz	Ern Bauti, R. B. Gordon (Fcbk)
02	PROFILES, Publications	1985	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
	Loading dock	1983	xyz	BatterKay (images)
03	PCB manufacturing	1985	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
04	xyz	xyz	xyz	xyz
04 ->	Grandpa Kay	1968	xyz	David Kay, 04.06.2025
05	? Software support	xyz	xyz	Rick Barlett Gordon (Fcbk)
06	xyz	xyz	xyz	xyz
07	? Engineering	xyz	xyz	Rick Barlett Gordon (Fcbk)
08	Maschine shop	1985	xyz	David Kay, 04.06.2025
09	Accounting	1983	CFO	David Kay, 04.06.2025
10	Support	xyz	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
11	Assembly, pre-85	1968	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
11	Support	1983	xyz	Rick Barlett Gordon (Fcbk)
12	Assembly, pre-85	1968	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
13	Administration	always	CEO, VP	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
13r	Legal counsel	1983	John Hentrich	David Kay, 04.06.2025
14	xyz	xyz	xyz	xyz
	Juice bar	1985	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
15	Assembly, pre-85	1968	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
16	Assembly, pre-85	1968	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
17-1	Warehouse	1985	ground floor	BatterKay (site plan)
17-2	Assembly, post-85	1985	2nd floor	BatterKay (site plan)
17-3	Multiple departments	1985	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
	Daily lunchtime, footbag	1985	xyz	Marshall Moseley (Fcbk)
18	? Warehouse	1968	xyz	BatterKay (site plan)
?	=> unconfirmed
->	=> to the right of
no No.	=> between No.
l, m, r	left, middle, right

In mid-May 2025, Frank Rahman visited David Kay and Janice Batter Kay in California and received a wealth of information from both of them. Janice provided him with site plans and pictures of the building extensions from 1983 and 1984/85. Detailed information can be found on the site of Frank's Kaypro Journal.

The following is my attempt to overlay today's building complexes with the Kaypro site plan above. No matter how you twist or turn it, it doesn't fit exactly. I chose the two red lines as fixed lines. The blue star is the striking entrance building.

Since, as shown above, the plot size of 8.16 acres has remained the same, the difference lies probably with the turn-around circle. It is clear to see that the driveway situation has changed.

The orange circle represents the area where a circus tent and many containers for storing the various computer parts were temporarily located in 1984. Kaypro is (maybe) missing computer parts.

[12/1988] To repay debts and fund new manufacturing, Kapro plans to sell its land and buildings for about $9.5 million and reacquire the property through a three-year lease/repurchase plan, according to Joe Marcello, senior vice president at Kaypro. [47]

[03/1990] Last year [1989], the company sold its real estate properties in Solana Beach, California, in a lease-back deal that was designed to infuse capital into the company, while also allowing the corporate facilities to remain where they've always been. [48]

[Techmonitor, 06/1990] Kaypro Corp, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, is vacating its sprawling "five building complex" in Solana Beach, California and has moved all manufacturing, administration and sales to a single 17,000 square foot building in Carlsbad, California; the Non Linear Systems subsidiary – that was the original name of the whole company, will keep a 4,000 square foot facility in Solana Beach for the time being; the Solana Beach site was sold to a property company in 1989 to raise money to reduce Kaypro’s debt; the retail discount store will also move to the new leased Carlsbad headquarters soon. [6]

According to PropertyShark (in 2021) [25] the estate at 533 Stevens Avenue, Solana Beach, CA 92075 was build in 1976 and was sold by Kay Andrew F & Signature Group for a value of $3,450,000 in 1998.

The Company’s manufacturing and warehousing operations are conducted in a facility located on 8.16 acres of land in Solana Beach, California. The Company’s administrative, sales, research and related activities are conducted out of a different facility (the “Original Facility”) also located on this land. The Company leases this land, the Original Facility and certain equipment currently used for its administrative, engineering and manufacturing operations from Andrew F. Kay. The Company sold the land and the Original Facility and the equipment to Mr. Kay in August 1975 and August 1981, respectively, and immediately leased them back from Mr. Kay at those respective times. [8]

Date        Amount       Party 1            Party 2
6/22/1998   $3,450,000   Jorad Associates   Price Enterprises INC
7/17/1990     $558,029   Kay Andrew F       Signature Group
3/29/1989                Kaypro CORP        Kay Andrew F & M

The base date for this property's market value is: 1/31/2003.
Land value            $2,458,912
Improvement value   + $2,924,796
Assessed value	=     $5,383,708

Property tax year: 2021-2022
Land value:           $4,304,611
Building value:	      $5,100,410
Market value:	      $9,405,021

According to techmonitor.aithere was some legal wrangling in the sale of the property in 1989. In this article also the company name Signature Group appears. [29]

Device Production

Instead of using assembly lines at Kaypro, the work is divided among six minifactories, each one a room of 600 square feet in which teams of 10 to 12 people can assemble and test a total of 500 computers in an 8-hour shift, starting with boards stuffed by some 70 other workers. (The stuffing is also done by small groups in other rooms.) As in the previous NLS instrument operation, no industrial engineers dictate the precise steps each team must follow. Rather, the teams are free to modify procedures in.any way so long as the final product meets the specs. [82]

Employees at NLS & Kaypro

As of October 15, 1984, the Company employed approximately 558 full-time-employees, including 182 in marketing and sales, 275 in manufacturing, 46 in product development and hardware and software engineering, and 49 in general management and administration functions. Approximatetly 6 employees were dedicated to the Company's electronic instruments segment as of that date. [60]

• Top Management
  • Ben Fisher: President (NLS, 04/1982) [51]
  • Roy Y. Salisbury: President (Kaypro, 03/1990) [48]
  • Geoffrey W. Soule: President (Kaypro, 1990-1991) [80]
  • Frank Strauss: Vice President (NLS, ~1954) [22]
  • John J. Hentrich: Vice President (Kaypro, 1987) [42]
  • Joseph Marcello: Senior Vice President (Kaypro, 12/1988) [47]
• Assistant to President, general counsel
  • John J. Hentrich (Kaypro, 02/1985) [39] [41]
• Director of Sales
  • Elaine Montemarano (Kaypro, 1985 - 1988) [59]
• Director of Market Development
  • Winn Schwartau (Kaypro, 1984) [39]
• Director of Communication
  • Winn Schwartau (Kaypro, 1984) [74]
• Vice President in Charge of Sales and Marketing
  • John J. Hentrich (Kaypro, 10/1988) [43]
• Vice President to Finance
  • John J. Hentrich (Kaypro, 1984/85) [41]
• Corporate Communications
  • Ezra Shapiro: Director (Kaypro, 02/1983) [54]
• Controller
  • Robert Gorski (Kaypro, 1985-1987) [42 et. al.]
• District Manager
  • Oregon: Jeff Brown, 1985 [45]
• Company spokesperson
  • Margaret Phanes (Kaypro, ~1984) [31]
  • Joseph Marcello (Kaypro, 10/1988) [43]
• Assistant Marketing Coordinator
  • Henry Hester (NLS, 04/1982) [32]
• PROFILES magazine (listing is not final)
  • Ezra Shapiro: Publisher & editor, 10/1983 (*1)
  • Tyler Sperry: Publisher & editor, 02/1984
  • Geoffrey W. Soule: Publisher, 11/1984
  • Janet Gallison: Publisher, 04/1987
  • Gwyn Price: Publisher, 11/1987
  • Lanny Bullock: Publisher, 10/1988
  • Gwyn Price: Assistant publisher, 02/1984
  • Tom Foote: Editor, 11/1984
  • Rudi Leisering: Editor, 10/1988
  • Suzanne Kesling: Editor assistant, 05/1986
  • Diane Ingalls: Co-Editor, 12/1985
  • Terian Tyre: Co-Editor, 12/1985
  • Terian Tyre: Senior editor, 02/1984
  • Anne Wayman-Blick: Senior editor, 02/1984
  • Susan Hyman: Copy editor, 02/1984
  • Terian Tyre: Associate editor, 10/1983
  • Susan Hyman: Assistant editor, 10/1983
  • Diane Ingalls: Managing editor, 04/1985
  • Tyler Sperry: Technical editor, 10/1983
  • Tom Enright: Technical editor, 09/1984
  • Marshall L. Moseley: Technical editor, 05/1988
  • Marshall L. Moseley: Technical assistant editor, 09 /1986
  • Jak Perham: Technical consultant, 08/1985
  • David Thompson: Contributing editor, 10/1983 (*2)
  • David Gerrold: Contributing editor, 02/1984
  • Joanne Ellis: Contributing editor, 06/1984
  • Brook Meeks: Contributing editor, 10/1984
  • Dick Lutz: Contributing editor, 11/1984
  • Ted Silveria: Contributing editor, 09/1985
  • Eric Mattei: Art director, 10/1983
  • Doug Powell: Art director, 06/1985
  • Rochelle Bradford: Art director, 04/1987
  • Susan Penn: Art director, 11 /1987
  • Matt Schulz: Art assistant, 10/1983
  • Carl Smith: Art assistant, 02/1984
  • Joanne Ellis: Art assistant, 08/1984
  • Lorraine Leung: Art assistant, 03/1985
  • Ron Powers: Photography, 10/1983
  • Jay Hyde: Advertising director, 10/1983
  • Mary Boggy: Circulation, 05/1986
• Engineers, technicans
  • William (Bill) McDonald: Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing (NLS, 1955 - 1960) [52] He was a classmate of Andrew at MIT.
  • William (Bill) McDonald: Chief Engineer and Research Director (Kaypro, ~1979 to ?) [19][52]
  • Gilbert Ohnysty: Chief of Software Engineering (Kaypro, 1982 to ?) [55] He wrote the first Kaypro II BIOS from scratch within 3 weeks! [56]
  • Rick Bartlett Gordon: Software engineer and director of networking products (Kaypro, 06/1982 – 08/1989) [20]
  • Jim Nickerson: Software engineer (Kaypro, 07/1982 – 06/1986) [57]
  • Lee Ryan: Senior technican, technical support (Kaypro, 10/1983) [72]
  • Bill Hunt: Technican, technical support (Kaypro, 1984?) [90]
• Others
  • Joan Nickerson: Technical writer (Kaypro, 1982 – 1985) [58]
  • Pam Silva (Sylva): Head of assembly (NLS, Kaypro, 1982 – 1984?) [76]

1. (*) Editor of the BYTE magazine (1986-1989)
2. (*) Publisher of the Micro Cornucopia magazine (1981-1990), Bend, Oregon, USA

It all Started with Non-Linear-Systems (NLS)

By chance I saw on the internet (06/20/2022) that the NLS website has been updated!

NLS was established in 1952 and incorporated on 02/17/1953 [81]. NLS produced digital volt meters and a variety of other measuring instruments. The number of employees is reported to be around 80. [8]

The initial purpose for which this corporation is formed is to engage in the business of research and development engeneering of non-linear electronic and mechanical systems.

The number of shares which this corporation shall be authorized to issue shall be Five Thousand (5,000); each share shall have a par value of Ten ($10.00) dollars; the aggregate par value of all stock shall be Fifty Thousand ($50,000.00) dollars. [8]

The (founding) directors were: [81]

1. Andrew F. Kay, Del Mar, Calif.
2. Mary M. Kay, Del Mar, Calif.
3. Jonathan Edwards, San Diego, Calif.

Back then in 1953 Andrews and Marys residence was: 1660 Luneta Drive, Del Mar. A fine place with direct view to the ocean. [81]

The company grew from an initial five employees in 1952 to a high of 340 (75 percent of them male) in the 1960s; it now [1975] employs one-third that number. [65]

According to the documents available to me, the company capital was increased to $100,000 (10,000 shares at $10 each) on 16 December 1970 (filed Feb 4, 1971). On 15 September 1971 (filed Sep 29, 1971) the shares were re-directed: 1,000,000 shares at $0.1 each; the amount has remained the same.

The first company location was the old Stratford Inn Garage [9]. The move to the Del Mar Airport occurred after it had been closed (about 1959).

I found this last timing statement in at least two old articles (see below), but it can't be correct because I have an advertising page from NLS where the address is given as San Diego County Airport, Del Mar California. This advertisement is dated 18.07.1958, almost a year before the airport closed. [37] Another reference book from June 1957 also gives the address as Del Mar Airport, almost two years before the official closure. [38]

A lot of information about NLS from the 1950s and 1960s can be found on Steve Johnson's website.

In December 1982 the Kaypro's were distributed by the company NLS and here by the division "Kay Computers". The "mailing" address at this time was: Kay Computers, A Division of Non-Linear Systems Inc, POB N, Del Mar, CA 92014. [10]

Stratford Inn Garage

The first company headquarters (1953 - 1957?) was in the Stratford Inn Garage, a former hotel garage of the once noble and elegant Stratford Inn in Del Mar, California.

Del Mar Airport

Below is a comprehensive compilation by Paul Freeman on the old military auxiliary airfield.

During the 1920s the U.S. Navy established an emergency landing field in the San Dieguito River Valley in an area east and west of I-5, known as the San Dieguito Field. The property is believed to have been developed as a municipal airport around 1938 to serve the racing patrons at the new Del Mar Fairgrounds. The airport included a 3,500-foot runway and several support buildings.
The Navy retained ownership of the airfield until 1947, when the 80.4 acres were quitclaimed to the County of San Diego for one dollar. The field was used as a civilian airport until 1959 when it was transferred to the State as part of the I-5 right-of-way.
After the airport closed, a company called Non-Linear Systems moved its operations into the site barracks. NLS produced digital voltmeters, started in 1952 by a young Del Mar engineer, Andrew Kay. Work at NLS led to the production of the "Kaypro", one of the first home computers. NLS moved its plant to Solana Beach in 1968. [7]

According to my research (see above) the move from the Stratford Inn garage to the airport took place before it closed. I date the move to 1957.

The airport site is no longer visible on aerial photographs today. This area has been a nature reserve since the early 1980s and was rewetted at great expense (San Dieguito Wetland Restoration Project). [35]

Today's View - San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area

You can see the viewing direction in the previous picture. The place is called Grand Avenue Overlook. You look exactly in the direction of the former (now demolished) road. Far in the background you can make out Interstate 5 from the vehicles

According to Janice Batter Kay the building at the left was at Del Mar Airport facility. Neither Janice nor David Kay can remember the building on the right. [83]

According to InfoCorp, a market research firm, Kaypro will be lodged exactly in the middle of the top 10 makers of transportable computers — but way behind the first four, Compaq, IBM, ACT, and Hewlett-Packard, in terms of sales.
For, although the company competes with IBM, as do all in the market, it does not do so head-on. By eschewing the MS-DOS world for CP/M, Kaypro is deliberately aiming at a different kind of computer buyer — the economy-minded type who doesn’t need IBM compatibility and who is appreciative of all the extras Kaypro bundles in with its computers. The company can also point out that its comparable products are not hundreds but thousands of dollars cheaper than Big Blue’s . [30]

KAYPRO CORPORATION - NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
PROXY STATEMENT - March 4, 1985

Financial Data

The following statement ("adjustments") in the 1984 annual and SEC report caused concern among shareholders and caused the stock price to plummet very sharply, especially in the first quarter of 1985. These adjustments were also part of a class action lawsuit against Kaypro, see below.

In the course of preparing its fourth quarter and year-end results, the Company made various "adjustments" which reduced the gross profit margin for the year as a whole to 25.7%, and also increased both selling and general and administrative expenses. The most significant of these adjustments related to (a) the fact that the cost of manufacturing the Company’s products had increased during the year in relation to the decreasing selling prices, (b) the establishment of reserves for inventory obsolescence and excesses, (c) increases in reserves for uncollectible accounts, (d) sales discounts and promotions, and (e) additional advertising expenses. [60]

You can compare the following financial data with the table above. The revenues are nearly identical. According to this, Kaypro actually only made a profit in the 1983 financial year and never again thereafter. From the end of 1984, the economy really only went downhill.

Kaypro's real big seller was only the Kaypro II, like John Gantz off Tech Street Journal writes: "The Kaypro II sold like hot cakes!"

This extremely strong growth from 1982 to 1983 completely overburdened the entire management of Kaypro, in my opinion. It is possible that the first necessary and important decisions for the future were made too late or not at all. This first success must have been simply overwhelming for everyone involved. Revenue was increased by a factor of more than 10 and earnings from loss to $13m!

In the course of my Internet research, especially at the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, this assumption has been confirmed to a large extent. The (financial) heyday of Kaypro Corporation was in 1983 and 1984.

John Gantz: "Growth must be planned — in both directions. ... $100 million companies require different managers from $10 million companies. Kaypro is a family-run company. Half of the executive officers and all of the directors listed in the 1987 annual report sport the Kay surname. The skill and talent it took to build the $5 million Non-Linear Systems is not the skill and talent it takes to run a publicly owned, $100 million company. The Kays may have that talent and skill, but Non-Linear’s track record is not a priori proof of that.[46]

As David Kay emailed me on June 4, 2025, Kaypro was hit by several lawsuits shortly after its IPO. Particularly noteworthy here: George FRANKLIN v. KAYPRO CORPORATION (884 F.2d 1222). Andrew Kay was supported in this legal disputes by John J. Hentrich (assistant to the president, general counsel, and director of finance, [41] [93]).

Class-Action Lawsuit against Kaypro

One lawyer in particular stands out in this class action: William S. Lerach.

William "Bill" Shannon Lerach ... is an American disbarred lawyer who specialized in private Securities Class Action lawsuits. The $7.12 billion he obtained as the lead plaintiff's attorney in the case against Enron is currently the largest sum ever recovered in a group of securities class-action lawsuits in U.S. history. In 2007 he pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to two years imprisonment. In 2009 he was disbarred from practicing law in California. [92]

David Kay: "At that time he [Bill Lerach] was suing everybody in the tech industry who had raised investment funds recently."" [94]

September, 1984: A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the Kaypro Corporation, a manufacturer of microcomputers, by a stockholder, George Franklin of New York. The lawsuit names as defendants certain members of the Kay family, who own about 86 percent of the company's stock, according to last year's proxy statement, and Prudential-Bache Securities Inc. The suit charges that the prospectus for the offer of Kaypro stock contained untrue statements, that the defendants inflated earnings by overstating inventory and that they listed figures that resulted in the stock price being artificially inflated. Kaypro said the corporation "believes there is no substance" to the charges. [13]

Facts of the case: The plaintiffs' [George FRANKLIN, On Behalf of Himself and All OthersSimilarly Situated] complaint alleges that on August 25, 1983, Kaypro commenced an initial public offering of four million shares of Kaypro common stock at the price of ten dollars per share. The complaint further alleges that between August 25, 1983 and July 17, 1984 the defendants distributed false and misleading statements and reports concerning Kaypro.
On July 17, 1984 Kaypro released its third quarter earnings report showing essentially flat earnings. In September 1984 Kaypro reported that it was unable to locate or account for inventory valued at several million dollars. [the circus tent]
Kaypro's 1984 Annual Report indicated that a twenty million dollar operating profit reported for the first nine months of the year was completely eliminated by accounting "adjustments". As these and other adverse facts became known, the market price of Kaypro's common stock fell to between two and three dollars per share. [15]

November 19, 1986: Kaypro has reached an agreement to pay shareholders $9.3 million and settle a class-action suit that accused company officials of fraudulently inflating earnings projections before an initial public stock offering in August, 1983, it was announced Tuesday. [16]

This class-action lawsuit finally lasted about five years and ended with a settlement on September 6, 1989. [15]

Further legal proceedings (as of 1984) can be found in SEC report, part 1, item 3, page 7. [60]

Sales figures

For (very) detailed information on marketing and sales, see SEC report (form 10-K) on 08/31/1984.

1982 - Kaypro II's

Non-Linear's timing was perfect. When Kaypro shipped its first product, in June, 1982, Osborne, unbeknownst to the rest of the world, was already on a self-destruct course. By the time the fiscal year ended, less than 3 months later, Non-Linear had shipped $2,084,745 worth of II's (at wholesale value). [77]

For the year ended August 31, 1982, net sales of microcomputers [KII's] and electronic instruments were $2,084,745 and $3,366,887, respectively. [8]

Since the final price for the customer was $1,795, I calculated 3 sales figures:

• 2,084,745 / 1,800 = 1,158
• 2,084,745 / 1,600 = 1,305
• 2,084,745 / 1,350 = 1,544 (25% discount)

The mean discount of 25% I have determined from a dealers price list from 1985. In other words, the (max.) number of 1,500 Kaycomp/-pro II's were sold in the period from June to August 1982. The unknown factor is the wholesale price.

According to a company announcement the production schedule from 10/1982 to 02/1983 was: [78]

• Jun-Aug: about 1,500 (see above)
• Sep: ???
• Oct: 1,800
• Nov: 3,700
• Dec: 5,000
• Jan: 7,500
• Feb: 10,000

Domestic Sales

Kaypro's demestic sales are currently [1984] made directly through a network of approximately 1,100 independent retail dealers. The Company seeks dealers capable of providing a significant level of support in sales, service, training and technical assistance to Kaypro end-users. Kaypro's largest dealer accounted for less than 2% of net sales for fiscal 1984.

The Company also markets its products to approximately 200 "system houses". A system house in an organization whichs adds its specialized proprietary software to a Kaypro Computer ans markets the hardware and software as a bundled package. Sales to system houses are made generally the same terms as those to dealers and accounted for less than ten percent of microcomputer sales in fiscal 1984.

Kaypro's own merketing and sales personnel are located in Kaypro's headquartes near San Diego, California and in nine districr sales offices located in the metropolitan areas of Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dalles, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Approximately 58% of the Company's demestic microcomputer sales are currently made to dealers an a COD [cash on delivery] basis. [60]

Kaypro was very successful with this distribution system in the initial phase, but times change. The following excerpt from the Financial Review on the later distribution problems reads a little strangely.

Andrew Kay thought that sales were slowing because computers shipped from headquarters took too long to reach Kaypro's dealers. To shorten the distance to dealers, Andrew wanted to open warehouses around the country. David fought the concept, but his father would not listen until it was tried and had failed.

As the situation became more desperate, the old man's ideas became still more odd. He wanted to augment dealers with Kaypro-owned retail stores and a direct sales force, both costly solutions the company could not afford. He doubled Kaypro's sales force to 42 in 1987. He hired mostly members of the Church of Latter Day Saints recruited by elder son Allan, who earlier had left the Unitarian Church to become a Mormon. When David asked his father to explain, he would say: "You can trust the Mormons. Howard Hughes did it." [49]

However, this rigid system of dealer sales was not extended to directly selling until September 1988. Unfortunately too late! [75]

International Sales

In 1984 Kaypro has a wholly-owned subsidiary base in the Netherlands and three other subsidiaries in Europe: Kaypro UK Ltd., Kaypro France S.A.R.L and Kaypro Deutschland GmbH. [8]

• Kaypro Europe Netherlands:
  1. Stationstraat 7, 6361 BH Nuth
  2. Maastricht Airport, Horsterweg 1, Postbus 35, 6190 AD Beek-Limburg
• Kaypro UK Ltd: Elm House, 19 Elmshott Lane, Cippenham, Berkshire, SL1 5QS
• Kaypro France S.A.R.L: 22 Ave. des Nations, ZAC Paris-Nord 2, 95970 Roissy Charles de Gaule, Cedex
• Kaypro Deutschland GmbH: CAPIM Center, Rossmarkt 15, 6000 Frankfurt 1

In addition, there was also a subsidiary in Australia (President Computer Group, 100 George St., Hornsby NSW 2077) since 1984, which in turn was sold in 1989 (to Egmont Computers Pty Ltd). [28]

The magazine Computerwoche of 24.08.1984 also mentions a Kaypro (Suisse) AG. Whether this subsidiary was actually set up is not known to me.

Advertising and Promotion

In this section, an old surfer buddy of David Kay was temporarily active. His name is Henry Hester. Hester is the son of Henry Hartwell Hester, a well-known architect from San Diego.

Henry Hester, aka Bad H, started skateboarding in 1959 on a homemade board with steel wheels. Over the next four decades, he would go on to win multiple titles as world slalom champion, and become one of the fastest and best-known downhill racers of all time, ... [61]

David Kay told me that Henry had a "keen sense of what was trending". Among other things, he was responsible for the annual vendor contest. Starting in 1983, the 40 to 50 dealers with the highest Kaypro sales were invited each year to an event, and in some cases also to a trip. It went once to Tahiti and also Australia! Henry was "in charge of creating the hype and the motion for that"! For example, he came up with the idea of sending a small envelope with sand with the invitation. A reference to the destination, see next. [62]

The internal events at Kaypro are funny, if not bizarre. According to Ezra Shapiro, a former director of communications, last year [1983] the firm offered a promotional holiday trip to Hawaii to dealers who sold the most machines. To entice dealers, small packets of sand were sent to them marked as authentic Hawaiian sand. "The mailroom staff was all sent out one day to collect bags of sand on the beach," he recalls. "When they came back, they were told that it was the wrong type of sand. So they had to go to another beach the next day." [68]

Corporate Climate

My years at Kaypro were the very best years. I had so much fun, Andy Kay and his son David were the best. They encourage free thinking out of the box and for folks to have a "just get it done attitude". I've since worked for Novell, Oracle and now my own company called, Atlantis Software (atlantissoftware.com). And I've have to tell you all, that I still miss it, it was so rewarding. Kaypro, may it rest in peace... [20]

My time with Kaypro in software engineering. I remember how excited I was to get to work each day. 1982-1989. It was a wonderful gig. I've met some life long friends that I now call my brothers. [50]

Some of Kaypro's employees were avid surfers and they conducted staff meetings in the ocean. "I wouldn't say the company was run from the water, but we got a lot done in those meetings," one former manager says. "We'd talk when we were sitting on boards waiting for a wave." Kaypro offered employees a free health bar with freshly squeezed carrot, orange and apple juices.[49]

It Never Rains in California

True or false? Who knows?

Does anybody remember that Kaypro Corp went from nothing to a million bucks in a year; and from a million to a hundred million in another year; and then back to nearly nothing because it rained unexpectedly in Solana Beach, and Kaypros were assembled in a big tent that wasn't exactly watertight? [20]

Kaypro is Missing Computer Parts

Yes, this story is really true!

New York Times BUSINESS
KAYPRO PARTS MAY BE MISSING
By Eric N. Berg, Sept. 13, 1984
The Kaypro Corporation said yesterday that it is investigating the possibility that millions of dollars in computer parts are missing from a circus tent and big trucks where Kaypro stored them. As accountants sought to determine if the loss was a bookkeeping error, speculation mounted that many parts had been stolen.
Kaypro, based in Solana Beach, Calif., outside San Diego, is the maker of the Kaypro II - a $1,295 portable personal computer that last year was one of the nation's top-selling machines. The Kaypro II has been so successful, in fact, that Kaypro was forced to stockpile parts for it and other models in trucks, in bags strewn on its lawn and under a giant, billowing circus tent on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The question now arises as to why Kaypro had to house its computer parts in a tent (in 1984). For one thing, a warehouse and production hall was not yet ready (was built in 1985). On the other hand, the article by Julie Pitta [73] indicates that Andrew Kay simply ordered parts haphazardly and they had to be stored. This circus tent was already erected around November 1983! A million dollars worth of parts were stored here! This, of course, was an invitation to theft. And so it was.

If you take a closer look at the following photo montage, you can easily understand the picture situation at that time. You can't tell, but maybe one of the forklift drivers is Andrew's father. According to Rick B. Gordon, he was well known for his driving [91].

This tent eventually led to momentous consequences. Due to the theft and the non-existence of proper inventory lists, Kaypro was unable to prepare its annual balance sheets correctly. So also the annual report 1984 with the said adjustments. As mentioned above, these adjustments were part of a larger class action lawsuit that ultimately dragged on until 1989 and ended in a settlement.

• Wikipedia: Kaypro
• Wikipedia: Andrew Kay
• Batter Kay Associates: Kaypro's buildings and manufacturing facilities
• Non Linear Systems (NLS): The predeccessor company of Kaypro Corporation
• Kay Computers: The successor company of Kaypro Corporation
• 1984: The story behind Kaypro – San Diego's early PC
• 1990: Technology ride swamped by reality
• 2014: Computer pioneer Andrew Kay dies at 95

1. (↑) http://thesocialdiary.com/VS1.html
2. (↑) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kopischiansky-2
3. (↑) https://www.archives.com/1940-census/steven-kopischiansky-nj-127379244
4. (↑) https://www.familysearch.org
5. (↑) http://www.batterkay.com/kaypro
6. (↑) https://techmonitor.ai/techonology/kaypro_moves_building_
7. (↑) http://www.fsdrv.org/RVLagoonHistory.html (dead link: 05/26/2025)
8. (↑) Annual Report, Kaypro Corporation, 1984, 03/04/1985 [kay84]
9. (↑) Draft archaeological investigations for the San Dieguito wetland restoration project EIR/EIS, 1999, page 37 [bj99]
10. (↑) Popular Computing, December 1982, page 68
11. (↑) BYTE, September 1983, page 224
12. (↑) Micro Cornucopia, issue 9, December 1982, page 2
13. (↑) Micro Cornucopia, issue 10, February 1983, page 26
14. (↑) New York Times BUSINESS, Kaypro Is Sued, September 19, 1984
15. (↑) https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/528885/george-franklin-on-behalf-of-himself-and-all-others-similarly-situated-v/?q=&court_alsb=on&sort=score+desc
16. (↑) Los Angeles Times, Kaypro Settles Holders’ Suit on Stock Sale, November 19, 1986
17. (↑) InfoWorld, September 5, 1983, page 32
18. (↑) Micro Cornucopia, issue 22, February-March 1985, page 4
19. (↑) Micro Cornucopia, issue 14, October 1983, page 21
20. (↑) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-gordon-6014045/
21. (↑) https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1984/jan/19/cover-little-computers-big-bucks/
22. (↑) https://www.delmarrotary.org/sitepage/history-of-our-club
23. (↑) https://www.delmarrotary.org/sitepage/history-of-our-club
24. (↑) BYTE, July 1982, page 445
25. (↑) https://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Property-Report/?propkey=54222813&lcl=ca_san_diego#section_general
26. (↑) BYTE, September 1983, page 586
27. (↑) InfoWorld, August 1982, page 22
28. (↑) https://techmonitor.ai/technology/kaypro_sells_kaypro_australia_to_eymont_computers
29. (↑) https://techmonitor.ai/technology/kaypro_corp_faces_lawsuits_from_estate_agent_microsoft_corp
30. (↑) InfoWorld, 20. August 1984, page 20
31. (↑) InfoWorld, June 1984, page 48
32. (↑) InfoWorld, 12. Apr. 1982, page 10
33. (↑) Proxy Statement, 4. Mar. 1985, page 4
34. (↑) https://www.afr.com/companies/technology-ride-swamped-by-reality-19900622-kalfp
35. (↑) http://www.fsdrv.org/index.html
36. (↑) MIT Yearbook, Technique 1939
37. (↑) Electronics, NLS Model 481, 18. Jul. 1958, page 43
38. (↑) Ballistic Research Laboratories, Report No. 1010, June 1957, A second survey of domestic electronic digital computing systems, Martin H. Weik, page 450
39. (↑) New York Times BUSINESS, KAYPRO, AMID LAYOFFS, ISSUING NEW COMPUTER, Feb. 25, 1985
40. (↑) Los Angeles Times, Kaypro Corp. Facility Opens in Solana Beach, L.A. TIMES ARCHIVES, JUNE 16, 1985
41. (↑) New York Times BUSINESS PEOPLE, Kaypro President Succeeded by Son, Oct. 15, 1985
42. (↑) Los Angeles Times, Kaypro Says It May Lay Off 100 Workers, CHRIS KRAUL, APRIL 14, 1988
43. (↑) Los Angeles Times, Kaypro’s David Kay Resigns as President, CHRIS KRAUL, Oct 1, 1988
44. (↑) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sandiegouniontribune/name/andrew-kay-obituary?n=andrew-kay&pid=172337931&fhid=3140
45. (↑) Micro Cornucopia, issue 25, Aug-Sep 1985, page 47
46. (↑) InfoWorld, 3. Oct. 1988, page 35
47. (↑) InfoWorld, 19. Dec. 1988, page 31
48. (↑) InfoWorld, 12. Mar. 1990, page 41
49. (↑) Financial Review, Jun 22, 1990, TECHNOLOGY RIDE SWAMPED BY REALITY
50. (↑) Rick Bartlett Gordon: https://www.facebook.com/groups/580355602847013/permalink/990290145186888/
51. (↑) Computer Business News, 19. Apr. 1982, page 12
52. (↑) Riding the biggest wave, IEEE Spectrum, Dec. 1984, page 66
53. (↑) David H. Rothman, The Silicon Jungle, Ballantine Books, Jul. 1985
54. (↑) News Bulletin, February 25. 1983
55. (↑) https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/kaypro-ii-drive-problem.13712/post-197747
56. (↑) My conversation (video call) with David Kay on 15.09.2022
57. (↑) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-nickerson-87a55711/details/experience/
58. (↑) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-nickerson-75980511/details/experience/
59. (↑) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-montemarano-bb10106/details/experience/
60. (↑) Kaypro Corporation, securities and exchange commission, form 10-K, 12/13/1984, commission file number 0-11422
61. (↑) https://skateboardinghalloffame.org/2020/04/henry-hester-2015/
62. (↑) My conversation (video call) with David Kay on 19.09.2022
63. (↑) Elaine Montemarano, former Director of Sales, 1985-1988, 09/23/2022
64. (↑) Non-Linear Systems Digital Voltmeters Books, 1st Edition, 1961
65. (↑) The Non-Linear Systems Experiment in Participative Management, Erwin L. Malone, 1975
66. (↑) Email from Stephen Stone, 09/29/2022 / original officer in the Kaypro Users Group of Santa Barbara, CA in 1983
67. (↑) https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/linear-measurements-inc-217581/
68. (↑) InfoWorld, October 15. 1984, page 20
69. (↑) Inc., Fathers and Sons, Personal accounts from fathers and their sons on what it's like to run a family business together, 04/01/1990
70. (↑) TECHMONITOR, BANKRUPT KAYPRO CORP IS NOT PRO KAY AS IT FIGHTS FOUNDER ANDREW KAY FOR CONTROL, 19 Jun 1990
71. (↑) New York Times, KAYPRO'S BID TO REMAIN ON TOP, Nov. 27, 1983
72. (↑) InfoWorld, Oct., 1983, page 8
73. (↑) Julie Pitta, TECHNOLOGY RIDE SWAMPED BY REALITY, 1990
74. (↑) Micro Marketworld, 17.09.1984, page 32
75. (↑) InfoWorld, 26.09.1988, page 34
76. (↑) Jeanette DeWyze, San Diego Reader, The story behind Kaypro, Jan 19, 1984
77. (↑) The Boston Kugel, Mar-Apr 1984, Volume 1, Number 4, p.1
78. (↑) KayComp Newsgram, Sep 1982, (https://kayprojournal.com/index.php/Kaypro_Serial_Number_Sales_Dates)
79. (↑) Statement by domestic stock corporation, March Fong Eu, 01/18/1994
80. (↑) Los Angeles Times Archives, Dec 4, 1991
81. (↑) Articles of incorporation of Non-Linear Systems Inc, no. 271221, Secretary of State of the State of California, filed Feb 17,1953
82. (↑) Riding the biggest wave, IEEE Spectrum, Dec, 1984, page 69
83. (↑) Visit by Frank Rahman to Janice Batter Kay and David Kay, May 22, 2025.
84. (↑) San Diego Evening Tribune, May 13, 1982, page 57 (C-7)
85. (↑) Google maps, the site plan by Janice Kay Batter
86. (↑) Janice Kay Batter (digitized by Frank Rahman)
87. (↑) https://www.qwikvid.com/realestate/go/v1/gallery/?idx=nCSa7g1OvgVJWsKzlcWTnTdGZ8Lb49Ry
88. (↑) San Diego Evening Tribune, March 15, 1983, page 24 (C-6)
89. (↑) David Kay (digitized by Frank Rahman)
90. (↑) Bill Hunt, LinkedIn
91. (↑) My email facebook correspondence with Rick B. Gordon
92. (↑) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lerach
93. (↑) Computerworld, August 27, 1984, page 87
94. (↑) My email conversation with David Kay, Jun 5, 2025

--> Go to Part 0 : Information
--> Go to Part 1 : Versions
--> Go to Part 2 : Hardware
--> Go to Part 3 : 8K EPROM Modification
--> Go to Part 4 : Formatting a Hard Disk
--> Go to Part 5 : USER areas
--> Go to Part 6 : MASMENU - Master Menu
--> Go to Part 7 : Terminal
--> Go to Part 8 : KayPLUS ROM
--> Go to Part 9 : Advent TurboROM
--> Go to Part 10: Multicopy Plu*Perfect
--> Go to Part 11: The Kay Family & Company
--> Go to Part 12: Kaypro Design Views
--> Go to Part 13: Micro Cornucopia
--> Go to Part 14: Repairing a Kaypro II
--> Go to Part 15: Kaypro Collections
--> Go to Part 16: Kaypro General
--> Go to Part 17: Kaypro Robie
--> Go to Part 18: MFM-Emulators
--> Go to Part 19: Roadrunner ROM
--> Go to Part 20: Software
--> Go to Part 21: FAQ
--> Go to Part 22: Kaypro Virtual
--> Go to Part 23: Formatting a Floppy Disk
--> Go to Part 24: ROM, EPROM
--> Go to Part 25: Kaycomp