Commodore International

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Commodore International Corporation
IndustryElectronics
Computer hardware
Computer software
Founded1954; 70 years ago (1954)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
FounderJack Tramiel
DefunctApril 29, 1994; 29 years ago (1994-04-29)
FateBankruptcy
HeadquartersWest Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Key people
Jack Tramiel
Irving Gould (Main investor and Chairman)
ProductsCommodore PET
Commodore VIC-20
Commodore MAX Machine
Commodore 64
Commodore 16
Commodore Plus/4
Commodore 128
Amiga
Amiga CD32

Commodore is the common name for Commodore International Limited, a U.S. computer and electronics manufacturing company. Headquarters were in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

In the 1960s they made typewriters and later calculators. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Commodore was one of the largest producers of home computers. They are famous for cutting in 1983 the price of their products so aggressively that it created a "home computer war".

The first computer model produced was the Commodore PET in 1977. It came with a keyboard and a monochrome monitor. This was followed by the first color computer, known as the VIC-20. This computer sold for under $300 in 1981, around $1000 in today's money.

The company also sold about 22 million Commodore 64 machines, introduced in 1982. It is believed to be the biggest-selling computer in history. Commodore later released the Amiga line of computers in 1985.

The company went bankrupt in 1994.