Plus Post: Wholesale Technology, Inc's Wildcat

Looks Like an IBM, Works Like an Apple

From the April 1984 issue of Creative Computing magazine

This month’s winner is the Wildcat system by Wholesale Technology, Inc. If you look at the poll, it appears Wildcat tied with Sir-Tech's Star Maze. That’s because I accidentally clicked on Star Maze. Wildcat was the winner.

The Company

When I looked at the ad, I was under the impression that the company was named WTI Computer and Peripheral Products. However, I couldn’t find a company under that name. Then, I searched for “WTI” and “Wildcat computer”. You would be amazed how many companies use both names. Finally, I laboriously searched through the Computer magazine archives I use for the term “wildcat”. I found many references to Wildcat BBS, a couple of references to wildcats (talking about their speed), and a few mentions of a flight simulator containing the Grumman F4F Wildcat fight plane.

Finally, I found the January/February 1984 issue of CP/M Review. This magazine finally mentions the Wildcat computer and lists the maker as “Wholesale Technology, Inc., of Anaheim, California.” So, I was finally on the right path. According to opencorporates, the company was created on April 4, 1980. The company was dissolved 6 years later on April 1, 1986.