Commodore: Strength through Adversity
In 1975, Texas Instruments, a leading supplier of calculator chips, cut off wholesale supply to focus on its own products, nearly bankrupting Commodore. Facing this crisis, Commodore didn't fold—instead, it acquired MOS Technology in 1976, vertically integrating to produce its own chips.
This bold move not only saved the company but also fueled its rise in the personal computer market with iconic products like the Commodore 64 (6510) and other computers powered by MOS's 6502 processor.
The early days of Commodore, under the headship of Jack Tramiel was a classic tale of turning adversity into opportunity.