Publications

  • Operators Coinola O-Roll Rollography
    On: Sep 10, 2015
    Over 700 of the total 1270 “O” Rolls estimated ever made by QRS, Columbia, Capitol and Clark are catalogued and presented including tune composers.
  • Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Rollography and “Reference Set” Recut Roll Project
    On: Sep 10, 2015
    The complete catalog of all 933 music rolls ever originally produced by Hupfeld for the Phonoliszt-Violina: Catalog Sorted by Roll Number Catalog Sorted by Composer. Also provided is the catalog of the 268 rolls chosen from over 20 collections and museums – and recut with the goal of producing the "reference set" of music for the PV.
  • The 1966 SDS 940 and the Internet
    On: Jul 30, 2015
    First computer host to connect to the Internet; SDS 930; Scientific Data Systems; Stanford Research Institute (SRI); Bolt, Berenak & Newman IMP, IMP2; ARPA Network; Where the Wizards Stay Up Late;
  • Evolution of the American Coin-op Orchestrion
    On: Jul 29, 2015
    The heyday of American coin-operated automatic music instruments was from 1898 – 1928. Perforated-paper music rolls were an important medium for national distribution of music including blues, jazz, rags and dance tunes. The Coinola SO “super orchestrion,” rare today, was the pinnacle of American-made music machines playing the highly-acclaimed Columbia and Capitol O-roll arrangements.
  • Pelstar, LLC: 91 Years evolution of the Health o meter Doctors beam scale; Rick Crandall, Executive Chairman.
    On: Jul 28, 2015
    Pelstar, LLC: 97 Years of evolution from the original invention of the Health o meter™ doctor’s beam scale. In 2016 Pelstar was honored with the Private Company Board of the Year Award, growing at triple the market rate and achieving top market share in the Americas while practicing exceptional Board and Company governance. Rick Crandall, Executive Chairman
  • Cash Register History
    On: Jul 28, 2015
    James Ritty invention of the cash register 1878; Incorruptible Cashier; Cash Recording Machine first cash register; National Cash Register Company (NCR) founded by John Patterson, history of marketing; Thomas Watson Sr. fired from NCR, founded IBM based on International Time Recording Company & Computer-Tabulating-Recording; Rick Crandall and Sam Robins authors. Out of print but some available: Purchase at https://www.rickcrandall.net/shop-3/
  • Rick Crandall BIO by IEEE Annals of Computing
    On: Jul 18, 2015
    Founding of Comshare 1966; Rick Crandall timesharing pioneer; joint development with Tymshare, U. Cal. Berkeley; interactive computing; SDS930; SDS940; Scientific Data Systems Sigma 9; timesharing operating systems; early tech IPO in 1968; Crandall Chairman of ADAPSO; ITAA; transition to software products; System W; decision support system; multi-dimensional modeling; On Line Analytical Processing (OLAP), distributed computing; Xerox PARC; interactivity; EIS; Executive Information Systems.
  • Corporate BOARD MEMBER – Giga Chairman
    On: Jul 03, 2015
    Giga Information Group; new-model technology advisory; separation of Chairman and CEO positions.
  • The Caille Silver Cup – A Break from the 3-Reelers
    On: May 08, 2015
    Created by Charles Fey circa 1907 and followed by Caille in 1911, both seeking a departure from the onslaught of 3-reel slot machines. Fancy graphics and interesting play kept this machine in the lineup for over a decade.
  • The DOMINO – A Blend of European Design and American Taste for Mechanized Entertainment
    On: Aug 30, 2014
    The Domino is a payout gambling machine that was invented by an Englishman, based in France, manufactured in Germany and sold mainly for the U.S. market in the 1920’s.
  • Uncle Sam in Machine Art – the Caille Uncle Sam Arcade Strength Tester
    On: Jul 25, 2014
    The origins of the famous Uncle Sam national imagery and how it made its way into Arcade machine “art.” The very rare Caille and Howard Uncle Sam coin-operated strength tester machines.
  • Apple 1: The Microcomputer Emerges
    On: Jun 05, 2013
    Steve Wosniak and Steve Jobs invention of the Apple 1; formation of Apple Computer Company; major improvement over the Teletype; forshadowing the eventual decline of timesharing; Southwest Technical Products PR 40 alphanumeric printer for Apple I; Larry Nelson original Apple 1 owner and sale to Rick Crandall.
  • Ultimate Music Collectible: Automatic Violin-Piano
    On: Mar 23, 2013
    Phonoliszt-Violina: In the 1900 to 1930's the automatic music machine replaced live performers accelerated by union pressures for uneconomic rates for performers. Many types of player pianos, orchestrions, and violin and banjo players) grew rapidly as an early musical media for playing music in commercial locations and homes.
  • Invention in San Francisco: 80 Years before Silicon Valley
    On: May 05, 2012
    The 1890's: Pioneering risk-takers defined by the California Gold Rush; battle-tested by the 1906 earthquake; Charlie Fey invents the Liberty Bell slot machine creating an industry that persists to this day.
  • Colorado Mountain Living
    On: Oct 01, 2009
    Aspen Sojourner article on the Crandall home in Aspen: “Combine work, fitness, active lifestyle in mountain setting, Aspen, Colorado;” Also Wall St. Journal Article and Photos: “Views Plus Totem Pole.”
  • Comshare Oral History: Software History Center
    On: May 03, 2002
    Starting in 1964 University of Michigan Computing Center; Joint development among Comshare (Rick Crandall), Tymshare (Tom O’Rourke, Dave Schmidt, Ann Hardy, Norm Hardy), SDS & U Cal Berkeley (Butler Lampson, Mel Pirtle and Peter Deutsch) in 1965 to 1966; start of multiplexors and networks; transition to software; IBM partnership; ADAPSO IIA merger attempt; partnership with Dow Jones; decision support systems; EIS and Xerox PARC; Enterprise Software Roundtable – software CEO roundtable
  • A Soldier’s Personal Account of World War II
    On: Jul 04, 2000
    Nat Crandall in the historic 45th (Thunderbird) Division landing at Anzio Beach; following Patton across France; crossing the Siegfried Line; Bronze star heroics; fighting the German Winter Elite troops, Dachau liberation – and the saving, restoring and putting back into service of Holocaust Torah Scrolls.
  • Creation of Authentic Northwest Indian Totem Pole
    On: Oct 11, 1998
    The famous carver, Duane Pasco studied the original carving styles of the Pacific Northwest from pre-1900 and re-discovered a nearly lost art. He created this pole in the authentic style and now teaches authentic carving to the native carvers in the Northwest. Includes mythical stories of Thunderbird, Frog, Dolphin and more.
  • Engelhardt Banjorchestra
    On: Nov 21, 1995
    1915 coin-operated mechanical orchestra with banjo made by Engelhardt Piano Company; helped make ragtime a national music form;; music by National Music Roll Co.;
  • 1989 Software Magazine Cover Story
    On: Jul 10, 1989
    Comshare partnership with IBM; EIS marketplace; IBM Cooperative Software Agreement: competition in Executive Information Systems; Execuchart; EIS Briefing Book; IBM Systems Application Architecture, SAA partners; Dow Jones partnership with a software company; partnership with MSA Management Sciences America John Imlay; Comshare transition from timesharing to a software company.
  • Peerless – First Coin Pianos
    On: Nov 27, 1987
    The Peerless line of coin-op player pianos, nickelodeons and orchestrions were the earliest roll-operated coin-operated music machines on the market; Companies involved were the Roth & Engelhardt Co., Peerless Piano Player Co., National Music Roll Co., Engelhardt Seybold Co. and Engelhardt Piano Company.
  • 1986 Adapso 25th Anniversary Keynote Speech
    On: Nov 02, 1986
    History of computer software and services; competition with IBM, history of Adapso advocacy; formation and growth of ADAPSO; Non-tariff trade barriers; software as a distinct industry; software international balance of payments; example of ADAPSO helping ComShare transition to a software company
  • Penny Arcade – Mills Arcade
    On: Oct 22, 1985
    Caille coin-op machines; player pianos; coin-operated gambling; trade stimulators; Automatic Chime Bells; Toledo Orchestrion; Berliner Multiphone; music boxes;
  • J. W. WHITLOCK AND HIS AUTOMATIC HARP
    On: Mar 20, 1985
    The Automatic Harp invented by J.W. Whitlock and popularized by the Wurlitzer Company. Whitlock was a classic American inventor, business leader and entrepreneur who became the heart and soul of Rising Sun, Indiana in the early 1900’s. His life, his inventions, his boat-racing competitions on the Ohio River and his businesses are described in a storied life pursuing the American Dream. The Harp is an early automatic music machine that helped spread ragtime as a national music form.
  • Invention of Graphical Executive Information Systems EIS)
    On: Sep 13, 1984
    influence of Xerox PARC visit in 1978; Xerox Alto; first mouse, icons, graphical human interfaces; GUI,WYSIWYG, development of Executive Information Systems 1984; EIS; touch screen graphical human factors; Commander EIS; Executive use of computers; executive computing; the CEO Goes On Line; Jack Rockart, business graphics; Strategic Information At Your Fingertips; Warren Mcfarlan at Harvard Business School teaching EIS; first ISV partnership with IBM Information Center; IBM marketing partnership with software; Comshare...