Tandy and GEC to carve up Dragon

DRAGON is to be split up between GEC and Tandy, following the company’s decision to call in the receiver four weeks ago.

GEC will continue to market Dragon’s new Professional computer and will take over its manufacture and the development of Dragon’s new up-market business micro.

GEC is also going ahead with plans to acquire UK licence to produce an MSX standard home micro to be launched at this year’s Personal Computer World Show in the autumn.

Manufacture of the three GEC machines which keep the Dragon name, will be moved to the South East.

Tandy then plans to take over support of the existing Dragon 32 and 64 machines The company will also take over Dragon’s range of software. Tandy will not however continue to manufacture the
Dragon 32 and 64, commented Tandy’s managing director John Sayers “We are definitely interested in the Dragon in terms Of software support and service facilities to existing owners. But  although the Dragon and Tandy machines are very compatible we are not interested in the Dragon 32 and 64 per se.”

Tandy is, however, interested in acquiring Dragon’s assembly facility in Kenfig, South Wales.

Advisors from Tandy UK’s American parent company and its French manufacturing plant have visited the Welsh site and Tandy is believed to have made an offer for the plant to the Dragon receiver Touche Ross. Tandy would not confirm the bid though: “Our product manager in France has been to look at the assembly plant and. while it may be an attractive idea, it is only a possibility.” said John Sayers.