Cropped image from page of a promotional brochure for the Honeywell 316 minicomputer.

Cropped image from page of a promotional brochure for the Honeywell 316 minicomputer. The "kitchen computer" is on the stand at the left. The rack versions on on the table in the middle and the cabinet on the right.

Honeywell Produces an Early Home Computer?

1965
An advertisement for the Honeywell Kitchen Computer

An advertisement for the Honeywell Kitchen Computer, offered for sale by Nieman Marcus for $10,000.

In 1965 Honeywell attempted to open the home computer market with its Kitchen Computer. The H316 was the first under-$10,000 16-bit machine from a major computer manufacturer. It was the smallest addition to the Honeywell "Series 16" line, and was available in three versions: table-top, rack-mountable, and self-standing pedestal. The pedestal version, complete with cutting board, was marketed by Neiman Marcus as "The Kitchen Computer.” It came with some built-in recipes, two weeks' worth of programming, a cook book, and an apron.

There is no evidence that any examples were sold. The only extant example is preserved at the Computer History Museum.

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