Jarogate Advert - June 1984
From Practical Computing
If you are thinking of buying more than one PC - think again
It's another all-British (for a definition ignoring the fact that most of the chips came from the Far East or the US) multi-user system, this time from Jarogate of Brixton in London, for its MP5 CP/M Multiprocessor.
As was the case with other competitors of the day, such as Bromcom's SuperStar, it's multi-user in that each of the up-to 16 users has their own memory and CPU hosted in the base system - in this case a 6MHz Z80B, 64K memory and access to an S-100 bus - and needed a terminal to act as the actual "computer".
If CP/M and a Z80B processor was considered as a bit old-skool, there was also support for Intel's recent iAPX 286, or 80286, processor. However, it doesn't look like it went as far as to support MS-DOS.
Entry-level pricing of the MP5 was from £1,995, or about £8,710 in 2026.
An earlier advert from Jarogate as a consultancy and value-added resller of machines including Comart's Communicator. From Practical Computing, September 1982
Jarogate had been founded by Robin Tracey in 1979, and by the early 80s had established itself as a consultancy and value-added reseller, calling itself "the microprocessor consultants".
As well as consultancy and customised software services, it was also a reseller of Comart's Communicator, as well as micros and plug-in boards from Cromemco and North Star.
Jarogate's later advert for its MP5 multi-user "micro", now supporting up to 14 users running their own Z80B CPU at 6MHz along with 64K memory, or over 40 users running on Intel's 80286. From Practical Computing, January 1985
By 1990 the company had racked up £750,000 of debt - about £2,413,600 in 2026 - and was sold to Data Dynamics at the beginning of 1991, having been in receivership since the autumn of the previous year[1].
It looks like Data Dynamics had already bought fellow multi-user micro company Shelton, as it was already selling the Sig/Net range.
The combined company had an installed base of around 8,000 systems, with 4,000 coming from Jarogate. Tracey remained in the new company as sales director[2].
Date created: 24 March 2025
Last updated: 16 August 2026
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Sources
Text and otherwise-uncredited photos © nosher.net 2026. Dollar/GBP conversions, where used, assume $1.50 to £1. "Now" prices are calculated dynamically using average RPI per year.
