Do you know what the first two digital consumer products available were?
The year was 1971.
A Sharp brand Calculator, and an Allen Digital Computer Organ.
The Allen Digital Computer Organ was often called MOS1, MOS meaning Metal Oxide Semiconductor. Allen is now one of the most prominent digital organ manufacturers in the world, and still makes all of their components in the United States, even the computer chips. They also manufacturer chips for other companies. Their products are known for lasting long (and they have been around a very long time) and for their exceptional quality.
The church where I am the organist in Waterville, WA obtained a 1979 Allen Organ to replace a Hammond A-105 in November. Our organ is an MOS system 1, model 123-C, and features the standard features included with this organ series: a card reader (we got many extra cards), vibrato (AM and FM modulation), dual-channel audio with two amplifiers, two-level combination action, and overall niceness. I absolutely love the instrument, and I love that our church now owns an important piece of electronic history.
Many people like looking at these early technologies, there is something very novel about seeing these early dark-green boards and early IC units. Just for them, I have created a slideshow showing the components of the organ.
View it here: http://img641.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img641/8900/1340747657ve2.smil
You can view the individual pictures here: http://imageshack.us/g/641/dscn1408c.jpg/
