QCAL and Pacific Rim: What is known
QCAL was a Canadian-marketed Apple II-compatible computer brand advertised in the mid-1980s. The available period magazine evidence connects QCAL products directly with Pacific Rim Electronic Imports Inc., an Edmonton, Alberta company that distributed QCAL computer products in Canada.
The strongest published clue found so far is a 1984 Canadian electronics magazine advertisement stating that all QCAL, Laser and Mastone products were distributed exclusively in Canada by Pacific Rim Electronic Imports Inc. The same advertising gives an Edmonton contact address and phone number.
Pacific Rim Electronic Imports / Pacific Rim Electronics
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Role: Canadian distributor for QCAL products
- Period: documented in 1984 advertising
- Phone in advertising: (403) 475-0855
- Address in advertising: P.O. Box 7050, Station M, Edmonton, Alberta T5E 5S9
QCAL computer line
Period sources and computer databases mention several QCAL models, including the QCAL 500, QCAL 600, QCAL 900, and QCAL 1000. A surviving machine shows the model QCAL 700, which appears less documented than the advertised models.
Advertisements describe QCAL systems as Apple-compatible and mention 6502 and Z80/CP-M capability on some configurations.
Likely relationship between QCAL and Pacific Rim
The safest conclusion is that Pacific Rim Electronic Imports Inc. of Edmonton was the Canadian distributor for QCAL computers. It is not yet fully proven whether Pacific Rim manufactured the machines, assembled imported systems locally, or simply imported and distributed systems under the QCAL brand.
The surviving QCAL 700 has QCAL-labeled ROMs and a Pacific Rim-style Edmonton connection, so the machine is more than a generic unbranded clone. It appears to be a customized Apple II-compatible system sold under the QCAL name.
Summary of the QCAL 700 computer
The photographed QCAL 700 is an Apple II-compatible microcomputer from around 1984-1985. The motherboard has a MOS Technology/Rockwell 6502-family CPU, Apple-style expansion slots, QCAL-labeled ROMs, and 64 KB dynamic RAM. The layout and chip selection strongly resemble an early 1980s Apple II clone motherboard, likely customized for QCAL.
The machine’s importance is historical: it provides physical evidence of a rare Edmonton-connected Apple II-compatible computer brand that has very little surviving documentation online.
Research notes and uncertainty
Some details are still uncertain. The evidence supports an Edmonton distribution connection, but not yet a complete manufacturing history. The QCAL 700 may have been locally assembled, imported as a board set, or sold as a branded/customized clone system.
The next best research targets would be Alberta corporate registry records, Edmonton business directories from 1983-1985, old dealer advertisements, and any ROM/PCB markings found inside surviving QCAL machines.