Hegener & Glaser En

Existenz: 1980 - 1994

Manfred Hegener and Florian Glaser started their business in 1969 in order to produce semi-conductors. In 1978 they came into contact with programmers Thomas Nitsche and Elmar Henne. In 1980 the Brand “Mephisto” was created and the first German chess computer Mephisto, also nicknamed “Das Brickett” (The Brick) was sold to the German public.

In 1984 Hegener & Glaser managed to add programmer Richard Lang to their Team who in that year with his “Psion” chess computer software had just finished in a shared 1st place with three other competitors in the 1984 World Microcomputer Chess Championship (WMCCC). Theoretically Richard Lang’s “Psion” although equal on points would have won this tournament due to the tougher Swiss pairing, however as four machines finished in equal first place; they all agreed to share the championship. Since Thomas Nitsche and Elmar Henne’s Mephisto III-S Glasgow also competed in this 4th WMCCC, this meant that Hegener & Glaser now had two world champion programmers in their Team. Interestingly, Mephisto III-S Glasgow was a commercial program whereas the other first place finishers where an either an experimental computer not yet available in the market or as in “Psion’s” case a software program. Hegener & Glaser could therefore claim and advertise their Mephisto III-S Glasgow as the 1984 Commercial World Champion.

Richard Lang’s Mephisto programming at Hegener & Glaser proved to be an extremely successful venture as he went on to wins the next six World Microcomputer Chess Championships:

4. WMCCC	1984	Glasgow	Fidelity Elite X, Conchess X, Mephisto III-S Glasgow, Psion
5. WMCCC	1985	Amsterdam	Mephisto Amsterdam
6. WMCCC	1986	Dallas	Mephisto Dallas
7. WMCCC	1987	Rom	Mephisto Roma
8. WMCCC	1988	Almeria	Mephisto Almeria
9. WMCCC	1989	Portoroz	Mephisto Portorose
10. WMCCC	1990	Lyon	Mephisto Lyon

This success made Mephisto the World's largest and successful manufacturer of dedicated chess computers during the 1980’s.

In 1989 Hegener & Glaser bought their flailing American competitor Fidelity Electronics, but by 1992 Hegener & Glaser themselves were in trouble due to the changing market demand which had switched to the increased mass of cheap but strong personal computer chess software.

Finally in 1994, Hegener & Glaser sold their company to Saitek Ltd. after having suffered some large losses and setbacks in the previous two years, many of which were caused when they had to absorb enormous losses made by Fidelity Electronics in North America which ultimately caused the downfall of both companies.

Historie
1969	established in Munich by Manfred Hegener and Florian Glaser for the production of semi-conductors
1978	the Programmers Thomas Nitsche & Elmar Henne came into contact with H+G
1980	the "Mephisto" Tradename was created. The Brikett -the first German Chess Computer- programmed by Thomas Nietsche & Elmar Henne, appeared in the Stores.
1983	"Mephisto" is synonymously known in Germany for dedicated chess computers
1984	with Richard Lang and his Psion chess (Winner of WMCCC 1984 in Glasgow) began a long series of World Championship successes.
1989	over 90% of all chess computers sold in Germany were Mephisto's H+G buys "Fidelity Electronics Inc." for ~7 Million US $
1990	the market for high priced chess computers collapses. The reason for this collapse is the growth of performance capable 486 PC's and the availability of newly developed low cost strong chess software for PC's.
1992	H+G's shows losses of 28 Millionen DM Ed Schröder wins with Gideon 3.1 (Mephisto Risc 2) the open 7. Chess Computer World Championship WCCC - ahead of large mainframe computers and special hardware machines!
1994	H+G is bought by "Saitek Ltd." for ~ 7 Millionen DM Richard Lang's Genius (Mephisto London) beats Garry Kasparov in the Intel World Chess Grand Prix Turnier in London on a Pentium Processor.
1997	Manfred Hegener and Ossi Weiner form the company "Millennium 2000 GmbH Hegener & Weiner" and produce the "Millennium Schachpartner 2000", sold at 99 DM.

Existenz: 1980 - 1994

About the company Hegener & Glaser (Mephisto)

Chess computers from the manufacturer Hegener & Glaser

Overview of the modules for the "Modular series"

Mephisto Catalogue

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