Seeking information about EACA, the manufacturer of a TRS80 Model 1 clone

Hi,

I've developed a site for a TRS-80 clone site (the System 80) at research into this machine.

I've been expanding the site recently and I'm very keen on tracking down more information about the original makers of this machine, the Hong Kong Company EACA. I'd LOVE to find more information about this mysterious manufacturer. It would be great to get answers to some of the questions I've asked in All I know about EACA at the moment is:

1. They were based in Hong Kong 2. They sold a number of units throughout the world between 1979(?) and 1983, which were re-branded by local distributors (into System 80-Video Genie-PCM-80-TRZ-80 etc.). 3. Bill Gates licensed his Microsoft Basic ROM to them (the same one he licensed to Tandy for it's level 2 Model 1) and negotiations seem to take a while 4. They may have originally made electronic toys? 5. A copyright lawsuit seem to stop their sales in the US (the PMC-80) but not elsewhere in the world

These EACA machines may have been the first example of a micro-computer clone? It would be good to verify that. Who were the engineers involved? Who in EACA came up with the idea of making a Tandy Clone. It would also be great to get pictures of the production line to put on the site. Someone must have visited the factory in negotiating these distributing deals and snapped a photo. Were these machines ever sold in Asia (e.g. Singapore, Japan or Honk Kong itself?)

If you know any information, or if you KNOW OF SOMEONE ELSE WHO MIGHT KNOW, I'd love to get the details. Also, if you know of any EACA-based machines (Video Genie-System 80-PMC-80) user groups or lists, I'd be interested to know about those too.

cheers

Terry Stewart