>>>Tandy has a good way of morphing, though.
>It started as a catalog crafts supplier and got into electronics with the onset of tinny transistor radios during the late 60's.
>
>IBM also transformed itself successfully and MS most likely will have to before long.

Speaking of IBM equipment... A friend of mine has an example of a "business machine" (of a sort) not typically associated with IBM that was indeed manufactured by IBM -- a firearm (manufactured for use in WWII).

Speaking of companies that changed over time -- many folks today would have a hard time believing that Nintendo (which today is associated with videogames) originally manufactured playing cards. Also many folks are likely to be surprised to find out that what started out as a CD-ROM peripheral for the SuperFamicon game console (aka Nintendo Super NES) that Nintendo contracted Sony to develop (but was rejected by Nintendo) ended up becoming a rival game console (which retains the original name intended for the peripheral -- Playstation).

Who knew that a manufacturer of automatic looms - Toyoda - would eventually give rise to a major automobile manufacturer - Toyota?