The R.C. Allen Company was begun by Ralph C. Allen (1884-1967), a former employee of Burroughs Adding Machine Company, in 1932 producing a low cost adding machine. Later a cash drawer was added to adding machines so that they could also serve as cash registers. These early machines were all mechanical. Following World War II, during which the firm learned about integrating electronics into their systems from their war time government contracts for manufacturing aircraft instruments, the company began replacing mechanical segments of their machines with the more maintenance free electronic components. During the 1950s the corporation added typewriters to their product line with acquisition of the Woodstock Typewriter Company. By the early 1960s the firm employed upward of 500 people in its Grand Rapids factories and had a sales network throughout North America, Europe and the Orient.

During the late 1950s the corporation expanded its scope into real estate development. This took the form of Anchorage Plantation in North Carolina and two plats south and west of Holland.

Allen directly and firmly controlled the corporation until 1963 when he retired from active control. Allen died in 1967 near his home outside Holland.

During the 1980s the firm was sold to out-of-state interests and eventually production was moved to California. The Allen Building remains on the west side of the Grand River near 6th Street having been converted to office space.