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Mergers, Takeovers and Dispersals

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Part of the book series: History of Computing ((HC))

Abstract

The 10-year period 1959–1969 saw significant changes – one might almost say upheavals – in the fortunes of British computer manufacturers. In this chapter we show how Elliott-Automation Ltd. was eventually to be pulled apart, the mainframe computing interests being absorbed into ICL which, by the end of the decade, emerged as the primary embodiment of the British computer industry. The story of ICL’s birth has been carefully charted in Martin Campbell-Kelly’s well-researched book on ICL history [1], which had the benefit of unrestricted access to BTM and ICT company records in the 1980s. We shall draw on [1] from time to time in this chapter, adding such material as is needed to do justice both to the wider Elliott-Automation company’s history and to the role of Borehamwood as a source of computing activity.

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References

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  2. Gerry Mills (2009) E-mails to Simon Lavington, Sept 2008 to Jan 2009

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  3. Elliott-Automation factories (1964) 32-page company booklet of photographs and statistics, produced in 1964

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  18. Leon Bagrit (1967) Two-page letter dated 17 July 1967 ‘to the members of Elliott-Automation Limited’ and included in a document sent to shareholders and entitled: Offers by Lazard Brothers & Co. Ltd. on behalf of The English Electric Company Ltd. to acquire all the Preference and Ordinary shares of Elliott-Automation Ltd

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  19. RW (Ron) Howard (2006) E-mail to Simon Lavington, 14 Nov 2006

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  23. The Wikipedia entry for ICL gives a good overview of the company’s history, especially the latter period until its demise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Computers_Limited#Fujitsu

  24. For an overview of the current operations of the Fujitsu Group, see: http://www.fujitsu.com/global/

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© 2011 Springer London

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Lavington, S. (2011). Mergers, Takeovers and Dispersals. In: Moving Targets. History of Computing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-933-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-933-6_13

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-932-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-933-6

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