Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

British Tabulating Machine Co Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Tabulator Ltd
  • International Business Machines
  • IBM
  • Tabulating Machine Co
  • Powers Samas
  • International Computers & Tabulators Ltd
  • International Computers Ltd

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Letchworth, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, East of England, England

Sectors:

  • Information processing equipment production Business machine production
  • Information processing equipment production Computer hardware equipment production

Notes:

Traced origins to 1904 when established as The Tabulator Ltd which in 1907 was reorganised as British Tabulating Machine Co Ltd, London. Initially marketed punched hole card machines in Britain and its Empire made by Tabulating Machine Co of USA. TMC traced its origins to the business of Herman Hollerith in the 1880s and was subsequently known as International Business Machines (IBM). Established plant at Letchworth and started to develop and manufacture own equipment including code breaking machines, 1939-45. Agreements with IBM ended 1949. 1959 merged with its chief UK competitor, Powers Samas, to form International Computers & Tabulators Ltd. 1964 acquired the computer interests of Ferranti. Known as International Computers Ltd from 1968 following merger with the computer interests of English Electric Co Ltd

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