Title
Manual for PERQ 1a computer
Reference
YA2009.74
Production date
1981 - 1981
Creator
- International Computers LimitedBiographyBiography
International Computers Ltd (ICL) was a British company formed in 1968 as a part of the Industrial Expansion Act of the Wilson Labour Government. ICL was an initiative of Tony Benn, the Minister of Technology, to create a British computer industry that could compete with major world manufacturers like IBM. English Electric Leo Marconi (EELM) was merged with the computer interests of Elliott Automation which was then taken over by International Computers and Tabulators (ICT) to form International Computers Limited (ICL). Plessey Co and English Electric each owned 18% of the equity of ICL, with 53.5% in the hands of former shareholders of ICT and the remaining 10.5% held by the government. ICL represented the last step in a series of mergers that had taken place in the industry since the late 1950s.
ICL tended to rely on large contracts from the UK public sector. Significant customers included Post Office Ltd., the Inland Revenue, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Defence.
The company had various buildings at Bracknell (its main one being at Lovelace Road in the town); it also had numerous locations throughout the UK and worldwide. Manufacturing took place in Letchworth (Hertfordshire), Manchester and the Midlands (including Kidsgrove). It is thought that there were over 100 ICL locations in the UK alone with many more overseas.
Fujitsu's involvement with ICL steadily increased; in 1990 Fujitsu acquired 80% of ICL plc from STC. Following the acquisition of Nokia Data in 1991, personal computers and servers were marketed under the ICL brand. Eventually in 2002, Fujitsu acquired full ownership of ICL and subsequently fully integrated it, dropping the ICL brand.
Scope and Content
ICL Computer Publication RP 10103.
Extent
1 volume
Archival history
This manual forms part of a collection of objects and archives, and was previously catalogued as 2009.74.8.
Level of description
ITEM
Repository name
Science and Industry Museum
Associated people and organisations
- The University of ManchesterBiographyBiography
The University of Manchester was formed in 2004 by the merger of the Victoria University of Manchester (popularly known as Manchester University) and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
UMIST has the longer history, dating back to 1824 and the establishment of the Mechanics' Institute in Manchester. The Victoria University of Manchester dates back to 1851, when Owens College was formed. Owens College became part of the federal Victoria University of Manchester in 1880, alongside University College Liverpool and the Yorkshire College, Leeds. Both UMIST and the Victoria University of Manchester operated independently of each other until the 2004 merger.
- Gilbert, David
Subject
Conditions governing access
Open access.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.
Related items
Y2009.74