Title
Technical documents relating to KDF9 – an early British computer designed and built by English Electric
Reference
MS/2182
Production date
1961 - 1963
Scope and Content
Designed by English Electric, the KDF9 computer first came into service in 1964, with the last model being decommissioned in 1980 at the National Physical Laboratory. The KDF9 was one of the earliest fully hardware-secured multiprogramming systems; up to four programs could be run simultaneously under the control of its Timesharing Director operating system. The collection comprises reports, notes, figure drawings and specifications for the KDF9 computer.
Extent
2 boxes (25 items)
Language
English
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science Museum, London
Associated people and organisations
- 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.
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
External document