Ferranti Ltd
Other Business Names:
- de Ferranti, Sebastian Ziani
- Ferranti International Plc
- Ferranti, Thompson & Ince
- Ferranti, S Z, Ltd
- International Signal & Control Corp
- ISC
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, North West, England
- Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, Scotland
- Hollinwood, Oldham, Greater Manchester, North West, England
- Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, North West, England
Sectors:
-
Information processing equipment production
Computer hardware equipment production
-
Electrical & electronic engineering
Electrical & non electrical appliances inc sewing machines, etc, production
-
Electrical & electronic engineering
Electrical generators, motors, transformers, etc, production
-
Electrical & electronic engineering
Electronic equipment & components production
-
Precision instruments production
Measuring inc navigational equipment production
-
Electrical & electronic engineering
Radar equipment production
-
Electrical & electronic engineering
Television & radio transmitting & receiving equipment production
Notes:
Traced origins to Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, 1864-1930, who started to design electrical equipment in 1882. Early businesses were known as Ferranti, Thompson & Ince and S Z Ferranti Ltd, the latter focusing on electricity meters.1887 designed Deptford Power Station for London Electric Supply Corp which is regarded as first modern power station. Emerged as a leading manufacturer of transformers, meters and other electrical equipment, consolidating production away from London at Hollinwood in 1896 and being incorporated as Ferranti Ltd in 1901. In difficulties in early 1900s and reorganised 1905. Transformers a key products between the wars but diversified into manufacture of consumer electrical goods such as radios, televisions, electric clocks, electric fires, cookers, etc. Marketed its first computer in 1949 and became a leading force in military electronics especially radar, navigation systems, early warning equipment, semiconductors, etc. Much of this electronics business was located in Scotland, based on Edinburgh. In difficulties in 1975 when still led by Ferranti family. Then rescued with government support and reconstructed. Supported by National Enterprise Board in 1970s. 1987 acquired the large International Signal & Control Corp of USA, a leading defence electronics business. Renamed Ferranti International Plc. Collapsed in 1993 as a result of a massive fraud arising out the ICS acquisition [2023]
Publications:
- Bloodhound on my trail. Building the Ferranti Argus Process Control Computer by Aylen, Jonathan
- 'Breaking New Ground'. The National Enterprise Board, Ferranti, and Britain’s prehistory of privatization by Billings, Mark, & John F Wilson
- Centenary of Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, DSc, FRS, Founder of Ferranti Ltd, 1882 by Unknown
- 'Computer Division' in J Wilson, Ferranti. A history. [Volume 2]. From family firm to multinational company, 1975-87 by Wilson, John F
- 'Computer story' in J Wilson, Ferranti. A history [Volume 1]. Building a family business, 1882-1975 by Wilson, John F
- 'Contractual arrangements and monitoring. The problem with Ferranti' in J Hendry, Innovating for Failure. Government policy and the early British computer industry by Hendry, John
- Deptford. A short history to commemorate the first high voltage central generating station in the world, conceived, designed and built by Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, Engineer of the London Electric Supply Corp Ltd in the year 1889 by Unknown
- Deptford Letter Books. An insight into S Z De Ferranti's Deptford Power Station by Smart, John E
- Doctor Ferrenti. The life and work of Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, FRS, 1864-1930 by Currer-Briggs, Noel
- Early British Computers. The story of vintage computers and the people who built them by Lavington, Simon H
- Early British machine tool automation. The road to numerical control by Hamilton, Ross
- Early Computer Industry. Limitations of scale and scope by Gandy, Anthony
- Early Computing in Britain. Ferranti Ltd and government funding, 1948-1958 by Lavington, Simon H
- 'Electronics manufacturers in Osaka and Manchester. A comparison of Matsushita and Ferranti ' in D Farnie et al (eds), Region and Strategy in Britain and Japan by Nakaoka, Tetsuro, & John F Wilson
- Entry of Established Electronics Firms into the Early Computer Industry in the UK and USA by Gandy, Anthony
- Ferranti. 50 years in Scotland by Unknown
- Ferranti. A history. [Volume 2]. From family firm to multinational company, 1975-87 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti. A history [Volume 3]. Management, mergers and fraud, 1987-1993 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti. A history. [Volume1]. Building a family business, 1882-1975 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti and the accountant, 1896-1975. The struggle between priorities and reality by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti and the British Electrical Industry 1864-1930 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti Computer Dept by Swann, Bernard
- 'Ferranti contribution to electronics in Scotland' in D Dick (ed), Scottish Electrical Enlightenment. Celebrating 100 years of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in Scotland, 1899-1999 by Smith, J B
- Ferranti. First into the future. An oral history by Unknown
- Ferranti Gyro Technology. A historical review by King, A D
- Ferranti in Outline by Unknown
- Ferranti in Scotland by Unknown
- Ferranti Packard. Pioneers of Canadian electrical manufacturing by Ball, Norman, & John N Vardalas
- Ferranti Review of Activities, 1970 by Unknown
- Ferranti Synchronous Electric Clocks, 1932-1957 by Lines, Mark A
- Ferranti's Deptford Project of 1887. Papers read at a discussion meeting ...1987 by Unknown
- Government and the Electronic Components Industry. The case of Ferranti, 1953-1973 by Wilson, John F
- Growth and Decline of the Semiconductor Industry within the UK, 1950-1985 by Morris, P R
- History of Manchester Computers by Lavington, Simon H
- 'Human resource management and development' in J Wilson, Ferranti. A history. [Volume 2]. From family firm to multinational company, 1975-87 by Wilson, John F
- ICL. A business and technical history by Campbell-Kelly, Martin
- Industrial electrical measuring instrument makers, 1890-1960. Reminiscent review by Bamford, W
- International business strategies at Ferranti, 1907-75. Direction, management and performance by Wilson, John F
- Life and Letters of Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti by De Ferranti, Gertrude Z, & Richard Ince
- Life and Work of S Z de Ferranti, 1864-1930 by Bailey, Frank
- Manchester computer pioneer. Ferranti in retrospect by Tweedale, Geoffrey
- Marketing in the second industrial revolution. A case study of the Ferranti Computer Group, 1949-63 by Tweedale, Geoffrey
- Pegasus Story. A history of a vintage British computer by Lavington, Simon H
- Personal Recollections of Life with Ferranti by Johnson, Harry
- Prolonged negotiation. The British fast computer project and the early history of the British computer industry by Hendry, John
- S Z de Ferranti. A brief account of some aspects of his work by Ridding, Arthur
- S Z de Ferranti. His influence upon electrical development by Randell, Wilfred L
- Silicon Glen. Reality or illusion? A global view of high technology in Scotland by Hargrave, Andrew
- The Ferranti and the Growth of the Electrical Industry, 1882-1952 by Wilson, John F
- The Good News Is Ferranti Selling Technology by Unknown
- 'To invite disappointment or worse'. Governance, audit and due diligence in the Ferranti ISC merger by Billings, Mark, Anna Tilba & John F Wilson
- Weighty Matters. Worthy people by Duckworth, John
- 'Who knows best? Elliott Brothers, Ferranti and the packaged computer' in J Hendry, Innovating for Failure. Government policy and the early British computer industry by Hendry, John
- Yesterday and Today. A brief story of the Ferranti Organisation by Unknown
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- de Ferranti, Sebastian Ziani
- Ferranti International Plc
- Ferranti, Thompson & Ince
- Ferranti, S Z, Ltd
- International Signal & Control Corp
- ISC
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, North West, England
- Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, Scotland
- Hollinwood, Oldham, Greater Manchester, North West, England
- Manchester, Manchester, Greater Manchester, North West, England
Sectors:
- Information processing equipment production Computer hardware equipment production
- Electrical & electronic engineering Electrical & non electrical appliances inc sewing machines, etc, production
- Electrical & electronic engineering Electrical generators, motors, transformers, etc, production
- Electrical & electronic engineering Electronic equipment & components production
- Precision instruments production Measuring inc navigational equipment production
- Electrical & electronic engineering Radar equipment production
- Electrical & electronic engineering Television & radio transmitting & receiving equipment production
Notes:
Traced origins to Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, 1864-1930, who started to design electrical equipment in 1882. Early businesses were known as Ferranti, Thompson & Ince and S Z Ferranti Ltd, the latter focusing on electricity meters.1887 designed Deptford Power Station for London Electric Supply Corp which is regarded as first modern power station. Emerged as a leading manufacturer of transformers, meters and other electrical equipment, consolidating production away from London at Hollinwood in 1896 and being incorporated as Ferranti Ltd in 1901. In difficulties in early 1900s and reorganised 1905. Transformers a key products between the wars but diversified into manufacture of consumer electrical goods such as radios, televisions, electric clocks, electric fires, cookers, etc. Marketed its first computer in 1949 and became a leading force in military electronics especially radar, navigation systems, early warning equipment, semiconductors, etc. Much of this electronics business was located in Scotland, based on Edinburgh. In difficulties in 1975 when still led by Ferranti family. Then rescued with government support and reconstructed. Supported by National Enterprise Board in 1970s. 1987 acquired the large International Signal & Control Corp of USA, a leading defence electronics business. Renamed Ferranti International Plc. Collapsed in 1993 as a result of a massive fraud arising out the ICS acquisition [2023]Publications:
- Bloodhound on my trail. Building the Ferranti Argus Process Control Computer by Aylen, Jonathan
- 'Breaking New Ground'. The National Enterprise Board, Ferranti, and Britain’s prehistory of privatization by Billings, Mark, & John F Wilson
- Centenary of Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, DSc, FRS, Founder of Ferranti Ltd, 1882 by Unknown
- 'Computer Division' in J Wilson, Ferranti. A history. [Volume 2]. From family firm to multinational company, 1975-87 by Wilson, John F
- 'Computer story' in J Wilson, Ferranti. A history [Volume 1]. Building a family business, 1882-1975 by Wilson, John F
- 'Contractual arrangements and monitoring. The problem with Ferranti' in J Hendry, Innovating for Failure. Government policy and the early British computer industry by Hendry, John
- Deptford. A short history to commemorate the first high voltage central generating station in the world, conceived, designed and built by Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, Engineer of the London Electric Supply Corp Ltd in the year 1889 by Unknown
- Deptford Letter Books. An insight into S Z De Ferranti's Deptford Power Station by Smart, John E
- Doctor Ferrenti. The life and work of Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti, FRS, 1864-1930 by Currer-Briggs, Noel
- Early British Computers. The story of vintage computers and the people who built them by Lavington, Simon H
- Early British machine tool automation. The road to numerical control by Hamilton, Ross
- Early Computer Industry. Limitations of scale and scope by Gandy, Anthony
- Early Computing in Britain. Ferranti Ltd and government funding, 1948-1958 by Lavington, Simon H
- 'Electronics manufacturers in Osaka and Manchester. A comparison of Matsushita and Ferranti ' in D Farnie et al (eds), Region and Strategy in Britain and Japan by Nakaoka, Tetsuro, & John F Wilson
- Entry of Established Electronics Firms into the Early Computer Industry in the UK and USA by Gandy, Anthony
- Ferranti. 50 years in Scotland by Unknown
- Ferranti. A history. [Volume 2]. From family firm to multinational company, 1975-87 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti. A history [Volume 3]. Management, mergers and fraud, 1987-1993 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti. A history. [Volume1]. Building a family business, 1882-1975 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti and the accountant, 1896-1975. The struggle between priorities and reality by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti and the British Electrical Industry 1864-1930 by Wilson, John F
- Ferranti Computer Dept by Swann, Bernard
- 'Ferranti contribution to electronics in Scotland' in D Dick (ed), Scottish Electrical Enlightenment. Celebrating 100 years of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in Scotland, 1899-1999 by Smith, J B
- Ferranti. First into the future. An oral history by Unknown
- Ferranti Gyro Technology. A historical review by King, A D
- Ferranti in Outline by Unknown
- Ferranti in Scotland by Unknown
- Ferranti Packard. Pioneers of Canadian electrical manufacturing by Ball, Norman, & John N Vardalas
- Ferranti Review of Activities, 1970 by Unknown
- Ferranti Synchronous Electric Clocks, 1932-1957 by Lines, Mark A
- Ferranti's Deptford Project of 1887. Papers read at a discussion meeting ...1987 by Unknown
- Government and the Electronic Components Industry. The case of Ferranti, 1953-1973 by Wilson, John F
- Growth and Decline of the Semiconductor Industry within the UK, 1950-1985 by Morris, P R
- History of Manchester Computers by Lavington, Simon H
- 'Human resource management and development' in J Wilson, Ferranti. A history. [Volume 2]. From family firm to multinational company, 1975-87 by Wilson, John F
- ICL. A business and technical history by Campbell-Kelly, Martin
- Industrial electrical measuring instrument makers, 1890-1960. Reminiscent review by Bamford, W
- International business strategies at Ferranti, 1907-75. Direction, management and performance by Wilson, John F
- Life and Letters of Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti by De Ferranti, Gertrude Z, & Richard Ince
- Life and Work of S Z de Ferranti, 1864-1930 by Bailey, Frank
- Manchester computer pioneer. Ferranti in retrospect by Tweedale, Geoffrey
- Marketing in the second industrial revolution. A case study of the Ferranti Computer Group, 1949-63 by Tweedale, Geoffrey
- Pegasus Story. A history of a vintage British computer by Lavington, Simon H
- Personal Recollections of Life with Ferranti by Johnson, Harry
- Prolonged negotiation. The British fast computer project and the early history of the British computer industry by Hendry, John
- S Z de Ferranti. A brief account of some aspects of his work by Ridding, Arthur
- S Z de Ferranti. His influence upon electrical development by Randell, Wilfred L
- Silicon Glen. Reality or illusion? A global view of high technology in Scotland by Hargrave, Andrew
- The Ferranti and the Growth of the Electrical Industry, 1882-1952 by Wilson, John F
- The Good News Is Ferranti Selling Technology by Unknown
- 'To invite disappointment or worse'. Governance, audit and due diligence in the Ferranti ISC merger by Billings, Mark, Anna Tilba & John F Wilson
- Weighty Matters. Worthy people by Duckworth, John
- 'Who knows best? Elliott Brothers, Ferranti and the packaged computer' in J Hendry, Innovating for Failure. Government policy and the early British computer industry by Hendry, John
- Yesterday and Today. A brief story of the Ferranti Organisation by Unknown