Collection of Research Reports and Studies Produced by Elliott Brothers (London)
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- Collection of General Electric Company Hirst Research Centre Research Reports A collection of similar reports produced at the GEC Hirst Research centre between 1937 and 1965
- Miscellaneous collection of computing papers Papers relating to Elliott Brothers and Elliott Automation products including the 401 and 402 computers
TitleCollection of Research Reports and Studies Produced by Elliott Brothers (London)
ReferenceELLREP
CreatorElliott Brothers (London) Ltd
Elliott Brother (London) Ltd. has its origins with William Elliott who established a business in Tash Street, Gray's Inn as a maker of drawing instruments (after serving an apprenticeship). By 1807 he had moved to a shop and workshop in High Holborn, and by 1816 he was manufacturing such items as telescopes and barometers. In 1830 he moved to 56, Strand and took his sons, Frederick Henry Elliott and Charles Alfred Elliott, into partnership. The company began to manufacture instruments for surveying, for railways (e.g. steam pressure indicators) and scientific instruments of all kinds.
William Elliott died in 1853 and his sons continued the business as Elliott Bros. In 1865 Charles Elliott retired and he died in 1877. Frederick continued to run the business as sole proprietor and on his death in 1873 he left the business to his wife Susan. In the second half of the 19th century the company began manufacturing electrical instruments, and in 1893 they amalgamated with Theiler & Co, telegraph and instrument makers. In 1900 the company moved to new premises: Century Works, Connington Road, Lewisham. They began making speedometers, and instruments for ships and aircraft.
On 21 June 1916 a new company was formed in order to take over the business of William Oliver Smith, Willoughby Statham Smith, George Keith Buller Liphinstone and Laurence Willoughby Smith, which was trading as Elliott Brothers. This was to be known as Elliott Brothers (London) Limited and took over the assets of the previous company and continued to produce instruments for a variety of scientific, mathematical and industrial use.
During the interwar period Elliott Brothers (London) Limited continued to produce both electrical and mechanical instruments. From 1920 Siemens Brothers would enter into a working arrangement with the company to coordinate the design and manufacturing of the two. As part of this Siemens took a share of Elliotts, which would later become a controlling interest in the company. They would also transferrer their telegraph section to the company on 1st May 1925. The association of these two companies would not have entirely beneficial consequences for Elliotts, with the financial control that was exerted on the company being later described as a millstone around its neck and result in the company being starved of capital. As a result, the Lewisham factory was seen by many at the time as a technical backwater that had been by passed by the wartime contracts for RADAR and other electronic instruments. This situation continued until 1945 when the merchant bank Higginsons agreed to purchase the Siemens holding in the company, installing Geoffrey Lee as Managing Director.
Partly due to the company’s longstanding relation with the Admiralty, it had produced fire-control systems for Royal Navy warships from 1908, and partly due a series of unproductive discussion between the navy and Vickers-Armstrong, as well as several other engineering companies, 1946 would see the establishment of a institution that would reserve the fortunes of Elliott Brothers (London) Limited. At the time there was practically no electronics activity at the company’s existing factory and the Admiralty was well aware of the firm’s declining performance during the war but never the less it agreed to enter into discussion to allow the company to host a new research team to work on the MSR5 Medium Range Fire-Control System. As a result of these discussions it was agreed that, with the help of the Admiralty, Elliotts would establish a new research laboratory at a shadow factory site in Borehamwood, which was to be modelled on the existing General Electric Company’s Hirst Research Centre. Although this site started with on 45 employees it would later become the centre of the company’s computer research, and in 1994 would replace the Wembley site it was based on when GEC moved the Hirst Centre there.
In mid-1950 the first Elliott Brothers digital computer, the 152, made its first calculation. This had been developed as part of the Admiralty MSR5 project, with work continuing on the computer even after this had been cancelled. This initial work was followed by the development of several other models at the Borehamwood site including the 401 in 1953; TRIDAC, an analogue missile simulator delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1954; the 153 and 311, both of which were produced for GCHQ; the 403, which was used at the Woomera test range, and the 405, which entered production in 1956 as the company’s first machine aimed at business and commercial applications, as opposed to scientific or research.
In 1947 the company merged with the weighing machine manufacturers B and P Swift. In 1950 it established a subsidiary known as Elliottronic Limited in order to exploit the newly developed printed circuit technology. In 1953 an Aviation Division was formed at Borehamwood; this formed the basis for Elliott Aviation and would begin work on a three-axis auto stabilisation system for the English Electric Lightning fighter aircraft. The following year in 1954 Elliott Brothers acquired Bristol's Instrument Co. to strengthen its process control activities.
In 1957 the former subsidiary, Elliottronic Limited, was reformed as a holding company and renamed Elliott-Automation Limited. In this new form the company would bring about the merger of Elliott Brothers (London) Limited and Associated Automation by acquiring the shares of these two companies in exchange for its own. This deal was accepted in early October 1957 and created the largest automation and instrument organisation in Europe at the time with both Elliott Brothers and Associated Automation becoming subsidiaries. The board of the new company was headed by Rudolph De Trafford with Loan Bagrit as deputy and managing director.
By 1959 the company had developed a new model of computer that made use of transitors to enable it to be of a much smaller size than previous machines had been. This was the 803 and approximately 211 of these were produced. These were some of the first non-defence related computers produced by the company and had a wide range of applications, from universities to power stations and distilleries to post offices.
By May 1965 the company was composed of seven subsidiary groups. These were the Microelectronics Group, which was made up of a sales; a modular circuits and an integrated circuits division as well as a research laboratory, the Electrical Measurements Division, which was made up of a servo components and a precision potentiometer division, E-A Space and Advanced Military Systems Ltd, Elliott Marine Automation Ltd, which was made up of a Marine Systems, a Marine Equipment and a Marine Service division, Elliott Traffic Automation Ltd, Elliott Electronic Tubes Ltd, which was made up of a Telecommunications and a Radar and Communications Instruments Division and the Automation Services Group, which was made up of E-A Technical Services Ltd and Elliott-Automation Services Ltd.
In 1967 the Elliott Automation group was merged into English Electric, becoming a subsidiary of the larger company. Despite this Elliott Brother (London) Limited was little changed, remained part of the E-A group. In 1968 EE itself was merged with the General Electric Company. This would bring about some restructuring as by 1974 Elliott Brothers, although still part of E-A, was only composed of three subsidiaries, EASAMS Ltd, ESAMS (Malaysia) Ltd and E.A. Industrial Corporation, as opposed to the seven that had made it up ten years previously. This would continue until 1982 when it became Marconi Avionics Limited.
William Elliott died in 1853 and his sons continued the business as Elliott Bros. In 1865 Charles Elliott retired and he died in 1877. Frederick continued to run the business as sole proprietor and on his death in 1873 he left the business to his wife Susan. In the second half of the 19th century the company began manufacturing electrical instruments, and in 1893 they amalgamated with Theiler & Co, telegraph and instrument makers. In 1900 the company moved to new premises: Century Works, Connington Road, Lewisham. They began making speedometers, and instruments for ships and aircraft.
On 21 June 1916 a new company was formed in order to take over the business of William Oliver Smith, Willoughby Statham Smith, George Keith Buller Liphinstone and Laurence Willoughby Smith, which was trading as Elliott Brothers. This was to be known as Elliott Brothers (London) Limited and took over the assets of the previous company and continued to produce instruments for a variety of scientific, mathematical and industrial use.
During the interwar period Elliott Brothers (London) Limited continued to produce both electrical and mechanical instruments. From 1920 Siemens Brothers would enter into a working arrangement with the company to coordinate the design and manufacturing of the two. As part of this Siemens took a share of Elliotts, which would later become a controlling interest in the company. They would also transferrer their telegraph section to the company on 1st May 1925. The association of these two companies would not have entirely beneficial consequences for Elliotts, with the financial control that was exerted on the company being later described as a millstone around its neck and result in the company being starved of capital. As a result, the Lewisham factory was seen by many at the time as a technical backwater that had been by passed by the wartime contracts for RADAR and other electronic instruments. This situation continued until 1945 when the merchant bank Higginsons agreed to purchase the Siemens holding in the company, installing Geoffrey Lee as Managing Director.
Partly due to the company’s longstanding relation with the Admiralty, it had produced fire-control systems for Royal Navy warships from 1908, and partly due a series of unproductive discussion between the navy and Vickers-Armstrong, as well as several other engineering companies, 1946 would see the establishment of a institution that would reserve the fortunes of Elliott Brothers (London) Limited. At the time there was practically no electronics activity at the company’s existing factory and the Admiralty was well aware of the firm’s declining performance during the war but never the less it agreed to enter into discussion to allow the company to host a new research team to work on the MSR5 Medium Range Fire-Control System. As a result of these discussions it was agreed that, with the help of the Admiralty, Elliotts would establish a new research laboratory at a shadow factory site in Borehamwood, which was to be modelled on the existing General Electric Company’s Hirst Research Centre. Although this site started with on 45 employees it would later become the centre of the company’s computer research, and in 1994 would replace the Wembley site it was based on when GEC moved the Hirst Centre there.
In mid-1950 the first Elliott Brothers digital computer, the 152, made its first calculation. This had been developed as part of the Admiralty MSR5 project, with work continuing on the computer even after this had been cancelled. This initial work was followed by the development of several other models at the Borehamwood site including the 401 in 1953; TRIDAC, an analogue missile simulator delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in 1954; the 153 and 311, both of which were produced for GCHQ; the 403, which was used at the Woomera test range, and the 405, which entered production in 1956 as the company’s first machine aimed at business and commercial applications, as opposed to scientific or research.
In 1947 the company merged with the weighing machine manufacturers B and P Swift. In 1950 it established a subsidiary known as Elliottronic Limited in order to exploit the newly developed printed circuit technology. In 1953 an Aviation Division was formed at Borehamwood; this formed the basis for Elliott Aviation and would begin work on a three-axis auto stabilisation system for the English Electric Lightning fighter aircraft. The following year in 1954 Elliott Brothers acquired Bristol's Instrument Co. to strengthen its process control activities.
In 1957 the former subsidiary, Elliottronic Limited, was reformed as a holding company and renamed Elliott-Automation Limited. In this new form the company would bring about the merger of Elliott Brothers (London) Limited and Associated Automation by acquiring the shares of these two companies in exchange for its own. This deal was accepted in early October 1957 and created the largest automation and instrument organisation in Europe at the time with both Elliott Brothers and Associated Automation becoming subsidiaries. The board of the new company was headed by Rudolph De Trafford with Loan Bagrit as deputy and managing director.
By 1959 the company had developed a new model of computer that made use of transitors to enable it to be of a much smaller size than previous machines had been. This was the 803 and approximately 211 of these were produced. These were some of the first non-defence related computers produced by the company and had a wide range of applications, from universities to power stations and distilleries to post offices.
By May 1965 the company was composed of seven subsidiary groups. These were the Microelectronics Group, which was made up of a sales; a modular circuits and an integrated circuits division as well as a research laboratory, the Electrical Measurements Division, which was made up of a servo components and a precision potentiometer division, E-A Space and Advanced Military Systems Ltd, Elliott Marine Automation Ltd, which was made up of a Marine Systems, a Marine Equipment and a Marine Service division, Elliott Traffic Automation Ltd, Elliott Electronic Tubes Ltd, which was made up of a Telecommunications and a Radar and Communications Instruments Division and the Automation Services Group, which was made up of E-A Technical Services Ltd and Elliott-Automation Services Ltd.
In 1967 the Elliott Automation group was merged into English Electric, becoming a subsidiary of the larger company. Despite this Elliott Brother (London) Limited was little changed, remained part of the E-A group. In 1968 EE itself was merged with the General Electric Company. This would bring about some restructuring as by 1974 Elliott Brothers, although still part of E-A, was only composed of three subsidiaries, EASAMS Ltd, ESAMS (Malaysia) Ltd and E.A. Industrial Corporation, as opposed to the seven that had made it up ten years previously. This would continue until 1982 when it became Marconi Avionics Limited.
Date
1950-1970
Scope and ContentA collection of research reports, progress reports, studies and technical manuals produced by Elliott Brothers (London) and Elliott Automation between 1950 and 1970. These related to the work undertaken at the firm’s Borehamwood Laboratory in the fields of RADAR, aeronautic systems, such as the flight automation systems for the English Electric Lightning and the Vickers VC10; and early computers, both analogue and digital, including the TRIDAC missile simulator for the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the commercially produced 402 and 405 models. In addition to this there are also reports relating to research undertaken on contracts for various government departments and a series of studies undertaken on the possible uses of Elliott computers at a number of potential customers.
Extent138 archive boxes
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyTransfered to the museum in 1995 and donated by BAE Systems as the sucssor company to Elliott Automation in 2019.
Levelfonds
Repository nameScience Museum, London
Associated people and organisationsGeneral Electric Company plc
English Electric Company Limited
Elliott Automation Limited
The General Electric Company (GEC) was created as the General Electric Apparatus Company in 1886 by Hugo Hirst and Gustav Byng from a small electrical business established in London by Byng (Gustav Binswanger and Company, using Byng's original name). In 1887 GEC published the first electrical catalogue of its kind. The following year the company acquired its first factory in Manchester where telephones, electric bells, ceiling roses and switches were manufactured.
In 1889, the General Electric Co. Ltd. was formed as a private limited company and moved to larger premises at 71, Queen Victoria Street. Now known also as G.E.C., the company was expanding rapidly, opening new branches and factories. Initially manufacture was focussed on electric bells and light fittings, but this expanded to a wide range of electrical equipment - resulting in the firm's slogan 'Everything Electrical'. In 1893, GEC decided to invest in lamp manufacture. The resulting company, (to become Osram in 1909), was to lead the way in lamp design and the burgeoning demand for electric lighting was to make GEC's fortune. In 1900, GEC was incorporated as a public limited company, The General Electric Company (1900) Ltd, (the '1900' was dropped three years later).
In 1902, GEC's first purpose-built factory, the Witton Engineering Works was opened near Birmingham which designed and manufactured electrical equipment and machines. Rapidly growing private and commercial use of electricity ensured buoyant demand and the company expanded both at home and overseas, with the establishment of agencies in Europe, Japan, Australia, South Africa and India and a substantial export trade to South America.
The outbreak of the First World War transformed GEC into a major player in the electrical industry with profits to match. The company was heavily involved in the war effort, with products such as radios, signalling lamps and arc-lamp carbons. Between the wars, GEC expanded to become an international corporation and a national institution. The take-over of Fraser and Chalmers in 1918 took GEC into heavy engineering and consolidated their claim to supply 'Everything Electrical'. Other major factories included Osram Lamps at Hammersmith and the telephone works in Coventry.
During the 1920s, the company was heavily involved in the creation of the UK national grid. In addition, the opening of the new purpose built company headquarters in Kingsway, London in 1921, and the pioneering industrial research laboratories at Wembley in 1923, were symbolic of the continuing expansion of both GEC and the electrical industry. The company took over several companies in the Birmingham area and elsewhere. After being a minor player in tram equipment, the company entered the heavy rail electric traction market in the 1920’s and 30’s.
During the Second World War, GEC was a major supplier to the military of electrical and engineering products. Significant contributions to the war effort included the development of the cavity magnetron for radar, advances in communications technology and the on-going mass production of lamps and lighting equipment. After the war the company continued in the full range of electrical equipment from electronics to atomic power stations, but was not very profitable.
In 1961, after a failed takeover bid from the English Electric Company, GEC took over Radio and Allied Industries, a small but very profitable television set manufacturer. Michael Sobell and Arnold Weinstock from this company became GEC directors with a substantial shareholding. Weinstock became managing director in 1963 and undertook drastic changes to make the company more profitable. The rail traction operations were closed and the heavy electrical/ power station businesses were sold to Parsons. A number of ex GEC employees were recruited by Associated Electrical Industries (AEI).
A hostile takeover bid was made for AEI in 1967 and the relative profitability/share prices enabled GEC to take over the much larger AEI. In 1968 English Electric agreed to merge with GEC. Further takeovers and mergers made the company one of the largest private employers in the UK. In 1989, Arnold Weinstock agreed a merger between the power and transport businesses of GEC and those of Alsthom of France, part of Compagnie Générale d’Electricité (CGE) to form GEC Alsthom. While Weinstock was in charge the UK arm, the company continued to prosper, but after his death of his son in 1996 he was asked to retire and most of the company’s operations were transferred to France, or were sold off. Small sales and service operations remain for some of the products. Many of the factories have been demolished, with only Stafford continuing on a moderate scale.
In 1889, the General Electric Co. Ltd. was formed as a private limited company and moved to larger premises at 71, Queen Victoria Street. Now known also as G.E.C., the company was expanding rapidly, opening new branches and factories. Initially manufacture was focussed on electric bells and light fittings, but this expanded to a wide range of electrical equipment - resulting in the firm's slogan 'Everything Electrical'. In 1893, GEC decided to invest in lamp manufacture. The resulting company, (to become Osram in 1909), was to lead the way in lamp design and the burgeoning demand for electric lighting was to make GEC's fortune. In 1900, GEC was incorporated as a public limited company, The General Electric Company (1900) Ltd, (the '1900' was dropped three years later).
In 1902, GEC's first purpose-built factory, the Witton Engineering Works was opened near Birmingham which designed and manufactured electrical equipment and machines. Rapidly growing private and commercial use of electricity ensured buoyant demand and the company expanded both at home and overseas, with the establishment of agencies in Europe, Japan, Australia, South Africa and India and a substantial export trade to South America.
The outbreak of the First World War transformed GEC into a major player in the electrical industry with profits to match. The company was heavily involved in the war effort, with products such as radios, signalling lamps and arc-lamp carbons. Between the wars, GEC expanded to become an international corporation and a national institution. The take-over of Fraser and Chalmers in 1918 took GEC into heavy engineering and consolidated their claim to supply 'Everything Electrical'. Other major factories included Osram Lamps at Hammersmith and the telephone works in Coventry.
During the 1920s, the company was heavily involved in the creation of the UK national grid. In addition, the opening of the new purpose built company headquarters in Kingsway, London in 1921, and the pioneering industrial research laboratories at Wembley in 1923, were symbolic of the continuing expansion of both GEC and the electrical industry. The company took over several companies in the Birmingham area and elsewhere. After being a minor player in tram equipment, the company entered the heavy rail electric traction market in the 1920’s and 30’s.
During the Second World War, GEC was a major supplier to the military of electrical and engineering products. Significant contributions to the war effort included the development of the cavity magnetron for radar, advances in communications technology and the on-going mass production of lamps and lighting equipment. After the war the company continued in the full range of electrical equipment from electronics to atomic power stations, but was not very profitable.
In 1961, after a failed takeover bid from the English Electric Company, GEC took over Radio and Allied Industries, a small but very profitable television set manufacturer. Michael Sobell and Arnold Weinstock from this company became GEC directors with a substantial shareholding. Weinstock became managing director in 1963 and undertook drastic changes to make the company more profitable. The rail traction operations were closed and the heavy electrical/ power station businesses were sold to Parsons. A number of ex GEC employees were recruited by Associated Electrical Industries (AEI).
A hostile takeover bid was made for AEI in 1967 and the relative profitability/share prices enabled GEC to take over the much larger AEI. In 1968 English Electric agreed to merge with GEC. Further takeovers and mergers made the company one of the largest private employers in the UK. In 1989, Arnold Weinstock agreed a merger between the power and transport businesses of GEC and those of Alsthom of France, part of Compagnie Générale d’Electricité (CGE) to form GEC Alsthom. While Weinstock was in charge the UK arm, the company continued to prosper, but after his death of his son in 1996 he was asked to retire and most of the company’s operations were transferred to France, or were sold off. Small sales and service operations remain for some of the products. Many of the factories have been demolished, with only Stafford continuing on a moderate scale.
English Electric Company Limited
The English Electric Company was formed on 14th December 1918 and over the following year acquired Dick, Kerr & Company of Preston, Willans & Robinson of Rugby, the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company of Bradford, and Coventry Ordnance Works. After the First World War the various German owned Siemens works were distributed to different UK companies and in November 1919 English Electric acquired the Siemens Brothers Dynamo Works at Stafford, which became the company headquarters in 1931.
Coventry Ordnance, primary output naval guns, did not feature in the gradual product rationalisation which took place between the First World and Second world Wars. Willans & Robinson’s Rugby works specialised in prime movers, steam, hydro and internal combustion, and their Stafford works on power station and distribution electrics, including transformers and large electric machines for applications such as mining and steel works. Dick Kerr & Company continued building equipment and vehicles for bus, tram and railway applications with the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company concentrating on medium and small electrical machines. Involvement with aircraft continued a small scale. By 1929 the company was in financial trouble and an American syndicate fronted by Lazard Bros. put in new capital. In 1930 Westinghouse of Pittsburgh entered into an agreement with the company for the exchange of technical information relating to steam turbines and electrical apparatus. This cooperation continued into the 1950s.
1930 saw the closure of Preston West works and the transfer of traction electrical design and manufacture to the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing works. The Westinghouse influence included top management changes with Sir H Mensforth becoming chairman and George Nelson managing director. Both had been with British Westinghouse at Trafford Park. The early 1930s saw a remarkable improvement in the company’s finances and domestic appliance manufacture was started at Bradford and Stafford. In 1936 they began production of diesel locomotives at Preston and were later involved in the production of the Deltic locomotive for British Rail, presaging the end of steam traction in the UK.
Extensive shadow factory building for war production commenced in the late 1930’s, including at Preston East works and Salmesbury for aircraft production and at East Lancashire Road, Liverpool for D. Napier aero engines. A large variety of military equipment built during the war included thousands of Cromwell tanks from Stafford and over 3000 Handley Page Hampden and Halifax bombers from Preston and Salmesbury. After the war manufacture of smaller products from Bradford and Stafford moved to the large Liverpool works. This included electrical distribution transformers, switchgear, fuse gear, fractional horsepower motors and domestic appliances. Napier’s continued engine manufacture with the development of the ’Deltic’ diesel engine, mainly for marine applications. The nearby Netherton works took over the manufacture of large hydro-electric turbines and generators from Willans and Stafford.
In 1942 English Electric acquired D. Napier & Son Ltd and Marconi in 1946. The company went on to extend their railway interests with the acquisition of the Vulcan Foundry and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn Ltd in 1955. The company tried to take over The General Electric Company (GEC) in 1960 but failed.
Traction manufacture, but not the offices, moved back to Preston East works and ‘K’, ‘RK’ and ‘V’ engine design and manufacture moved from Willans to Preston West works which was now also used for locomotive building. Kidsgrove works in Stafford made industrial controls and for a while was a major player in the UK computer industry, merging with Leo Computers and then into ICL. Train performance calculations were an early user of the mid-fifties ‘Deuce’ computer. Preston also became a major player in the aircraft industry taking over the wartime RAF/USAF base at Warton aerodrome - major design and manufacture contracts included Canberra bombers and Lightning fighters. Rationalisation in the 1960s resulted in English Electric Aviation becoming 40% of the new British Aircraft Corporation.
In 1961 English Electric took over Dorman Diesels Ltd which in turn had acquired W. G. Bagnall Ltd. In 1966 English Electric Diesels merged with Ruston and Hornsby which already included Paxmans. This company eventually became GEC Diesels. Elliott Automation was acquired in 1967. The following year GEC took over English Electric, ending its independent existence.
Coventry Ordnance, primary output naval guns, did not feature in the gradual product rationalisation which took place between the First World and Second world Wars. Willans & Robinson’s Rugby works specialised in prime movers, steam, hydro and internal combustion, and their Stafford works on power station and distribution electrics, including transformers and large electric machines for applications such as mining and steel works. Dick Kerr & Company continued building equipment and vehicles for bus, tram and railway applications with the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company concentrating on medium and small electrical machines. Involvement with aircraft continued a small scale. By 1929 the company was in financial trouble and an American syndicate fronted by Lazard Bros. put in new capital. In 1930 Westinghouse of Pittsburgh entered into an agreement with the company for the exchange of technical information relating to steam turbines and electrical apparatus. This cooperation continued into the 1950s.
1930 saw the closure of Preston West works and the transfer of traction electrical design and manufacture to the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing works. The Westinghouse influence included top management changes with Sir H Mensforth becoming chairman and George Nelson managing director. Both had been with British Westinghouse at Trafford Park. The early 1930s saw a remarkable improvement in the company’s finances and domestic appliance manufacture was started at Bradford and Stafford. In 1936 they began production of diesel locomotives at Preston and were later involved in the production of the Deltic locomotive for British Rail, presaging the end of steam traction in the UK.
Extensive shadow factory building for war production commenced in the late 1930’s, including at Preston East works and Salmesbury for aircraft production and at East Lancashire Road, Liverpool for D. Napier aero engines. A large variety of military equipment built during the war included thousands of Cromwell tanks from Stafford and over 3000 Handley Page Hampden and Halifax bombers from Preston and Salmesbury. After the war manufacture of smaller products from Bradford and Stafford moved to the large Liverpool works. This included electrical distribution transformers, switchgear, fuse gear, fractional horsepower motors and domestic appliances. Napier’s continued engine manufacture with the development of the ’Deltic’ diesel engine, mainly for marine applications. The nearby Netherton works took over the manufacture of large hydro-electric turbines and generators from Willans and Stafford.
In 1942 English Electric acquired D. Napier & Son Ltd and Marconi in 1946. The company went on to extend their railway interests with the acquisition of the Vulcan Foundry and Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn Ltd in 1955. The company tried to take over The General Electric Company (GEC) in 1960 but failed.
Traction manufacture, but not the offices, moved back to Preston East works and ‘K’, ‘RK’ and ‘V’ engine design and manufacture moved from Willans to Preston West works which was now also used for locomotive building. Kidsgrove works in Stafford made industrial controls and for a while was a major player in the UK computer industry, merging with Leo Computers and then into ICL. Train performance calculations were an early user of the mid-fifties ‘Deuce’ computer. Preston also became a major player in the aircraft industry taking over the wartime RAF/USAF base at Warton aerodrome - major design and manufacture contracts included Canberra bombers and Lightning fighters. Rationalisation in the 1960s resulted in English Electric Aviation becoming 40% of the new British Aircraft Corporation.
In 1961 English Electric took over Dorman Diesels Ltd which in turn had acquired W. G. Bagnall Ltd. In 1966 English Electric Diesels merged with Ruston and Hornsby which already included Paxmans. This company eventually became GEC Diesels. Elliott Automation was acquired in 1967. The following year GEC took over English Electric, ending its independent existence.
Elliott Automation Limited
Elliott-Automation Limited was initially formed as Elliottronic Limited on 10th October 1950 as a subsidiary of Elliott Brothers (London). In this form it acted as a method of exploiting the newly developed printed circuit technology. This came to an end in 1957 when its name was changed, and it was liquidated as a subsidiary before being reformed as a holding company. Such a change was undertaken in order to facilitate the merger of Elliott Brothers and Associated Automation.
In this role the newly renamed Elliott Automation would acquire the shares of these two companies in exchange for its own. This deal was accepted in early October 1957 and created the largest automation and instrument organisation in Europe at the time with both Elliott Brothers and Associated Automation becoming subsidiaries. The board of the new company was headed by Rudolph De Trafford with Loan Bagrit as deputy and managing director.
In November 1957 the company expanded with the acquisition of Rotameter Manufacturing, which produced flowmeters and density meters. By the 2nd May 1959 it had also sold Associated Insulation Products to Associated Electrical Industries.
In January 1959 Elliott Automation again expanded with the establishment of Elliott Nucleonics as a new subsidiary. This took over responsibility for all activities in the nuclear field, including controls and instruments for reactors and power stations, from Elliott Brothers (London). 1959 also saw the establishment of the Swartwout Company as another part of the group which was formed to produced electronic control systems under a licence from their American producer.
February 1960 saw the purchase of Isotope Development (Beenham) Limited from Isotope Developments Limited, which would later change its name to Nucleonic Investments Limited, and the acquisition of Rheostatic, a manufacturer of thermostats and heat control equipment. Further acquisitions would follow with Firth Cleveland Instruments, which became Elliott (Treforest), in 1961; Londex in 1962 and Pevl Controls and Baldwin Instruments in 1963. In 1964 the group also acquired a controlling interest in A.E. Dean & Co. This expansion lead to the creation of numerous divisions and subsidiaries including Mechanical Automation, Elliott Traffic Automation and Elliott Marine Automation.
In addition to the expansion being undertaken in the United Kingdom there was also similar activity happening in continental Europe. In 1962 a new company was formed under the name Elliott Automation Continental S.A. under the chairmanship of Sir Leon Bagrit. This acted as the European subsidiary of the wider Elliott Automation Group and would go on to acquire a number of companies in its own right. In April 1967 a further company was formed in Europe, Elliott Automation/Iberica S.A. in order to undertake a contract to install an electronic traffic control system in Madrid.
By May 1965 the Elliott Automation group had grown to include 16 companies spread across 26 site both in Britain and abroad. Under the overall management of Elliott Automation Limited, the parent company which was responsible for group wide services, there was Elliott Process Automation Ltd, Elliott Flight Automation Ltd, Elliott Space and Weapon Automation Ltd, Elliott-Automation Radar Systems Ltd, Elliott-Automation Nucleonics Ltd, Elliott Medical Automation Ltd, A.E.E Dean & Co (X-Ray Apparatus) Ltd, Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd, Londex Ltd, E-A Control Valves Ltd, Elliott-Automation Computers Ltd, Elliott Mechanical Automation Ltd, Associated Automation Ltd, Satchwell Controls Ltd, Elliott-Automation (Overseas) Ltd and Elliott-Automation Continental S.A., which was only partly owned by the group. Each of these companies was made of a number of division whilst some also held ownership of part or all of other companies in their own right.
By June 1967 the Elliott Automation group was struggling to compete with the larger American computer firms and was still suffering from the impacts of the cancellation of the TSR2 project. As a result, the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation offer a £15 million loan in order to bring about the merger of the company with English Electric, which would create the largest electronics and computer company in Europe, with projected sales of £150 million. This was the first large scale merger facilitated by the IRC and, although there was some concern about it at the time, it was seen as a good deal by the Elliott chairman, Sir Leon Bagrit. The deal itself was accepted in August 1967 and with it Elliott Automation became a subsidiary of the English Electric group, with Bagrit becoming a deputy chairman.
This situation would only continue until 1968 when the General Electric Company bought English Electric, which became a GEC subsidiary. Elliott Automation remained part of EE but would change its name on 1st December 1970 to GEC-Elliott Automation, reflecting its new overall owner. In this form it would continue to act as a parent company of some of GEC electronics manufacturing concerns until 1998, although the name would continue to be use for a investment holding company within the group until 2001.
In this role the newly renamed Elliott Automation would acquire the shares of these two companies in exchange for its own. This deal was accepted in early October 1957 and created the largest automation and instrument organisation in Europe at the time with both Elliott Brothers and Associated Automation becoming subsidiaries. The board of the new company was headed by Rudolph De Trafford with Loan Bagrit as deputy and managing director.
In November 1957 the company expanded with the acquisition of Rotameter Manufacturing, which produced flowmeters and density meters. By the 2nd May 1959 it had also sold Associated Insulation Products to Associated Electrical Industries.
In January 1959 Elliott Automation again expanded with the establishment of Elliott Nucleonics as a new subsidiary. This took over responsibility for all activities in the nuclear field, including controls and instruments for reactors and power stations, from Elliott Brothers (London). 1959 also saw the establishment of the Swartwout Company as another part of the group which was formed to produced electronic control systems under a licence from their American producer.
February 1960 saw the purchase of Isotope Development (Beenham) Limited from Isotope Developments Limited, which would later change its name to Nucleonic Investments Limited, and the acquisition of Rheostatic, a manufacturer of thermostats and heat control equipment. Further acquisitions would follow with Firth Cleveland Instruments, which became Elliott (Treforest), in 1961; Londex in 1962 and Pevl Controls and Baldwin Instruments in 1963. In 1964 the group also acquired a controlling interest in A.E. Dean & Co. This expansion lead to the creation of numerous divisions and subsidiaries including Mechanical Automation, Elliott Traffic Automation and Elliott Marine Automation.
In addition to the expansion being undertaken in the United Kingdom there was also similar activity happening in continental Europe. In 1962 a new company was formed under the name Elliott Automation Continental S.A. under the chairmanship of Sir Leon Bagrit. This acted as the European subsidiary of the wider Elliott Automation Group and would go on to acquire a number of companies in its own right. In April 1967 a further company was formed in Europe, Elliott Automation/Iberica S.A. in order to undertake a contract to install an electronic traffic control system in Madrid.
By May 1965 the Elliott Automation group had grown to include 16 companies spread across 26 site both in Britain and abroad. Under the overall management of Elliott Automation Limited, the parent company which was responsible for group wide services, there was Elliott Process Automation Ltd, Elliott Flight Automation Ltd, Elliott Space and Weapon Automation Ltd, Elliott-Automation Radar Systems Ltd, Elliott-Automation Nucleonics Ltd, Elliott Medical Automation Ltd, A.E.E Dean & Co (X-Ray Apparatus) Ltd, Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd, Londex Ltd, E-A Control Valves Ltd, Elliott-Automation Computers Ltd, Elliott Mechanical Automation Ltd, Associated Automation Ltd, Satchwell Controls Ltd, Elliott-Automation (Overseas) Ltd and Elliott-Automation Continental S.A., which was only partly owned by the group. Each of these companies was made of a number of division whilst some also held ownership of part or all of other companies in their own right.
By June 1967 the Elliott Automation group was struggling to compete with the larger American computer firms and was still suffering from the impacts of the cancellation of the TSR2 project. As a result, the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation offer a £15 million loan in order to bring about the merger of the company with English Electric, which would create the largest electronics and computer company in Europe, with projected sales of £150 million. This was the first large scale merger facilitated by the IRC and, although there was some concern about it at the time, it was seen as a good deal by the Elliott chairman, Sir Leon Bagrit. The deal itself was accepted in August 1967 and with it Elliott Automation became a subsidiary of the English Electric group, with Bagrit becoming a deputy chairman.
This situation would only continue until 1968 when the General Electric Company bought English Electric, which became a GEC subsidiary. Elliott Automation remained part of EE but would change its name on 1st December 1970 to GEC-Elliott Automation, reflecting its new overall owner. In this form it would continue to act as a parent company of some of GEC electronics manufacturing concerns until 1998, although the name would continue to be use for a investment holding company within the group until 2001.
Conditions governing accessClosed until collecion has been auidited by BAE Systems 16/10/2020
Conditions governing ReproductionCopies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions
Related object
Related ArchivesComponents from TRIDAC1993-25752ObjectElliott 803 Computer, 19631989-5442ObjectElliott / NRDC 401 Mk I mainframe1965-4452ObjectElliott 405 computer1972-4512Object
AppraisalUpon review a number of duplicate reports were identified and removed from the collection.
System of arrangementThe collection is listed on the attached PDF finding aid and this is divided into three sections. The first is the technical reports produced between 1946 and 1966 and this is further divided into five categories. These are general reports, produced between 1946 and 1966, technical reports, produced between 1950 and 1966 the number for which are prefixed with T, research studies, produced between 1954 and 1966 the numbers for which are prefixed S, progress reports, produced between 1952 and 1963 the numbers for which are prefixed PR, and technical manuals, produced between 1950 and 1963 the numbers for which are prefixed M. The second are those reports produced by the RADAR Research Laboratories which used a separate numbering system prefixed RRL, and third is made up of the Elliott Brothers reports produced after 1966.
