This unique book presents the story of the pioneering manufacturing company Ferranti Ltd. -
producer of the first commercially-available computers - and of the nine end-user organisations
who purchased these machines with government help in the period 1951 to 1957. The text presents
personal reminiscences from many of the diverse engineers programmers and marketing staff who
contributed to this important episode in the emergence of modern computers further illustrated
by numerous historical photographs. Considerable technical details are also supplied in the
appendices. Topics and features: provides the historical background to the Ferranti Mark I
including the contributions of von Neumann and Turing and the prototype known as The Baby
describes the transfer of technologies from academia to industry and the establishment of
Ferranti's computer production resources reviews Ferranti's efforts to adapt their computers
for sale to business and commercial markets and to introduce competitive new products covers
the use of early Ferranti computers for defence applications in different government
establishments in the UK including GCHQ Cheltenham discusses the installation and
applications of Ferranti computers at universities in the UK Canada and Italy presents the
story of the purchase of a Ferranti Mark I* machine by the Amsterdam Laboratories of the Shell
company details the use of Ferranti Mark I* computers in the UK's aerospace industry and
compares this with the American scene relates the saga of Ferranti's journey from its initial
success as the first and largest British computer manufacturer to its decline and eventual
bankruptcy. This highly readable text reference will greatly appeal to professionals interested
in the practical development of early computers as well as to specialists in computer history
seeking technical material not readily available elsewhere. The educated general reader will
also find much to enjoy in the photographs and personal anecdotes that provide an accessible
insight into the early days of computing.
