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.
