COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 334111

Electronic Computer Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

60companies1885–1999founding years48still active12no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedAT&T Corporation
1885
FoundedUnisys Corporation
1886
FoundedNCR Corporation
1900
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedNKK Corporation
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedAristocrat Leisure Limited
1933
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedOmron Corporation
1948
FoundedBell Industries, Inc.FoundedWincor Nixdorf Holding GmbH
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedDRS Technologies, Inc.
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedTransaction Systems Architects, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedApple Computer, Inc.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedMicrosoft Corporation
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSun Microsystems, Inc.
1982
FoundedDell Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedGateway, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedGericom AG
1990
FoundedEquus Computer Systems, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedHandspring Inc.
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

AT&T Corporation →
Active · founded 1885
AT&T Corporation organizes its business into two segments, business services and consumer services.
AT&T Corporation →
Active · founded 1885
AT&T Corporation organizes its business into two segments, business services and consumer services.
Unisys Corporation →
Active · founded 1886
Unisys Corporation is a major provider of computer-related services and technologies to customers in the financial…
Unisys Corporation →
Active · founded 1886
Unisys Corporation is a major provider of computer-related services and technologies to customers in the financial…
NEC Corporation →
Active · founded 1899 · Japan
Early 1920s:NEC, IWE, and a division of the Sumitomo group form a joint venture to produce electrical cables, marking…
NEC Corporation →
Active · founded 1899 · Japan
Early 1920s:NEC, IWE, and a division of the Sumitomo group form a joint venture to produce electrical cables, marking…
NCR Corporation →
Active · founded 1900
When National Cash Register Company was formed during the last two decades of the 19th century, it had one…
NCR Corporation →
Active · founded 1900
When National Cash Register Company was formed during the last two decades of the 19th century, it had one…
International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
NKK Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1912 · Japan
NKK Corporation is one of the world's largest steelmakers and Japan's second largest.
NKK Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1912 · Japan
NKK Corporation is one of the world's largest steelmakers and Japan's second largest.
Aristocrat Leisure Limited →
Active · founded 1933 · Australia
Aristocrat Leisure Limited, based in Australia, is the world's second largest manufacturer of casino gaming systems,…
Aristocrat Leisure Limited →
Active · founded 1933 · Australia
Aristocrat Leisure Limited, based in Australia, is the world's second largest manufacturer of casino gaming systems,…
Ricoh Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Ricoh Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1936 · Japan
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Omron Corporation →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Omron Corporation is a world leader in the field of automation.
Omron Corporation →
Active · founded 1948 · Japan
Omron Corporation is a world leader in the field of automation.
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1950 · Japan
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1950 · Japan
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
Bell Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
Bell Industries, Inc.
Bell Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1952
Bell Industries, Inc.
Wincor Nixdorf Holding GmbH →
Defunct · founded 1952 · Germany
Wincor Nixdorf Holding GmbH is one of the world's leading manufacturers of automated teller (ATM) and electronic…
Wincor Nixdorf Holding GmbH →
Defunct · founded 1952 · Germany
Wincor Nixdorf Holding GmbH is one of the world's leading manufacturers of automated teller (ATM) and electronic…
General Atomics →
Active · founded 1955
General Atomics is involved in a number of high-tech ventures, including fusion research and gas-cooled nuclear…
General Atomics →
Active · founded 1955
General Atomics is involved in a number of high-tech ventures, including fusion research and gas-cooled nuclear…
DRS Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
DRS Technologies, Inc.
DRS Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
DRS Technologies, Inc.
Nam Tai Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975 · Hong Kong
From its early days as a simple calculator manufacturer, Nam Tai Electronics, Inc.
Nam Tai Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975 · Hong Kong
From its early days as a simple calculator manufacturer, Nam Tai Electronics, Inc.
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
A fast-growing company in an expanding market, Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
A fast-growing company in an expanding market, Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Apple Computer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Apple Computer, Inc.
Apple Computer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1977
Apple Computer, Inc.
First International Computer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980 · Taiwan
Taiwan-based First International Computer, Inc.
First International Computer, Inc. →
Active · founded 1980 · Taiwan
Taiwan-based First International Computer, Inc.
Microsoft Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
With annual revenues of more than $32 billion, Microsoft Corporation is more than the largest software company in the…
Microsoft Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
With annual revenues of more than $32 billion, Microsoft Corporation is more than the largest software company in the…
SGI →
Defunct · founded 1982
Known for 17 years as Silicon Graphics Inc., SGI is one of the leading manufacturers of graphics computer systems,…
SGI →
Defunct · founded 1982
Known for 17 years as Silicon Graphics Inc., SGI is one of the leading manufacturers of graphics computer systems,…
Sun Microsystems, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Archrival of Microsoft Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Sun Microsystems, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Archrival of Microsoft Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Dell Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Long the world's largest direct-sale computer vendor, Dell Inc.
Dell Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Long the world's largest direct-sale computer vendor, Dell Inc.
Haier Group Corporation →
Active · founded 1984 · China
Haier Group Corporation is one of the world's top-selling makers of white goods and other home appliances.
Haier Group Corporation →
Active · founded 1984 · China
Haier Group Corporation is one of the world's top-selling makers of white goods and other home appliances.
Gateway, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Following its March 2004 acquisition of eMachines, Inc., Gateway, Inc.
Gateway, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Following its March 2004 acquisition of eMachines, Inc., Gateway, Inc.
ViewSonic Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
ViewSonic Corporation is a leading provider of cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD) computer…
ViewSonic Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
ViewSonic Corporation is a leading provider of cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD) computer…
Gericom AG →
Active · founded 1990 · Austria
Fast-rising Gericom AG aims to become Europe's leading manufacturer and distributor of mobile computing and…
Gericom AG →
Active · founded 1990 · Austria
Fast-rising Gericom AG aims to become Europe's leading manufacturer and distributor of mobile computing and…
Equus Computer Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Equus Computer Systems, Inc., is one of the largest of the "tier two" computer system builders in the United States.
Equus Computer Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
Equus Computer Systems, Inc., is one of the largest of the "tier two" computer system builders in the United States.
Palm, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Since its inception, Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Since its inception, Palm, Inc.
Handspring Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1998
Handspring Inc.
Handspring Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1998
Handspring Inc.
Systemax, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Systemax, Inc.
Systemax, Inc. →
Active · founded 1999
Systemax, Inc.
Build It Today

Starting a electronic computer manufacturing company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.