COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3571

Electronic Computers

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

54companies1896–1991founding years48still active6no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedToshiba Corporation
1896
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHarris Corporation
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedFujitsu Limited
1935
FoundedCanon Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCasio Computer Co., Ltd.FoundedControl Data Systems, Inc.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedSchneider S.A.
1966
FoundedTelxon Corporation
1967
FoundedDatapoint CorporationFoundedEvans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
1968
FoundedAmdahl Corporation
1970
FoundedStandard Microsystems Corporation
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedHypercom Corporation
1978
FoundedZenith Data Systems, Inc.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedCompaq Computer CorporationFoundedCompuAdd Computer Corporation
1982
FoundedFranklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedSBS Technologies, Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
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.
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

Toshiba Corporation →
Active · founded 1896 · Japan
Toshiba Corporation is one of Japan's oldest and largest producers of consumer and industrial electric products.
Toshiba Corporation →
Active · founded 1896 · Japan
Toshiba Corporation is one of Japan's oldest and largest producers of consumer and industrial electric products.
Harris Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
The origin of the Harris Corporation, a leading American electronics company, is actually to be found in the printing…
Harris Corporation →
Active · founded 1926
The origin of the Harris Corporation, a leading American electronics company, is actually to be found in the printing…
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Fujitsu Limited →
Active · founded 1935 · Japan
Perhaps the most dramatic example of Japan's ability to overcome long odds in a short space of time has been the growth…
Fujitsu Limited →
Active · founded 1935 · Japan
Perhaps the most dramatic example of Japan's ability to overcome long odds in a short space of time has been the growth…
Canon Inc. →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
Although it scarcely predates World War II, Canon Inc.
Canon Inc. →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
Although it scarcely predates World War II, Canon Inc.
Litton Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The U.S.
Litton Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
The U.S.
Casio Computer Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1957 · Japan
Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
Casio Computer Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1957 · Japan
Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
Control Data Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Control Data Systems, Inc., (CDSI) provides computer systems integration services to businesses and governments around…
Control Data Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1957
Control Data Systems, Inc., (CDSI) provides computer systems integration services to businesses and governments around…
Commodore International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1958 · United States
Commodore International Ltd.
Commodore International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1958 · United States
Commodore International Ltd.
Schneider S.A. →
Active · founded 1966 · France
After a dizzying series of complicated restructurings, acquisitions, and divestments that began in 1980 when the…
Schneider S.A. →
Active · founded 1966 · France
After a dizzying series of complicated restructurings, acquisitions, and divestments that began in 1980 when the…
Telxon Corporation →
Active · founded 1967
Telxon Corporation is a world leader in the design, manufacture, integration, and marketing of portable and wireless…
Telxon Corporation →
Active · founded 1967
Telxon Corporation is a world leader in the design, manufacture, integration, and marketing of portable and wireless…
Data General Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Data General Corporation is a manufacturer of multi-user computer systems: minicomputers, workstations, and servers.
Data General Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Data General Corporation is a manufacturer of multi-user computer systems: minicomputers, workstations, and servers.
Datapoint Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Datapoint Corporation has a proud history as one of the most innovative American computer companies, and today, despite…
Datapoint Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Datapoint Corporation has a proud history as one of the most innovative American computer companies, and today, despite…
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation is an industry leader in computer graphics, especially in providing realistic…
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation →
Active · founded 1968
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation is an industry leader in computer graphics, especially in providing realistic…
Intergraph Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1969
Intergraph Corporation develops and sells software, hardware, and services for technical professionals, particularly…
Intergraph Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1969
Intergraph Corporation develops and sells software, hardware, and services for technical professionals, particularly…
Amdahl Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Amdahl Corporation is a leading manufacturer of large-scale data-processing systems.
Amdahl Corporation →
Active · founded 1970
Amdahl Corporation is a leading manufacturer of large-scale data-processing systems.
Standard Microsystems Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
Since being incorporated in 1971, Standard Microsystems Corporation has evolved from a semiconductor supplier to a…
Standard Microsystems Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
Since being incorporated in 1971, Standard Microsystems Corporation has evolved from a semiconductor supplier to a…
Acer Inc. →
Active · founded 1976 · Taiwan
Called "the region's most impressive technology company" in a 1996 article in The Economist, Acer Inc.
Acer Inc. →
Active · founded 1976 · Taiwan
Called "the region's most impressive technology company" in a 1996 article in The Economist, Acer Inc.
Hypercom Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1978
A leader in its field, Hypercom Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets electronic payment hardware and…
Hypercom Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1978
A leader in its field, Hypercom Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets electronic payment hardware and…
Zenith Data Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Zenith Data Systems, Inc.
Zenith Data Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Zenith Data Systems, Inc.
AST Research Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
AST Research Inc., is the third-largest American manufacturer of personal computers based on the industry standard…
AST Research Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
AST Research Inc., is the third-largest American manufacturer of personal computers based on the industry standard…
Compaq Computer Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1982
Compaq Computer Corporation is the world's largest supplier of personal computers and, as a result of its acquisition…
Compaq Computer Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1982
Compaq Computer Corporation is the world's largest supplier of personal computers and, as a result of its acquisition…
CompuAdd Computer Corporation →
Active · founded 1982
One of the world's leading direct marketers of computers and peripheral equipment, CompuAdd Computer Corporation…
CompuAdd Computer Corporation →
Active · founded 1982
One of the world's leading direct marketers of computers and peripheral equipment, CompuAdd Computer Corporation…
Everex Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Headquartered in Fremont, California, Everex Systems Inc.
Everex Systems, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Headquartered in Fremont, California, Everex Systems Inc.
Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.
Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.
SBS Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
SBS Technologies, Inc.
SBS Technologies, Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
SBS Technologies, Inc.
Discreet Logic Inc. →
Active · founded 1991 · Canada
Montreal-based Discreet Logic Inc.
Discreet Logic Inc. →
Active · founded 1991 · Canada
Montreal-based Discreet Logic Inc.
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