A collection of photographs of computers and staff produced by LEO Computers Ltd., later English Electric, LEO, Marconi, and finally International Computers Ltd. The photographs with annotations were collected by LEO staff and serve as a record of the development of the LEO I, II, and III computers.
LEO Computers Photographic Collection
Archive Collection
- For more information, email the repository
- Advice on accessing these materials
- Cite this description
- Bookmark:http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-nahc/leop
- This material is held at
- ReferenceGB 133 NAHC/LEOP
- Dates of Creation1948-1983
- Name of Creator
- Language of MaterialEnglish
- Physical Description3 items (photo albums)
- LocationCollection available at University Archive and Records Centre, main University Library.
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Collaborations between J. Lyons & Company, a British catering company with strong interests in new office management techniques, and Cambridge University led to the production of a series of important computers, called LEO - Lyons Electronic Office. LEO, operational in 1951, ran "the world's first regular routine office computer job". LEO Computers Ltd was formed in 1954 with Anthony Salmon, J.R.M. Simmons and T.R. Thompson as Directors. The company installed LEO computers in many British offices, including Ford Motor Company and the "clerical factory" of the Ministry of Pensions at Newcastle. LEO Computers Ltd merged with the computer interests of English Electric in 1963 to form English Electric LEO. Subsequent mergers eventually found LEO incorporated into ICL in 1968.
Access Information
The collection is open to any accredited reader.
The collection includes material which is subject to the Data Protection Act 2018. Under the Act 2018 (DPA), The University of Manchester Library (UML) holds the right to process personal data for archiving and research purposes. In accordance with the DPA, UML has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately. Users of the archive are expected to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018, and will be required to sign a form acknowledging that they will abide by the requirements of the Act in any further processing of the material by themselves.
Acquisition Information
Unknown. Possibly John Pinkerton or the Leo Computers Society.
Alternative Form Available
Unknown.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright status of the collection is currently uncertain. This may reside with the LEO Computers Society but Fujitsu (GB) Ltd. may have residuary interests in the copyright.
Photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.
Items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.
Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.