English Electric

The English Electric
Company Limited
Company typePrivate
IndustryTransport
Predecessor
FoundedDecember 1918 (as The English Electric Company Limited)
Defunct1968; 56 years ago (1968)
FateMerged with GEC in 1968
Successor
HeadquartersStrand, London, England, UK
Products
Subsidiaries
List

The English Electric Company Limited (EE) was a British industrial manufacturer formed after the armistice ending the fighting of World War I by amalgamating five businesses which, during the war, made munitions, armaments and aeroplanes.[1]

It initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers, locomotives and traction equipment, diesel motors and steam turbines. Its products were later expanded to include consumer electronics, nuclear reactors, guided missiles, military aircraft and mainframe computers.

Two English Electric aircraft designs became landmarks in British aeronautical engineering; the Canberra and the Lightning. In 1960, English Electric Aircraft (40%) merged with Vickers (40%) and Bristol (20%) to form British Aircraft Corporation.

In 1968 English Electric's operations were merged with GEC's,[2] the combined business employing more than 250,000 people.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference TT41986 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ English Electric and GEC plan biggest merger in Britain. The Times (London), Saturday, 7 September 1968; pg. 1; Issue 57350
  3. ^ Payroll of 250,000 for the new giant. The Times (London), Saturday, 14 September 1968; pg. 13; Issue 57356