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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Hollinwood, Oldham, United Kingdom

Ferranti Limited

Partially verified

Electrical engineering, defence electronics, computers, and domestic appliances

History

Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti established his first business in 1882, eventually forming S. Z. de Ferranti Limited in 1889.

The company was registered as Ferranti Limited in 1901, acquiring the assets of the predecessor firm. Following early financial difficulties and restructuring, the firm expanded into domestic appliances and, later, advanced defence and computer technologies. Ownership transitioned to Vincent de Ferranti following his father's death in 1930, and the firm later merged with the International Signal and Control Group in 1987.

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Current watchmaking & later fate

  • The company ceased trading in 1993 and was subsequently broken up.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-11-03. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

Ferranti Mark I
The Ferranti Mark I was a commercial computer produced at the Moston factory starting in 1951.

Major innovations

  • Ferranti designed and built the Deptford Power Station, which was the largest in the world when it opened in 1890.
  • The company produced the Ferranti Mark I, recognized as the world's first commercially produced computer.
  • During the Second World War, the firm developed one of the world's first IFF radar systems.

Known markings

  • The company operated under various registered names, including S. Z. de Ferranti Limited and Ferranti Limited.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under Ferranti Limited. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Ferranti Model 115 electric mantel clock, 1936
  • Ferranti Model 105 electric mantel clock

Sources & references

  1. Ferranti Limited | Science Museum Group Collection, Science Museum Group, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. S Z de Ferranti Limited | Science Museum Group Collection, Science Museum Group, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Ferranti International plc | Science Museum Group Collection, Science Museum Group, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. The Ferranti Archive | Science Museum Group Collection, Science Museum Group, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  5. Ferranti - Graces Guide, Grace's Guide, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.