Bell Punch
Encyclopedia
The Bell Punch Company was a British
company manufacturing a variety of business machines, most notably several generations of public transport
ticket machine
s and the worlds first desktop electronic calculator, the Sumlock ANITA
.
hand-registering ticket punch
that was being used by a number of British tram
way companies. By 1884 they had begun development of their own range of ticket printing machines. In 1891 they began supplying ticketing machines for London General Omnibus Company
. From then until its demise, Bell Punch would have an unbroken history of supplying successive London bus companies, along with many other bus operators throughout the country.
The first half of the 20th century saw the company expand into different markets, including in cinema and theatre ticketing, horse race totalisator
ticket machines, taximeter
s and mechanical calculators.
In the Second World War the company developed and manufactured a variety of military equipment, including mechanical aircraft navigation computers and naval gunnery sighting and ranging devices.
In 1958 it began development of a desktop electronic calculator, which came to market as the Sumlock ANITA
in 1961. The calcuator division was established as Sumlock Anita Electronics Ltd in 1966. It was to become the largest supplier of calculators in the U.K., with sales of £4.5 million in 1971. In 1972 they developed one of the first electronic pocket calculators, but were beaten to the market by Sinclair Radionics due to lack of management enthusiasm for the project. In 1973 Sumlock Anita Electronics were acquired by Rockwell International
who closed down the operation in 1976.
The remainder of the business continued to be owned by the then parent company, Control Systems Ltd which was acquired the Swedish Incentive Group in the early 1980s which resulted in the break-up of the company.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
company manufacturing a variety of business machines, most notably several generations of public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
ticket machine
Ticket machine
A ticket machine, also known as a ticket vending machine , is a vending machine that produces tickets. For instance, ticket machines dispense train tickets at railway stations and tram tickets at some tram stops and in some trams...
s and the worlds first desktop electronic calculator, the Sumlock ANITA
Sumlock ANITA calculator
The ANITA Mark VII and ANITA Mark VIII calculators were launched simultaneously in late 1961 as the world's first all-electronic desktop calculators. Designed and built by the Bell Punch Co...
.
History
The company was established in July 1878 in order to acquire the patent rights to an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hand-registering ticket punch
Ticket punch
A ticket punch is a hand tool for permanently marking admission tickets and similar items of paper or card stock. It makes a perforation and a corresponding chad. A ticket punch resembles a hole punch, differing in that the ticket punch has a longer jaw and the option of having a distinctive...
that was being used by a number of British tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way companies. By 1884 they had begun development of their own range of ticket printing machines. In 1891 they began supplying ticketing machines for London General Omnibus Company
London General Omnibus Company
The London General Omnibus Company or LGOC, was the principal bus operator in London between 1855 and 1933. It was also, for a short period between 1909 and 1912, a motor bus manufacturer.- Overview :...
. From then until its demise, Bell Punch would have an unbroken history of supplying successive London bus companies, along with many other bus operators throughout the country.
The first half of the 20th century saw the company expand into different markets, including in cinema and theatre ticketing, horse race totalisator
Tote board
A tote board is a large numeric or alphanumeric display used to convey information, typically at a race track or at a telethon .The term "tote board" comes from the colloquialism for totalizator , the name for the automated...
ticket machines, taximeter
Taximeter
A taximeter is a mechanical or electronic device installed in taxicabs and auto rickshaws that calculates passenger fares based on a combination of distance travelled and waiting time...
s and mechanical calculators.
In the Second World War the company developed and manufactured a variety of military equipment, including mechanical aircraft navigation computers and naval gunnery sighting and ranging devices.
In 1958 it began development of a desktop electronic calculator, which came to market as the Sumlock ANITA
Sumlock ANITA calculator
The ANITA Mark VII and ANITA Mark VIII calculators were launched simultaneously in late 1961 as the world's first all-electronic desktop calculators. Designed and built by the Bell Punch Co...
in 1961. The calcuator division was established as Sumlock Anita Electronics Ltd in 1966. It was to become the largest supplier of calculators in the U.K., with sales of £4.5 million in 1971. In 1972 they developed one of the first electronic pocket calculators, but were beaten to the market by Sinclair Radionics due to lack of management enthusiasm for the project. In 1973 Sumlock Anita Electronics were acquired by Rockwell International
Rockwell International
Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate in the latter half of the 20th century, involved in aircraft, the space industry, both defense-oriented and commercial electronics, automotive and truck components, printing presses, valves and meters, and industrial automation....
who closed down the operation in 1976.
The remainder of the business continued to be owned by the then parent company, Control Systems Ltd which was acquired the Swedish Incentive Group in the early 1980s which resulted in the break-up of the company.