IBM turns 100

A look at the tech titan over the years.

5 Seconds

00:00

On June 16, 1911, the Tabulating Machine Co., the International Time Recording Co. and the Computing Scale Co. merged to become the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. In 1914, Thomas J. Watson (pictured) became C-T-R's general manager, and then 10 years later the company was renamed the International Business Machines Corp. Watson is known for developing the famous "THINK" slogan.

/ AP

Thomas J. Watson Jr. took over IBM in 1956. Here he is shown sitting at an electronic data processing machine, one of the mechnical brains made by the company.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Navy technician stands at the rear of the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator in Cambridge, Mass., in August 1944. The IBM calculator was the first to "execute long computations automatically," according to the company.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

A woman tries the new IBM 72 electric typewriter on October 9, 1961. The machine had a usable speed of more than 180 words a minute and used a single element typing head smaller than a golf ball, containing all 88 characters of the keyboard.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

A model studies patterns produced by an IBM machine in Atlanta, June 18, 1965. This machine used a basic outline from an item of clothing to provide outlines that would be needed for larger and smaller sizes. It copied anything from bras and panties to men's suits.

/ AP

In 1969, IBM computers helped man land on the moon.

NEIL ARMSTRONG / VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

At the "Astroflash" office in Grand Central Terminal in New York, January 1971, a person's horoscope is computed by IBM machines. The machine asked for one's day, month and year of birth, plus city and state and, if possible, the exact hour. The data ran through the computer, which spilled out a character portrait and a six-month forecast, all for $10.00.

John Lent / AP

IBM introduced its personal computer system for home and school use in August 1981, ushering in a new era for technology. The expandable system included a monitor, printer and disk drives.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

In 1986, IBM scientists Heinrich Rohrer (left) and Gerd Binnig of IBM's Zurich Research Laboratory were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their invention of the scanning tunneling microscope.

/ Photo courtesy of IBM Research

Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on June 12, 1995, in front of the booth where IBM stock is traded. The Dow was led higher by IBM, which was up after winning an agreement to acquire Lotus Development, a software company, for a sweetened bid of $3.52 billion.

ADAM NADEL / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Garry Kasparov ponders his chess moves during his third game with IBM's Deep Blue, Feb.13, 1996, in Philadelphia. The game ended in a draw, but Kasparov ended up winning the final game and series 4-2 against the supercomputer. "Fighting this computer has changed the way I -- and I imagine most others -- will approach the game in the future," he said after winning the final game.

GEORGE WIDMAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

A production worker at the IBM plant in Essex Junction, Vt., checks a wafer of computer chips, December 1995. The Vermont IBM plant helped Nintendo create new game technology. IBM made a custom computer chip for a new Nintendo model that provided more computing power and more animated graphics.

TOBY TALBOT / ASSOCIATED PRESS

The ThinkPad was released in 1992. The notebook computer was a hit and collected more than 300 awards, according to IBM. The ThinkPad shown here is from 1996.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

This undated photo shows a scientist holding a thinned wafer of silicon computer circuits ready for bonding to another circuit wafer, using IBM's new process for stacking chips three-dimensionally. The process can improve the power distribution between chips and improve data-transfer speeds.

/ ASSOCIATED PRESS

A green-chemistry breakthrough, unveiled in March 2010 by IBM and Stanford University, could lead to new types of environmentally sustainable plastics.

MONICA M. DAVEY / FEATURE PHOTO SERVICE

"Jeopardy!" sensation Ken Jennings, who won a record 74 consecutive games, refers to his opponent, an IBM computer called "Watson," while being interviewed after a practice round of the "Jeopardy!" quiz show. It's the size of 10 refrigerators, but Watson was lacking one thing it needed to battle the greatest champions from the TV quiz show -- it couldn't hit a buzzer. But that didn't matter. The IBM computer ended up defeating Jennings.

Seth Wenig / AP

With 100 years under its belt, IBM said it will use its anniversary to predict "where the world will be in the next 100 years."

Joerg Sarbach / DAPD

Featured Photo Galleries

Homeowner David Firth tries to beat back a brush fire heading towards his home at Bettas Road and Low Drive as wildfire burns Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 in Cle Elum, Wash. The fire jumped the line they were trying to make but still stands after being sprayed with water trucks and further efforts to beat it back with the help of several neighbors volunteering. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, NO SALES . MANDATORY CREDIT TO: BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES.

Residents evacuate as wildfires rage through the West

This year’s wildfires are more numerous and have gotten bigger than last year’s, an official says.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

India Independence Day, Syrian air strikes, Western wildfires, plastination and more in the day in photos

News and feature images from around the world.

Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

The last time Washington was this good . . .

The Nationals have had the best record in baseball in August, starting to erase memories hardened by decades of mediocrity. Here are clues to...

Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

iPhone snapshots at the West Virginia State Fair

An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.