Synopsis for Presentation by Neville Lyons

The story of LEO is an extraordinary one. The world’s very first business computer was designed and manufactured, not by one of the electronics giants such as IBM, but by J Lyons & Co, better known for its Teashops and Corner House Restaurants, its Swiss Rolls and Fruit Pies.

After World War 2, upward trend in office costs made the company realise that some form of automation was essential for processes such as stock control and pay-roll. There was nothing available at this time to meet their needs and so, with the self-assurance and innovative spirit which had become their trademark, they set about managing the design and manufacture of their own computer. After just 2 years’ development, they produced an operational product in 1951, naming it LEO, aptly standing for Lyons Electronic Office. Guinness World Records were to certify it as the first ever business computer. At the time, it was beyond anyone’s imagination that those involved in this project would be among the pioneers leading to today’s information technology.

Neville Lyons, the Speaker, is a relative of the J Lyons company’s co-founder, Sir Joseph Lyons. He introduces his illustrated presentation with a brief resume of the company’s activities and achievements prior to LEO. He then explains how the LEO project was conceived and progressed, the personalities involved and some of its main features. He shows how British industry seized upon the invention of this new ‘electronic brain’, leading to LEO ‘bureau’ activities, the formation of LEO Computers Ltd and development of further versions of LEO for the J Lyons Company, but also resulting in purchases by many major industrial companies and government departments.

The Speaker goes on to explain the mergers that took place between LEO Computers Ltd and other electronics companies in the 1960’s. The presentation concludes with updates, including the Heritage Lottery funded project for archiving LEO material, undertaken by the Centre for Computing History in partnership with LEO Computers Society. To end the presentation, we hope to show the award winning film produced in 2021, celebrating the 70th anniversary of LEO becoming operational.

This event is for u3a members only. Please note this is a repeat of a previous talk on the same subject matter.

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LEO - the World's First Business Computer