Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation
- Founded:
- 1946, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Dissolved:
- 1950, merged with Remington Rand
- Nationality:
- American
- Primary Profession(s):
- Computer Design and Manufacturing
Early History and Foundation
- Founded by John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert after their work at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Initial funding was secured from the Electronic Control Company (ECC), later becoming the company's new name.
- Focused on commercializing the technologies developed for the ENIAC.
Career and Major Achievements
- Developed the BINAC (Binary Automatic Computer), one of the earliest stored-program computers.
- Designed and built the UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I), the first commercially produced computer in the United States.
- The UNIVAC I gained fame for predicting the outcome of the 1952 US Presidential election.
- Struggled financially despite its technological achievements.
- Acquired by Remington Rand in 1950 to avoid bankruptcy.
Notable Works
- BINAC (Binary Automatic Computer): An early stored-program computer utilizing magnetic tape for storage.
- UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I): The first commercially available computer in the United States, used for business and government applications.
Legacy and Impact
The Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation played a pivotal role in the commercialization of computer technology. Their work on the BINAC and UNIVAC I laid the foundation for the modern computer industry. Despite its short lifespan, the organization's contribution was immense, marking a significant shift from academic research to practical business applications of electronic computing.