International Time Recording Company (1889-1914)

The International Time Recording Company (ITR) began as the Bundy Manufacturing Company in Auburn, New York. ITR’s main product line were mechanical time recorders invented and patented by Willard L. Bundy in 1888.

An ITR time recorder from about 1918.

ITR was later merged into the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company — the forerunner of IBM — in 1911.

Computing Scale Company (1891-1914)

In 1891, Edward Canby and Orange O. Ozias, two businessmen from Dayton, Ohio, purchased the patents for the newly invented computing scale and incorporated the Computing Scale Company for the production of commercial scales.

A Computing Scale Company scale from the 1890s.

Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (1911-1924)

In 1911, financier Charles R. Flint directed the merger of the International Time Recording Company, the Computing Scale Company and the Tabulating Machine Company to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR). In 1914 Thomas J. Watson, Sr., was named general manager of CTR. Watson emphasized research and engineering, and introduced into the company his famous motto “THINK.”

International Business Machines (1924-1946)

In 1924, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company adopted the name International Business Machines Corporation. The ornate, rococo letters that formed the “CTR” logo were replaced by the words “Business Machines” in more contemporary sans-sarif type, and in a form intended to suggest a globe, girdled by the word “International.”

Manufacturing worker assembling a key punch machine

IBM in transition (1947-1956)

IBM borrowed on the equities in its brand image and reputation to help carry it through a difficult transition from the punched-card tabulating business to computers. It began with a change to the logotype, the first in 22 years. The new logo appeared on the masthead of the January 1, 1947 issue of Business Machines with surprisingly little fanfare. The familiar “globe” was replaced with the simple letters “IBM” in a typeface called Beton Bold.

“Transition” logo on a IBM 026 Printing Card Punch (1949).

IBM continuity (1956-1972)

In May 1956, shortly before he died, Thomas J. Watson, Sr., presided over the official installation of his son as IBM’s chief executive. Tom Watson, Jr. moved quickly, using both actions and symbols to signify a new era. The first visible expression was a relatively subtle change in the company’s logotype subtle, in part, to communicate that any changes would come within an overall continuity. Created by noted graphic designer Paul Rand, the new logotype replaced the former Beton Bold typography with City Medium, as the letters “IBM” took on a more solid, grounded and balanced appearance.

IBM international recognition (1972-Present)

In 1972, the company introduced a new version of the logotype. Designed by Paul Rand, horizontal stripes now replaced the solid letters to suggest “speed and dynamism.” In the intervening quarter-century, the basic design has remained constant, one of the most recognized logotypes in the world, and a design that has been widely imitated by others.

Source and copyright: IBM.com