IBM Business Machines Newspaper
|
|
Date Published: June 4, 2021
Date Modified: December 1, 2025 |
IBM Business Machines Newspaper
IBM Business Machines was a weekly (sometimes more often) paper published by the early IBM to ensure that all IBMers were in touch and informed. During World War II it was sent overseas religiously to IBMers in the service to enable them to stay in touch with their work family. Promotions, births, deaths and speeches by IBM's executives (and during the war the president) were published weekly and distributed to all IBMers around the world.
If you have copies, please do not throw them away. Contact me: Please!
If you have copies, please do not throw them away. Contact me: Please!
Picture of Ten thousand IBM Employees attending the 1940 New York World's Fair in New York
March 18, 1943, IBM Business Machines Newspaper showing the names of all IBMers in the U.S. Services
IBM Business Machines Magazine 1919 to 1958
The first issue of International Business Machines Newspaper was published by the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R Company) in July 1919. The C-T-R Company wouldn't formally and legally change its name to International Business Machines until 1924, but it had used the name "International Business Machines" for years in its advertising and promotional material.
To see a history of this name change on this website follow this link: Thomas J. Watson Sr. changed the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R Co.) to International Business Machines (IBM) after years of study and preparation.
Below is an image from that this first issue of the International Business Machines Magazine: Volume 1 Number 1.
To see a history of this name change on this website follow this link: Thomas J. Watson Sr. changed the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R Co.) to International Business Machines (IBM) after years of study and preparation.
Below is an image from that this first issue of the International Business Machines Magazine: Volume 1 Number 1.
Computing- Tabulating-Recording Company's "International Business Machines" Newspaper
Thomas J. Watson Sr. publicized the purpose of this magazine in its first issue. He wrote as follows:
Purpose of This Newspaper
"When a publication is launched it is but fitting and proper that declaration should be made of its purpose, its ambitions and its justifications for existence. The purpose of this publication shall be to disseminate knowledge regarding (1) the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co., (2) the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co.'s place in the world’s affairs, (3) the principles for which the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. stands, (4) the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co.'s relationship to the various companies which it controls, and (5) the value of the products of those various companies comprising the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company in the economic affairs of the world.
"While there are many business organizations controlled by the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, they are each but a unit in the larger C-T-R organization which we are endeavoring to weld together into a bigger, better and more compact and correlated whole.
"During the past few years the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company has grown to such proportions and of such world-wide importance, affecting in its activities as does many thousands of people, both within its own organization and with whom comes in contact in business dealings, that a simple regard for the opinion of these people demands that it should have a mouthpiece through which to give expression to its principles, policies, hopes and ambitions, and to publicly proclaim from time to time the attitudes and activities of the concern whom it represents.
"The many subsidiary companies of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company [Computing Scales, Tabulating Machine and Time Recording Companies] have for many years had their individual publications through which their identity has been revealed, their activities exploited and bid been made for the public approval of their products. Accordingly, the subordinate companies have in some cases come to be better known than the parent itself.
"The articles which appear in these columns shall be addressed to all members of the organizations that constitute the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, to other business institutions of the world and their employees, who, by virtue of business relationships with us, our products and our people, desire further knowledge of our activities and to all those others who may compliment us by casual interest in our endeavors and care to analyze and appraise the things which we are attempting to do.
"It is thus hoped that this publication may serve the useful purpose of bringing together in better acquaintance and understanding all of the people within the CT-R organization who work by hand or brain or heart to the sound and honorable upbuilding of this Company and all of its subsidiaries, and, in all modesty and with due deference. to the opinions of all others, to cheerfully make known the things that we build and the things that we do, thereby contributing in some measure to the world's general fund of business knowledge."
"While there are many business organizations controlled by the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, they are each but a unit in the larger C-T-R organization which we are endeavoring to weld together into a bigger, better and more compact and correlated whole.
"During the past few years the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company has grown to such proportions and of such world-wide importance, affecting in its activities as does many thousands of people, both within its own organization and with whom comes in contact in business dealings, that a simple regard for the opinion of these people demands that it should have a mouthpiece through which to give expression to its principles, policies, hopes and ambitions, and to publicly proclaim from time to time the attitudes and activities of the concern whom it represents.
"The many subsidiary companies of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company [Computing Scales, Tabulating Machine and Time Recording Companies] have for many years had their individual publications through which their identity has been revealed, their activities exploited and bid been made for the public approval of their products. Accordingly, the subordinate companies have in some cases come to be better known than the parent itself.
"The articles which appear in these columns shall be addressed to all members of the organizations that constitute the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, to other business institutions of the world and their employees, who, by virtue of business relationships with us, our products and our people, desire further knowledge of our activities and to all those others who may compliment us by casual interest in our endeavors and care to analyze and appraise the things which we are attempting to do.
"It is thus hoped that this publication may serve the useful purpose of bringing together in better acquaintance and understanding all of the people within the CT-R organization who work by hand or brain or heart to the sound and honorable upbuilding of this Company and all of its subsidiaries, and, in all modesty and with due deference. to the opinions of all others, to cheerfully make known the things that we build and the things that we do, thereby contributing in some measure to the world's general fund of business knowledge."
Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company
Thos. J. Watson
President and General Manager
Thos. J. Watson
President and General Manager
IBM Business Machines "Newspaper" Becomes "Magazine" in 1959
In June 1959, IBM Business Machines newspaper format was changed to a magazine format. The company wrote in this issue that:
This special issue of BUSINESS MACHINES marks a change in format. The new size will incorporate type changes and layout techniques designed to improve its appearance and usefulness to you. ... Subjects will range through IBM policies and benefits; employee, management, and company activities of outstanding interest; products, product applications, and customers.
In short, subjects will be chosen to help you better understand the company of which you are so vital a part.
As indicated above, the publication still targeted an internal IBM audience.
In January 1971, it was merged with and replaced by THINK Magazine, which then became an internal only magazine.
In January 1971, it was merged with and replaced by THINK Magazine, which then became an internal only magazine.
In June 1959, new magazine format adopted,
|
In January 1971, IBM Business Machines becomes
internal-only THINK Magazine |