Marconi Instruments facts for kids
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| Public limited company | |
| Industry | Engineering |
| Fate | Sold to IFR Systems Inc. in 1998, which was then acquired by Aeroflex in 2002. |
| Successor | IFR Systems Aeroflex |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | St Albans, England, UK |
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Key people
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R. E. Burnett (managing director) |
| Products | Electronics |
Marconi Instruments Limited, often called MI, was a British company. It was part of the larger Marconi group, which used to be part of GEC. The company started in 1936. In 1941, it became Marconi Instruments after a special deal involving Marconi-Ekco Instruments.
Contents
Where Marconi Instruments Was Located
Marconi Instruments had its main offices in southern England. These were in St Albans, Colchester, and Stevenage. Eventually, all their work came together in Stevenage. Before that, their biggest location was at Longacres in St Albans. This site was the largest employer in the area.
The company also had four other locations. Two were in St Albans, at Hedley Road and Hatfield Road (called Fleetville Works). Another site was in Fife, Scotland, and one more was at Luton Airport in Luton.
What Marconi Instruments Made
Marconi Instruments made special electronic tools and systems. These tools were used to test and measure electronic things. They were very well known for their wide range of signal generators. These machines could create signals from very low sounds (audio) all the way up to microwave frequencies.
They also made many other useful devices. These included oscilloscopes, which show electrical signals as waves. They also produced voltmeters, spectrum analysers, and frequency counters. Other products were function generators, tools to measure electronic parts (like LCR bridges), and impedance analysers. They even made power supplies, distortion analysers, moisture meters, and logic analysers. The company also had a special lab that checked and approved electronic equipment for accuracy.
The End of Marconi Instruments
Marconi Instruments was sold in 1998 to a company called IFR Systems Inc.. Later, in 2002, IFR Systems Inc. was bought by Aeroflex. Because of these changes, the name "Marconi Instruments" is no longer used today.
The Original Marconi Company
Companies that have "Marconi" in their name can trace their history back to a very important person. This was Guglielmo Marconi, who founded The Marconi Company Ltd. in 1897. It was first called The Wireless Telegraph & Signal Company.
