Robert Ira Lewy

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Robert Ira Lewy, M.D., F.A.C.P. (born October 16, 1943) is an American doctor who has conducted research on aspirin therapy in heart disease and allergic phenomena in recipients of silicone breast implants. wholesale sea salt

Career bulk bath salts

Lewy graduated magna cum laude in 1964 from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, majoring in Biology. He was awarded the Roberts Prize in Biology, and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He then matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After one year, he took a leave of absence and was selected as a PhD candidate at the Princeton University Department of Graduate Studies doctoral program in Religion. There he was selected as a Woodrow Wilson scholar, and a William J. Fulbright Scholarship runner-up.

Returning to medical school, he graduated in 1971 from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Doctor of Medicine degree. His Internship was served at the Philadelphia General Hospital, now defunct, in Philadelphia, and his Residency at the Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia. He was then selected for a National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood grant, and began a two-year Clinical and Research Fellowship in Hematology at the Cardeza Foundation for Hematological Research of the Thomas Jefferson University of Philadelphia. His original research on the effect of aspirin on heart disease led to a period of prolific publishing in the scientific literature. He also held many hospital committee chairmanships, including Chairman, Infectious Disease ad Pharmacy Review Committee of The Woman's Hospital of Texas, Chairman, Credentials Committee, Women Hospital of Texas and Chairman, Tissue and Therapeutics Committee, The Woman's Hospital of Texas. He holds two board certifications (board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine as an internist and sub-specialist as a hematologist); he is a member of the American Board of Forensic Examiners (now known as the American College of Forensic Examiners, not a recognized board, but a membership organization), and a member, American College of Rheumatology. He was accepted as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 1983.

Lewy practiced clinical hematology and oncology in Houston, Texas from 1979 until 2005, except for a brief period working for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America/Tulsa. During this time he was Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He served as a teaching physician at the St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital of Houston, where he was responsible for training interns, residents and fellows, and served the same function at the Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston on the Baylor College of Medicine Hematology service. His research on allergic aspects of silicone breast implants led to further scientific publications and book chapters during the mid 1990s as well as international scientific and governmental presentations, and peer recognition.

Silicone breast implants became a subject of much controversy in 1995, and Lewy was subpoenaed both as an expert witness in litigation, interviewed in the popular press and served as a court recognized expert in the Breast Implant Class Action settlement in what the New York Times referred to as a "medical rush to cash in." These implants were removed from the market by the United States Food and Drug Administration due to safety issues. Lewy's disagreement with the New York Times' characterization of the issue as a "rush to cash in" was published. In 1993, he lost his admitting privileges to The Methodist Hospital, while retaining full privileges at his other teaching hospitals including St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, as well as faculty appointments. The Methodist Hospital was the defendant in many breast implant cases, and the place where they were invented by Dr Frank Gerow, according to the article "Silicone City" in Texas Monthly magazine

In 1997, Dr. Lewy was reprimanded and required to pay an administrative penalty of $2,000 by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. The board's order noted that in 1993, Lewy "was excluded from the medical staff of The Methodist Hospital for inadequate medical record keeping." The Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision officially reprimanded Dr. Lewy in 2002 for "fraud obtaining license credentials". In the same year, Lewy agreed to a "censure and reprimand" and a $5,000 fine from the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct, stemming from the Texas and Oklahoma cases, although he had never practiced in New York.. State medical boards are permitted to consider issues occurring in another state as a cause to fine licensees in their own states. His license remains in good standing in Texas, California, Pennsylvania and New York, although currently they are inactive due to his retirement in 2005.

In 2006 he donated over $1 million dollars to Stuyvesant High School, his high school alma mater for the establishment of the Dr. Robert Ira Lewy Multimedia Center, to serve as the high school central academic research facility.

References

^ National Heart Lung Blood and Ischemia Investigator #5 T32 AM07084-04

^ Lewy, R.I., Kansu, E.: Prognostic Value of Platelet Counts in Idiopathic Sideroblastic Anemia; Blood; Sl:766-767; 1978.

^ Lewy, R.I., Smith, J.B., Silver, M.J., Wiener, L.J., Walinsky, P., & Saia, J.: Detection of Thromboxane B-2 in Peripheral Blood of Patients With Prinzmetal's Angina; Prostaglandins and Medicine; Vol. 2: 243-248; 1979.

^ Lewy, R.I., Smith, J.B., Silver, M.J., Saia, J., Walinsky, P., Wiener, L.: Detection of Thromboxane B2 in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Prinzmetal Angina. Clinical Research 27:462A, 1979.

^ Lewy, R.I., Wiener, L., Smith, J.B., Walinsky, P., Silver, M.J.: Intravenous Heparin Initiates In Vivo Synthesis Release of Thromboxane A-2 in Angina Pectoris; Lancet 2: 97; 1979

^ Wiener, L., Lewy, R.I., Walinsky, P., Lefer, A.M., Silver, M.J., Smith, J.B.: Thromboxane Release and Coronary Artery Disease Patients During Acute Myocardial Ischemia; Proceedings of the Florence International Conference on Myocardial Infarction; Vol. 1: 388-394; Excerpta Medica; Amsterdam; 1979 (Mason, D.T., Serneri, G.G., Oliver, M.F., Editors).

^ Lewy, R.I., Wiener, L., Smith, J.B., Walinsky, P., Silver, M.J., Saia, J.: Comparison of Plasma Concentrations of Thromboxane B-2 and Prinzmetal's Variant Angina and Classical Angina Pectoris; Clinical Cardiology; Vol. 2: 404-406; 1979.

^ Lewy, R.I., Wiener, L., Smith, J.B., Walinsky, P., Silver, M.J.: Measurements of Plasma Thromboxane in Peripheral Blood of Prinzmetal's Angina Patients; Circulation (Supp.) II: 248; 1979.(Presented November 15, 1979 at the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, Anaheim, California).

^ Lewy, R.I., Kansu, E., Gabuzda, T.: Leukemia in Patients with Acquired Idiopathic Sideroblastic Anemia; An Evaluation of Prognostic Indicators; American Journal of Hematology; 6: 323-331; 1979.

^ Lewy, R.I., Bills, T.K., Dalton, J., Smith, J.B., Silver, M.J.: 19Hydroxyprostaglandin E and Infertility in Human Males; Prostaglandins and Medicine; 2: 367-372; 1979.

^ Lewy, R.I.: Thromboxane A-2 Release and the Injury-Spasm Hypothesis; Circulation; 62: 668; 1979(Letter).

^ Lewy, R.I., Effect of Elevated Free Fatty Acids on Thromboxane Release in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.Hemostasis; 9:134-140; 1980.

^ Lewy, R.I., Wiener, L., Lefer, A.M., Silver, M.J., Smith, J.B., Thromboxane Release During Pacing-Induced Angina Pectoris; Possible Vaso-Constrictor Influence on the Coronary Vasculature; Circulation; Vol. 61: 1165-1171; 1980.

^ Michael L.H., Lewy R. I. et al. Thromboxane B2 in Dog Cardiac Lymph.Clinical Research 1980

^ Lewy, R.I., Thromboxane Release During Pacing-Induced Angina, (Author's Reply); Circulation;63: 237; 1981.

^ Lewy, R.I., Michael, L.H.: Transmyocardial Platelet Behavior in CAD (Author's Reply); Circulation; 63: 969; 1981.

^ Lewy, R.I. Thromboxane in Ischemic Heart Disease; New England Journal of Medicine (Letter);305: 106; 1981.

^ Lewy R.I. Role des thromboxanes dans lngor spastique et dans lngor occlusif. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Ischemia and Platelets. Editions de la Revue de Medecine. pp 57-60, 1982.

^ Lewy, R.I. Role of Thromboxanes in vasotonic versus vaso-occlusive angina. Archives des maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux. 76:13-16, 1983.

^ Davis, K. L., in The [Oklahoma City] Journal Record, August 4, 1999

^ Lewy, R.I. Laboratory Findings Reveal Potential Harm of Breast Implants. Texas Medicine. 89 (12), 1993

^ Preface, page x, Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology 210: Immunology of Silicones, M. Potter and N.R. Rose, eds, pages 337-352, Springer Verlag 1996. ISBN 3-540-60272-0

^ Lewy, R.I Autoimmune Markers and Imaging Abnormalities in Silicone Breast Implant Users. Clinical Research, 42(2), 275A, 1994

^ Autoimmune Disease and Collagen Dermal Implants. Annals of Internal Medicine, 120(6), 524-525, 1994

^ Lewy RI. Antinuclear Antibodies, Lipid Disturbances and Central Nervous System Imaging Abnormalities in Silicone Breast Implant Users. Journal of Investigative Medicine 43:333A, 1995

^ The New York Times, June 13, 1995 - A Case of Justice, or a Total Travesty?; How the Battle Over Breast Implants Took Dow Corning to Chapter 11

^ The New York Times, September 25, 1995 Letter to the editor from Lewy commenting on September 18, 1995 article]

^ Swartz M., Silicone City, Texas Monthly, August 1995.

^ Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, August 9, 1997 - In the matter of the medical license of Robert Ira Lewy, M.D.

^ Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision - Lewy, Robert Ira

^ New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct, Order BPMC 03-11.

^ The Spectator, Volume XCVII, No 6, page 2, "Dedication Ceremony for the Lewy Multimedia Center Held".

Categories: American physicians | Living people | 1943 births | Franklin & Marshall College alumni | Princeton University alumni | University of Pennsylvania alumniHidden categories: Orphaned articles from February 2009 | All orphaned articles | Articles with a promotional tone | All articles with a promotional tone

Bernard Stone

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First Attempt at Elected Office

In 1956, at age 28, Stone ran in a multi-way race in the Democratic primary for the Illinois state House of Representatives from the 8th district, but was defeated by Esther Saperstein, who served in the Illinois House for 10 years and became Illinois' first woman state senator.

The Republican Years (1987-1990) samsung digimax a7

Alderman Stone announced he joined the Republican Party and his intention to run for Cook County Recorder of Deeds on Thursday, October 29, 1987. "I found the party I have supported since 1932 has changed completely," Stone said in a press conference. "The party I thought stood for all the people stands for special interests." Former Alderman and former Cook County Democratic chairman Edward R.Vrdolyak, a recent convert to the GOP ... encouraged Stone to become a Republican and to run for recorder. "I can no longer be part of a party [ Democratic Party ] that punishes law-abiding, tax-paying citizens and communities," Stone said. Stone, who is Jewish, said another factor in his switch was that "the Democratic Party is drifting away from America's historically strong commitment to Israel." By threatening to run for Chairman of the Republican Party of Cook County, and for Cook County State's Attorney, Vrdolyak brokered a deal to slate himself for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and Stone for Cook County Recorder of Deeds. sony ericsson t600

First Attempt at Mayor unlocked flip phones

Less than a month later, Wednesday, November 25, 1987, Harold Washington, Chicago's first African American mayor, died suddenly in office. Under Illinois State law it fell to the Council to name a successor. The Aldermen caucused along racial lines, and, although one of just two Republican aldermen, Stone caucused with the white aldermen. Stone announcing his candidacy for Mayor to his caucus on Sunday, November 29, 1987 and to the public at a City Hall press conference at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 1, 1987. Few took Stone's candidacy seriously; many saw it as a publicity ploy for his Recorder race. Two days later Alderman Eugene Sawyer was selected to succeed Washington.

Race for Recorder of Deeds

In 1988 Stone ran as a Republican against Democratic Illinois State Representative Carol Moseley Braun, who is black, for Cook County Recorder of Deeds. Stone told reporters he didn't expect their newspapers to endorse him. "Just run a picture of Braun," Stone said. "That's all I ask." Disappointed that few people were focusing on the racial factor in the recorder's election, Stone went for the backlash vote by taking the politically unusual step of featuring Braun's photograph in his own campaign literature. Stone was soundly defeated by Braun and contributed to a sweep of Cook County offices by Democrats.

Second Attempt at Mayor

In 1989 Stone unsuccessfully sought the Republican slating for Mayor of Chicago, to run against Democrat Richard M. Daley. Daley, who is white, succeeded Eugene Sawyer, who is black, as Mayor, and in 1990 Stone returned to the Democratic Party.

More Recent Events

In 2000, Stone apologized for slavery during a debate on slave reparations[citation needed].

In 2003, Stone's son, Jay, launched an unsuccessful attempt to unseat 32nd Ward Alderman Theodore Matlak. Stone publicly supported Matlak, calling his son "an embarrassment" who "doesn't know what he's doing." Despite Jay Stone's overwhelming defeat at the polls, father and son reportedly are still on good terms.

In 2006, Stone voted against an ordinance entitled "AMENDMENT OF TITLE 4 OF MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO BY CREATION OF NEW CHAPTER 404 ENTITLED "LARGE RETAILERS"", popularly known as the "Living Wage Ordinance" or "Big Box Ordinance", a measure supported by organized labor which would have required large retail stores to pay a $10 per hour minimum wage. Weeks later, Stone successfully championed a pay raise for the Chicago City Council which will up each alderman's salary to more than $100,000 per year over the course of the next four years. These two votes were criticized by the Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO).

In March 2007, an area near Stone's office was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti.

Sleeping in Council Chambers

A photograph of Stone asleep in Council Chambers during a hearing on limiting cell phone use while driving ran on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times on January 14, 2004. "Some aldermen have a tendency while they're thinking to close their eyes and that may register with their constituency as not paying attention or, perhaps, even sleeping during the session," Stone later explained. Stone fell asleep at his desk in Council Chambers in City Hall during the City Council's Finance Committee debate on the controversial parking meter lease on December 3, 2008, in full view of the press, and was photographed by the press. Stone was videotaped sleeping during a Finance Committee hearing on transparency of the City's tax increment financing program on March 16, 2009.

Political philosophy

"You take care of the people who take care of you - you know, the people who voted for you," Stone said. "That's not Chicago politics, that's Politics 101."

Committees

Stone serves on seven committees: Budget and Government Operations; Committees, Rules and Ethics; Finance; Historical Landmark Preservation; Housing and Real Estate; Traffic Control and Safety; and Zoning. Alderman Stone also serves as the Chairman of the Building Committee.

Personal life

Stone's favorite foods are Reese's peanut butter cups and bacon.

References

^ Kanady, Johnson (1956-01-19). "FILE PETITIONS OF CARPENTIER AND CHAPMAN :Governor's Papers Expected Today". Chicago Daily Tribune: p. a5. 

^ HOWARD, ROBERT (1956-02-26). "13 DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLE FOR SEATS IN 8TH; Republicans Unopposed, in Primary". Chicago Daily Tribune: p. 10. 

^ HOWARD, ROBERT (1956-04-12). "12 LOSE SEATS IN CONTESTS FOR ASSEMBLY". Chicago Daily Tribune: p. 10. 

^ Quinlan, Jim (1988-05-18). "Ex-legislator Esther Saperstein dies". Chicago Sun-Times. 

^ Dold, R. Bruce; Crawford, Jan (1987-10-30). "ALD. STONE TO RUN FOR RECORDER AS REPUBLICAN". Chicago Tribune: p. 7. 

^ Neal, Steve (1987-10-30). "Ald. Stone joins GOP, plans to run for recorder". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 19. 

^ Herrmann, Andrew (1987-11-01). "Vrdolyak, Stone slated by GOP". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 7. 

^ Fremon, David (1988). Chicago Politics Ward by Ward. Indiana University Press. pp. 343353. ISBN 0253313449. 

^ Neal, Steve (1988-11-08). "Stone's tactics are unlikely to dim Braun's rising star". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 2. 

^ Spielman, Fran (1988-11-10). "Ex-Dems are blamed for GOP county losses". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 12. 

^ Dold, R. Bruce; Seigel, Jessica (1988-12-06). "DALEY? MAYORAL FIELD TRIES TO LOOK AWAY". Chicago Tribune: p. 4. 

^ "The return of the prodigal Stone". Chicago Tribune: p. 14. 1990-12-10. 

^ Joravsky, Ben (2004-05-20). "Stone Rocks the Boat". Chicago Reader. http://www.cantv.org/052004.htm. 

^ "UNFINISHED BUSINESS", Chicago City Council Journal of Proceedings: 8306183070, 2006-07-26, http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/journals/072606meeting/22UnfinishedBusiness/pgs83061-83072.pdf 

^

^ Black, Bob (2004-01-14). "Do you blame him?". Chicago Sun-Times. 

^ Spielman, Fran (2004-01-14). "See Council in action - or at rest - on the Net". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 14. 

^ Arnold, Tony (2008-12-03). "Your Leaders at Work". WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. http://blogs.vocalo.org/tarnold/2008/12/your-leaders-at-work/767. Retrieved 2009-10-31. 

^ "Berny Stone: Your Tax Dollars At Rest". Progress Illinois. 2009-03-17. http://www.progressillinois.com/2009/3/17/berny-stone-sleeps. Retrieved 1009-10-31. 

^ "Ald. Berny Stone "rests his eyes"". YouTube. 2009-03-16. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1i8Byhb3gc. Retrieved 2009-10-31. 

^ Zekman, Pam (2009-10-29). "How Do Aldermen Spend Their 'Piggy Bank' Money? Munoz Accused Of Hoarding Funds For Park While Some Residents Demand Improvements". CBS 2 Chicago. http://cbs2chicago.com/investigations/BGA.2.Investigators.2.1280133.html. Retrieved 2009-10-31. 

^ Newbart, Dave (2007-11-20). "Friends, family and city aldermen turn out to help mark 80th birthday". Chicago Sun-Times. 

External links

Bernard L. Stone political campaign website

The 50th ward's page on the City of Chicago Website

"Committee of One: Berny Stone don need no stinking quorum" Mick Dumke, Chicago Reader, December 15, 2006

"The $75,000 Parking Spot" Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader, April 28, 2006

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Aston Martin

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History

Aston Martin 2-Litre 2/4-Seater Sports 1937

Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The two had joined forces as Bamford & Martin the previous year to sell cars made by Singer from premises in Callow Street, London where they also serviced GWK and Calthorpe vehicles. Martin raced specials at Aston Hill near Aston Clinton, and the pair decided to make their own vehicles. The first car to be named Aston Martin was created by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta-Fraschini. itp tire

They acquired premises at Henniker Place in Kensington and produced their first car in March 1915. Production could not start because of the outbreak of World War I, and Martin joined the Admiralty and Bamford the Royal Army Service Corps. All machinery was sold to the Sopwith Aviation Company. carlisle atv tires

Inter war years overstock warehouse

After the war the company was refounded at Abingdon Road, Kensington and a new car designed to carry the Aston-Martin name. Bamford left in 1920 and the company was revitalised with funding from Count Louis Zborowski. In 1922, Bamford & Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix, and the cars set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands. Three works Team Cars with 16 valve twin cam engines were built for racing and record breaking: chassis number 1914, later developed as the Green Pea; chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade record car; and chassis number 1916, later developed as the Halford Special. Approximately 55 cars were built for sale in two configurations, long chassis and short chassis. The company went bankrupt in 1924 and was bought by Lady Charnwood, who put her son John Benson on the board. The company failed again in 1925 and the factory closed in 1926, with Lionel Martin leaving.

Later that year, Bill Renwick, Augustus (Bert) Bertelli and a number of rich investors, including Lady Charnwood, took control of the company and renamed it Aston Martin Motors, and moved it to the former Whitehead Aircraft Limited works in Feltham. Renwick and Bertelli had been in partnership some years and had developed an overhead cam 4 cylinder engine, using Renwick's patented combustion chamber design, and had tested it in an Enfield Allday chassis. It was the only 'Renwick and Bertelli' motor car made. It was known as 'Buzzbox' and survives to this day.

They had planned to sell this engine to motor manufacturers, but having heard that the Aston Martin car was no longer in production they realised that they could capitalise on the reputation of the Aston Martin name (what we would now call the brand) to give themselves a head start in the production of a completely new car.

Between the years 1926 and 1937 Bertelli was the technical director of Aston Martin, and the designer of all subsequent Aston Martin cars during this period, these being known as the 'Bertelli cars'. They included the 1 1/2 litre 'T-type', the 'International, the 'Le Mans, the 'MKII' its racing derivative the 'Ulster, and the 2 litre 15/98 and its racing derivative the 'Speed Model'.

Mostly open two seater sports cars and mostly bodied by Bert Bertelli's brother Enrico (Harry)a small number of long chassis four seater tourers, dropheads and saloons were also produced.

Bertelli was very keen to race his cars and he was a very competent driver. One of the very few motor manufacturers to actually sit in and race the cars he designed and built, the competition no doubt 'improved the breed' and the 'LM' team cars were very successful in national and international motor racing including at Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.

Financial problems reappeared in 1932 and the company was rescued by L. Prideaux Brune who funded the company for the following year before passing the company on to Sir Arthur Sutherland. In 1936, the company decided to concentrate on road cars. Car production had always been on a small scale and until the advent of World War II halted work only about 700 had been made. During the war years aircraft components were produced.

The David Brown era

1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III

In 1947, David Brown Limited bought the company under the leadership of managing director Sir David Brownts "post-war saviour". David Brown also acquired Lagonda that year, and both companies shared resources and workshops. In 1955, David Brown bought the Tickford coachbuilding company and its site at Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell, and that was the beginning of the classic series of cars bearing the initials "DB". In 1950, the company announced the DB2, followed by the DB2/4 in 1953, the DB2/4 Mk11 in 1955, the DB Mark III in 1957 and the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4 in 1958. All the cars established a good racing pedigree for the firm, but the DB4 was the key to establishing the company's reputation, which was cemented by the famous DB5 in 1963. The company continued developing the "grand touring" style with the DB6 (196570), the DBS.

1970s Changing ownership

Despite the cars' appreciation in value, the company was often financially troubled. In 1972, the company was sold to another company called Company Developments Ltd., backed by a Birmingham-based consortium, and chaired by chartered accountant and company director William Willson, (MBE). The company was resold, following a further bankruptcy event, by the Receiver in 1975 to North American businessmen Peter Sprague and George Minden for 1.05 Million. A successful turn-around strategy led to the recruitment of 360 new employees and, by 1977, a trading profit of 750,000. The new owners pushed the company into modernising its line, producing the V8 Vantage in 1977, the convertible Volante in 1978, and the one-off William Towns-styled Bulldog in 1980. Towns also styled the futuristic new Lagonda saloon, based on the V8 model.

In 1980 Aston-Martin had plans, which did not materialize, to buy MG, which they would have utilized as a sister marque, probably building smaller sports cars. Ideas were plotted to design a new model and they revealed to the press their approach to an 'updated' '1981' model MGB.

The company was badly hit by the economic contraction of the early 1980s as worldwide sales of Aston Martin shrank to three per week and chairman Alan Curtis together with fellow shareholders American Peter Sprague and Canadian George Minden came close to shutting down the production side of the business, to concentrate on service and restoration. At this point Curtis attended the 1980 Pace sponsored Stirling Moss benefit day at Brands Hatch, and met fellow Farnham resident Victor Gauntlett.

1980s Victor Gauntlett

Gauntlett bought a 12.5% stake in Aston Martin for 500,000 via Pace Petroleum in 1980, with Tim Hearley of CH Industrials taking a similar share. Pace and CHI took over as joint 50/50 owners at the beginning of 1981, with Gauntlett as executive chairman. Gauntlett also led the sales team, and after some development and a lot of publicity when it became the world fastest 4-seater production car, was able to sell with success the Aston Martin Lagonda into Persian Gulf states, particularly Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

Understanding it would take some time to develop new Aston Martin products, they bought Tickford to develop automotive products for other companies. Products included a Tickford Austin Metro, a Tickford Ford Capri and even Tickford train interiors, particularly on the Jaguar XJS. Pace continued sponsoring racing events, and now sponsored all Aston Martin Owners Club events, taking a Tickford engined Nimrod Group C car owned by AMOC President Viscount Downe, which came third in the Manufacturers Championship in both 1982 and 1983. It also finished seventh in the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans race. However, sales of production cars were now at an all time low of 30 cars produced in 1982.

As trading became tighter in the petroleum market, and Aston Martin was requiring more time and money, Gauntlett agreed to sell Hays/Pace to the Kuwait Investment Office in September 1983. As Aston Martin required greater investment, he also agreed to sell his share holding to American importer and Greek shipping tycoon Peter Livanos, who invested via his joint venture company with Nick and John Papanicalou, ALL Inc. Gauntlett remained chairman of the AML company 55% owned by ALL, with Tickford a 50/50 venture between ALL and CHI. The uneasy relationship was ended when ALL exercised options to buy a larger share in AML; CHI's residual shares were exchanged for CHI's complete ownership of Tickford, which retained development of existing Aston Martin projects. In 1984, Titan the main shipping company of the Papanicolaou was in trouble, so Livanos's father George bought out the Papanicolaou's shares in ALL, while Gauntlett again became a shareholder with a 25% holding in AML. The deal valued Aston Martin/AML at 2 million, the year it built its 10,000th car.

Although as a result Aston Martin had to make 60 members of the workforce redundant, Gauntlett bought a stake in Italian styling house Zagato, and resurrected its collaboration with Aston Martin.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage from The Living Daylights

In 1986, Gauntlett negotiated the return of fictional British secret agent James Bond to Aston Martin. Cubby Broccoli had chosen to recast the character using actor Timothy Dalton, in an attempt to re-root the Bond-brand back to a more Sean Connery-like feel. Gauntlett supplied his personal pre-production Vantage for use in the filming of "The Living Daylights," and sold a Volante to Broccoli for use at his home in America. Gauntlett turned down the role of a KGB colonel in the film, however: "I would have loved to have done it but really could not afford the time."

Although the company was doing well, Gauntlett knew it needed extra funds to survive in the long term. In May 1987, Gauntlett and Prince Michael of Kent were staying at the home of Contessa Maggi, the wife of the founder of the original Mille Miglia, while watching the revival event. Another house guest was Walter Hayes, vice-President of Ford of Europe. Despite problems over the previous acquisition of AC Cars, Hayes saw the potential of the brand and the discussion resulted in Ford taking a share holding in September 1987. In 1988, having produced some 5,000 cars in 20 years, a revived economy and successful sales of limited edition Vantage, and 52 Volante Zagato coupes at 86,000 each; the company finally retired the ancient V8 and introduced the Virage range - the first new Aston launched in 20 years.

Although Gauntlett was contractually to stay as chairman for two years, his racing interests took Aston back into sports car racing in 1989 with limited European success. However, with engine rule changes for the 1990 season and the launch of the new Aston Martin Volante model, Ford provided the limited supply of Cosworth engines to the Jaguar cars racing team. As the "small Aston" DB7 would require a large engineering input, Ford agreed to take full control of Aston Martin, and Gauntlett handed over the company chairmanship to Hayes in 1991. In 1992, the Vantage version was announced, and the following year the company renewed the DB range by announcing the DB7.

The Ford era

Ford placed Aston in the Premier Automotive Group, substantially invested in new manufacturing and quickly ramped up production. In 1994, Ford opened a new factory at Banbury Road in Bloxham. In 1995, the company produced a record 700 vehicles. Until the Ford era cars had been produced by hand coachbuilding craft methods, such as the English wheel. In 1998 the 2,000th DB7 was built, and in 2002 the 6,000th, exceeding production of all previous DB models. The DB7 range was boosted by the addition of V12 Vantage models in 1999, and in 2001 the company introduced the V12-engine Vanquish.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in 2003, Aston Martin introduced the AMV8 Vantage concept car. Expected to have few changes before its introduction in 2005, the Vantage brought back the classic V8 engine to allow the company to compete in a larger market. 2003 also saw the opening of the Gaydon factory, the first purpose-built factory in Aston Martin's history. Also introduced in 2003 was the DB9 coup, which replaced the ten-year-old DB7. A convertible version of the DB9, the DB9 Volante, was introduced at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. In 2006, the V8 Vantage sports car entered production at the Gaydon factory, joining the DB9 and DB9 Volante.

In December 2003 Aston Martin announced it would return to motor racing in 2005. A new division was created, called Aston Martin Racing, which became responsible, together with Prodrive, for the design, development, and management of the DBR9 program. The DBR9 competes in the GT class in sports car races, including the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Sale by Ford

In 2006, under mounting financial pressure, an internal review of costs and realisable value on investment led Ford to consider divesting itself of parts of its Premier Automotive Group. After suggestions of selling Jaguar Cars, Land Rover or Volvo Cars, Ford appointed UBS AG to sell Aston Martin by auction. At the end of August 2006, Ford announced that it would be willing to sell all or part of Aston Martin. Bill Ford said: "As part of our on going strategic review, we have determined that Aston Martin may be an attractive opportunity to raise capital and generate value".

The first round of the auction closed on 30 November 2006. One of the four survivors was Syrian-born billionaire Simon Halabi, while the Australian bid included James Packer, Australia's second richest man. The German auto newspaper Autobild reported on 2 February 2007 that the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH had bought the company for an undisclosed sum. The paper cited "anonymous, but well-placed sources" with the information. It was later reported by Autocar magazine that LVMH had denied the news as "rubbish".

2007 A new era begins

On 12 March 2007 a consortium led by Prodrive chairman David Richards purchased Aston Martin for 475m/$848m. Prodrive has no financial involvement in the deal. Ford will keep a stake in the company (valued at  40 million / $ 70 million). The consortium also consisted of John Sinders, an Aston Martin collector; and two Kuwaiti investment companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co.

Main article: Asian Highway Network#First Car Crossing

In June - August 2007, the first car crossing of the full extent (East to West) of the new Asian Highway was achieved by Britons Richard Meredith and Phil Colley driving a V8 Vantage. Following the AH1 and the AH5 from Tokyo (the Highway grid furthest point East) to Istanbul (furthest West), they drove a total of 12089km (7512 miles) before joining the European motorway network for another 3259km (2025 miles) to London.

On 19 July 2007 the last car, a Vanquish S, was produced at the Newport Pagnell plant. Nearly 13,000 cars had been made there since 1955. All production was concentrated at Gaydon, with the old premises in Tickford Street remaining in Aston Martin ownership as the restoration and service department.

Aston Martin has also boosted its worldwide appeal by opening more dealers in Europe, as well as branches in China for the first time in its 93 year history in Beijing and Shanghai. This has brought their dealership programme to 120 dealers in 28 countries.

On 1 September 2008, Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda marque. A concept will be shown in 2009, coinciding with the brand's 100th anniversary. The first production cars should come in 2012.

In December 2008, Aston Martin announced that it would cut its 1850 workforce by 600.

2009 Return to Le Mans

In January 2009 it was announced that the company was entering the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours race as a factory team in the prestigious LMP1 division. After competing throughout the 2008 season with a Lola B08/60 LMP1 Coupe under the Charouz Racing banner, Aston Martin will use a slightly modified Lola LMP1 design for their programme. Three Lola-Aston Martins have been entered in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours by Aston Martin but only two have been confirmed with sponsorship. Aston Martin will also compete in the complete Le Mans series with the Lola-Aston Martin LMP cars, starting at Barcelona in early April. The programme got off to an unfortunate start at the pre season Paul Ricard test on March 8 when Tomas Enge destroyed the 007 car in an accident. Aston Martin Racing have subsequently taken delivery of a new Lola to replace the written off chassis.

Aston Martins in film and culture

Tippi Hedren's character in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film "The Birds" drove a silver Aston Martin DB2/4 drophead coupe (convertible).

Author Ian Fleming gave his James Bond hero a DB III in the seventh novel, Goldfinger. A long association between 007 and the marque began on screen with the silver DB5 that appears in Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965). This was James Bond's company car, and in GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) appeared to have become his private car. In On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) a metallic-green DBS appears at the beginning and end of the movie. After an interlude with Lotus, Aston Martins were again used: a charcoal-grey V8 Volante and Vantage in The Living Daylights (1987). After switching to BMW for several films, the Vanquish appeared in Die Another Day (2002). In Casino Royale (2006), James Bond drives both the classic DB5 which becomes his personal vehicle after winning a poker game, and the new DBS which is revealed to be his new company car in Quantum of Solace (released in cinemas on October 31 2008).

A silver/grey convertible DB4 was driven by Michael Caine's character in the original 1969 version of The Italian Job.

A Bahama Yellow Aston Martin DBS is driven by Sir Roger Moore in the 1971 TV series The Persuaders!. A DBS V8 was to be used in the series, however no V8 car was ready, so a six-cylinder DBS was modified to look like a V8 for use in the show.

Models

1967 - 1989 DBS and later V8s

2001 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage

2004 Aston Martin DB9 coup

DB AR1 roadster

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

2003 DB7 Zagato (coup) and (roadster)

2006 Aston Martin DB9 Volante (convertible)

2007 V8 Vantage

Aston Martin's model naming can be confusing to the uninitiated. In general, high performance models use the Vantage name, while convertibles are called Volante. The current V8 and V12 Vantage series is an exception to this however, as it is a range of its own rather than a higher performance version of another car.

Pre-war cars

1921-1925 Aston Martin Standard Sports

1927-1932 Aston Martin First Series

1929-1932 Aston Martin International

1932-1932 Aston Martin International Le Mans

1932-1934 Aston Martin Le Mans

1933-1934 Aston Martin 12/50 Standard

1934-1936 Aston Martin Mk II

1934-1936 Aston Martin Ulster

1936-1940 Aston Martin 2 litre Speed Models (23 built) The last 8 were fitted with C-type bodywork

1937-1939 Aston Martin 15/98

Post-war Sports and GT cars

19481950 Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports (DB1)

19501953 Aston Martin DB2

19531957 Aston Martin DB2/4

19571959 Aston Martin DB Mark III

19581963 Aston Martin DB4

19611963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato

19631965 Aston Martin DB5

19651966 Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante

19651969 Aston Martin DB6

19671972 Aston Martin DBS

19691989 Aston Martin V8

19771989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

19861990 Aston Martin V8 Zagato

19892000 Aston Martin Virage

19891996 Aston Martin Virage/Virage Volante

19932000 Aston Martin Vantage

19962000 Aston Martin V8 Coupe/V8 Volante

19932003 Aston Martin DB7/DB7 Vantage

20022004 Aston Martin DB AR1

20012007 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

20042007 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S

2004 Aston Martin DB9

2005 Aston Martin V8 and V12 Vantage

2007 Aston Martin DBS V12

2009 Aston Martin One-77

Other

1944 Aston Martin Atom (concept)

19611964 Lagonda Rapide

19761989 Aston Martin Lagonda

1980 Aston Martin Bulldog (concept)

1993 Lagonda Vignale (concept)

2008 Aston Martin Rapide

2007 Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS (concept)

2008 Aston Martin Vanquish S

Current models

V8 Vantage, V8 Vantage Roadster & V12 Vantage

Aston Martin DB9 & DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DBS V12 & DBS Volante

Future models

Rapide - Addition to the range in 2009 - a long, 4-seater Grand Tourer

Cygnet, based on the Toyota iQ.

Race cars

Aston Martin's 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans winning DBR1.

A Group C Nimrod NRA/C2 which used Aston Martin's V8 engines in the 1980s.

Part of Aston Martin's current racing program, Charouz Racing System competes with sports prototype powered by an Aston Martin V12

See also: List of Formula One constructors, Aston Martin Racing

Whole race cars (post-war)

Aston Martin DB3 (1950-1953)

Aston Martin DB3S (1953-1956)

Aston Martin DBR1 (1956-1959)

Aston Martin DBR2 (1957-1958)

Aston Martin DBR3 (1958)

Aston Martin DBR4 (1959)

Aston Martin DBR5 (1960)

Aston Martin DP212 (1962)

Aston Martin DP214 (1963)

Aston Martin DP215 (1963)

Aston Martin RHAM/1 (1976-1979)

Aston Martin AMR1 (1989)

Aston Martin AMR2 (never raced)

Aston Martin DBR9 (2005-)

Aston Martin DBRS9 (2005-)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 (2006-)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Rally GT (2006-)

Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 (2008-)

Aston Martin DBR1-2 (2009-)

Engine supply only

Cooper-Aston Martin (1963)

Lola T70-Aston Martin (1967)

Nimrod NRA/C2-Aston Martin (1982-1984)

EMKA C84/1-Aston Martin (1984-1985)

Cheetah G604-Aston Martin

Lola B08/60-Aston Martin (2008-)

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year

Chassis

Engine

Tyres

Driver

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Points

WCC

1959

Aston Martin DBR4

Aston Martin L6

 ?

MON

500

NED

FRA

GBR

GER

POR

ITA

USA

0

5th

Roy Salvadori

Ret

6

6

Ret

Carroll Shelby

Ret

Ret

8

10

1960

Aston Martin DBR4

Aston Martin DBR5

Aston Martin L6

 ?

ARG

MON

500

NED

BEL

FRA

GBR

POR

ITA

USA

0

8th

Roy Salvadori

DNP

Ret

Maurice Trintignant

11

See also

Aston Martin Owners Club

Notes

^ "The Company - News". Aston Martin. 2007-03-12. http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompany/news?a=1a77ab65-8f1a-4793-b988-6fc0f2882719. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 

^ "Aston Martin - The Company - History Timeline". http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecompany/historytimeline. Retrieved 2008-05-07. 

^ BBC News Article

^ "Deal worth $925 million; Al DAR investment Kuwaiti company and ADEEM investment company cash for Aston Martin turnaround". ADEEM Investment Company. http://www.adeeminv.com/news4.html. Retrieved 2008-01-03. 

^ Lionel Walker Birch Martin (1878 14 October, 1945) was a Cornishman

^ "Aston Martin: Car Manufacturer: Great British Design Quest". Design Museum. http://www.designmuseum.org/design/aston-martin. 

^ "ASTON MARTIN 1914 - 2005". http://www.speedace.info/aston_martin.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-15. 

^ "News and Comment: Aston Martin changes hands". Autocar 136 (nbr 3960): 2. date 9 March 1972. 

^ a b "The Aston Miracle". Car Magazine: pages 35 - 362. date September 1978. 

^ a b c d "Obituary: Victor Gauntlett". Independent, The (London). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030409/ai_n12682539. Retrieved 2008-02-03. 

^ TLD - Press (Allies/MI6) - thegoldengun.co.uk

^ ClassicInside - The ClassicDriver Newsletter

^ Keeping the best of British running - smh.com.au

^ motorauthority.com

^ Pfeifer, Sylvia (2006-11-05). "Private equity groups revving up bids for Aston Martin". Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/11/05/cnaston05.xml. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 

^ Syrian in last four for Aston Martin - Times Online

^ Packer sets his cap at Aston Martin - Telegraph

^ 00-Heaven! Bond's Car British Again |Sky News|Home

^ Prodrive (2007-03-12). "David Richards heads consortium to buy Aston Martin". Press release. http://www.prodrive.com/p_releases.html?id=98. 

^ From Newport Pagnell to Gaydon. The Automobile. November 2007. 

^ "Aston Martin News - Aston Martin arrives in China". http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecompany/news?a=a7e62136-48fa-487b-8065-fe2a12e60af1. 

^ "Aston Martin News - Aston Martin CEO confirms the revival of the Lagonda Marque". http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompany/news?a=007b120b-8120-4ad9-80f9-60da21ed0c01. 

^ "England | Third of jobs go at Aston Martin". BBC News. 2008-12-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7759239.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-29. 

^ "What economic downturn? Aston Martin unveils new supercar". PopSci.com.au. 2009-01-30. http://www.popsci.com.au/cars/article/2009-01/what-economic-downturn-aston-martin-unveils-new-supercar. Retrieved 2009-01-30. 

^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056869/trivia

^ "Ten-Foot Aston Martin Cygnet Gets 50 MPG, Plays Sidecar to Your DBS". PopSci.com.au. 2009-07-01. http://www.popsci.com.au/cars/article/2009-06/ten-foot-car-gets-50mpg-costs-32000. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aston Martin vehicles

Aston Martin - Official Aston Martin Site

Aston Martin Racing - Official Company Site

Aston Martin Owners Club- Official Aston Martin Owners Club

v  d  e

The British car industry companies & marques

marque

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Limited

Rolls-Royce Limited & Bentley

Rolls-Royce Motors

Rolls-Royce Motors (Vickers)

BMW & VW Group

BMW

Bentley

Bentley

Volkswagen Group

Armstrong Siddeley

Siddeley-Deasy

Armstrong Whitworth

Armstrong Siddeley

Bristol Siddeley

Rolls-Royce Limited

Rolls-Royce plc

Aston Martin

Aston Martin

Aston Martin Lagonda

PAG (Ford)

Aston Martin Lagonda

Lagonda

Lagonda

Jaguar

SS Cars

Jaguar

Jaguar

&

Daimler

BMH

British Leyland

Jaguar

&

Daimler

PAG (Ford)

Tata

Daimler

Daimler

BSA

BSA

Lanchester

Lanchester

Rover

Rover

Rover

Rover

Austin Rover Group

&

Land Rover Group (BL plc)

Rover Group (BAe)

Rover Group

(BMW)

MG & Rover (BMW)

Land Rover

PAG (Ford)

Alvis

Alvis

BAE Systems

Standard

Standard

Standard Triumph

Leyland Motors

British Motor Heritage

Triumph

Dawson

Triumph

BMW

Riley

Riley

Nuffield Organisation

BMC

BMH

MG

Morris Garages (MG)

Rover Group

(BMW)

MG Rover Group (Phoenix)

SAIC

+

NAC

SAIC

Morris

Morris

Morris

Wolseley

Wolseley

Austin

Austin

Austin

Vanden Plas

Vanden Plas

Mini

Mini (BMW)

Austin-Healey

Austin (BMC) & Donald Healey

Jensen

Jensen Motors

Britcar Holdings

Jensen Cars

Reliant

Reliant

Reliant

Bond

Bond

AC

AC Cars (several ownership & company name changes)

Argyll

Argyll

Argyll

Bristol Cars

Bristol Cars

Caterham

Caterham

Crossley

Crossley

Dutton

Dutton

Dutton

Ginetta

Ginetta

Gordon-Keeble

Peerless & Warwick

Gordon-Keeble

Jowett

Jowett

Blackburn

Lea-Francis

Lea-Francis

Lotus

Lotus

General Motors Europe

Proton

McLaren

McLaren

Marcos

Marcos

Marcos

Marcos

Morgan

Morgan

Napier

Napier

Turner

Turner

TVR

TVR

Westfield

Westfield

Potenza Sports Cars

GTM

GTM

Vauxhall

Vauxhall Motors

General Motors

General Motors Europe

Vulcan

Vulcan

Hillman

Hillman

Humber

Rootes

Chrysler Europe (Chrysler)

Peugeot (PSA)

Humber

Humber

Singer

Singer

Rootes

Sunbeam

Sunbeam

Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq

Rootes

(as Sunbeam-Talbot) Rootes

Rootes

Talbot

Talbot

marque

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

v  d  e

Aston Martin and Lagonda road car timeline, 1948resent

Type

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Grand tourer

DB1

DB2

DB2/4

DB Mk III

DBS/Vantage

DB7 I6

V8 Vantage

DB4

DB5

DB6

V8

Virage/V8

DB7 Vantage

DB9

SWB

V8 Vantage

V8 Vantage

V12 Vanquish

DBS V12

Limited Run

Zagato

Zagato

Zagato

AR1

One-77

4-door

2.6-Litre

3-Litre

Rapide

Lagonda

Rapide

Owner

David Brown Limited

William Wilson

Sprague & Minden

Pace Petroleum & Gauntlett

Gauntlett & Livanos

Gauntlett, Livanos & Ford

Ford

Richards, Sinders, Dar, Adeem

v  d  e

Aston Martin sportscar racers (1951resent)

Sports prototypes

19511959

DB3  DB3S  DBR1  DBR2  DBR3

1967

T70 (Lola)

19821989

NRA/C2 (Nimrod)  C83 (EMKA)  AMR1

2008ow

B08/60 (Lola)  DBR1-2 (Lola)

Grand tourers

19621964

DP212  DP214  DP215

19771979

RHAM/1

2005ow

DBR9  DBRS9  V8 Vantage N24  V8 Vantage GT2

v  d  e

Formula One constructors

 

Current constructors (2010)

McLaren  Mercedes  Red Bull  Ferrari  Williams  Renault  Force India  Toro Rosso  Lotus  Hispania  Sauber  Virgin

 

Former constructors

AFM  AGS  Alfa Romeo  Alta  Amon  Andrea Moda  Apollon  Arrows  Arzani-Volpini  Aston-Butterworth  Aston Martin  ATS (Italy)  ATS (Germany)  BAR  Behra-Porsche  Bellasi  Benetton  BMW Sauber  Boro  Brabham  Brawn  BRM  BRP  Bugatti  Cisitalia  Coloni  Connaught  Connew  Cooper  Cosworth  Dallara  De Tomaso  Delahaye  Derrington-Francis  Eagle  Eifelland  Emeryson  EMW  ENB  Ensign  ERA  EuroBrun  Ferguson  FIRST  Fittipaldi  Fondmetal  Footwork  Forti  Frazer Nash  Fry  Gilby  Gordini  Greifzu  Haas/Lola  Hesketh  Hill  HWM  Honda  Jaguar  JBW  Jordan  Kauhsen  Klenk  Kojima  Kurtis Kraft  Lancia  Larrousse  LDS  LEC  Leyton House  Life  Ligier  Lola  Lotus (Team Lotus)  Lyncar  Maki  March  Martini  Maserati  Matra  McGuire  Merzario  Midland  Milano  Minardi  Modena  Onyx  OSCA  Osella  Pacific  Parnelli  Penske  Porsche  Prost  RAM  RE  Rebaque  Reynard  Rial  Scarab  Scirocco  Shadow  Shannon  Simtek  Spirit  Spyker  Stebro  Stewart  Super Aguri  Surtees  Talbot  Talbot-Lago  Tec-Mec  Tecno  Theodore  Token  Toleman  Toyota  Trojan  Tyrrell  Vanwall  Veritas  Williams (FWRC)  Wolf  Zakspeed

Although World Championship races held in 1952 and 1953 were run to Formula Two regulations, constructors who only participated during this period are included herein to maintain Championship continuity. Constructors whose only participation in the World Championship was in the Indianapolis 500 races between 1950 and 1960 are not listed.

v  d  e

Selected Royal Warrant holders of the British Royal Family

By Appointment to

HM The Queen

Abels Moving Services  Angostura Limited  AkzoNobel  Atco  Autoglym  Bendicks  Bentley  Bollinger  Britvic  BT  Burberry  Cadbury  Carphone Warehouse  Carr's  Castrol  Charbonnel et Walker  Cornelia James  DHL Express  Dollond & Aitchison  Ede and Ravenscroft  Ford Motor Company  Frank Smythson  Gieves & Hawkes  H. P. Bulmer  J. Barbour and Sons  James Purdey and Sons  Jaguar Cars  John Lewis  John Lewis Reading  John Lobb  Jones Yarrell & Co.  Schweppes  Launer London Ltd  Land Rover  MG Rover  Mappin and Webb  Martini & Rossi  Mr Steeds  Nestl  Roger Pope and Partners  Roberts Radio  Ryvita  Scottish & Newcastle  Spode  Steinway & Sons  Tanqueray  Twinings  Waitrose  Weetabix  William Drake  Windsorian Coach  Worcestershire Medal Service  Vauxhall Motors

By Appointment to

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Dollond & Aitchison  Ede and Ravenscroft  Frank Smythson  Gieves & Hawkes  Hatchards  Holland & Holland  James Purdey and Sons  John Lobb  Land Rover  Lyle & Scott  Penhaligon's  Truefitt & Hill

By Appointment to

HRH The Prince of Wales

Aston Martin  Atco  Autoglym  Bentley  Burberry  Crabtree & Evelyn  Ede and Ravenscroft  Ford Motor Company  Frank Smythson  Gieves & Hawkes  Holland & Holland  Jaguar Cars  James Purdey and Sons  John Lobb  Land Rover  Laphroaig  Linn Products  MG Rover  Penhaligon's  Peter Jones  Ritz Hotel  Roberts Radio  Shepherd Neame  Turnbull & Asser  Twinings  Vauxhall  Weetabix  Winsor & Newton

Categories: Royal Warrant Holders | Aston Martin | Sports car manufacturers | Motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom | British brands | Formula One constructors | Formula One entrants | 24 Hours of Le Mans entrants | World Sportscar Championship entrants | British auto racing teams | British racecar constructors | Car manufacturers | Companies based in the West Midlands

Birmingham Mint

China Suppliers


Ralph Heaton II

Ralph Heaton II (1794-October 1862) was the son of Ralph Heaton I, an engineer, inventor and businessman in Slaney Street, and later Shadwell Street. Ralph Heaton II was a die sinker operating in Shadwell Street independently of his father. On 2 December 1817 Ralph I conveyed to his son land and buildings at 71 Bath Street to enable him to develop a separate company. Ralph II engaged in brass founding, stamping and piercing. Brass chandeliers were made for the newly invented gas lighting and a "bats wing" burner patented.

Mint electric baseboard thermostat

On 1 April 1850 the auction was announced of equipment from the defunct Soho Mint, created by Matthew Boulton around 1788. At the auction on 29 April Ralph Heaton II bought the four steam-powered screw presses and six planchet presses for making blanks from strip metal. These were installed at the Bath Street works, and in that year trade tokens were struck for use in Australia. In 1851 coins were struck for Chile using the letter H as a mintmark. The same year copper planchets were made for the Royal Mint to make into pennies, halfpennies, farthings, half-farthings and quarter-farthings. In 1852 the Mint won a contract to produce a new series of coins for France. In this the Mint pioneered the minting of bronze. Ralph Heaton III (son of Ralph II) took key workers to Marseilles to equip and operate the French mint there, staying to fulfil the contract, and producing 750 tons of Napoleon III bronze coins from 1853-7. radiant heat floor mat

In 1853 the Royal Mint was overwhelmed with producing silver and gold coins. The Birmingham Mint won its first contract to strike finished coins for Britain 500 tons of copper, struck between August 1853 and August 1855, with another contract to follow in 1856. These coins had no mint mark to identify them as from Birmingham. During the peak of operation the four original Boulton screw presses were striking about 110,000 coins per day. quiet exhaust fan

As overseas orders increased, particularly for India, the Mint added a new lever press and further equipment, filling the Bath Street premises. In 1860 the firm bought a 1-acre (4,000 m2) plot on Icknield Street (the current site, since enlarged) and constructed a three storey red brick factory. Completed in 1862 it employed 300 staff. It was at this time the largest private mint in the world. In 1861 a contract for bronze coins for the newly unified Italy was signed, the Mint sending blanks and equipment to Milan to be struck into finished coins by their staff in Milan.

Ralph Heaton III

On the death of Ralph II in 1862, Ralph III (1827-10 November 1891) took over the running of Ralph Heaton & Sons. He added eleven lever presses, made on site, retiring the last of Boulton's screw presses in 1882. In addition to the production of coins and blanks the firm manufactured metal parts for ammunition, gas fittings, medals, ornaments, plumbing fittings, rolled and strip metal, tube and wire.

In 1871 the first order for silver coinage was for Canada, and in 1874 the first gold was struck - Burgersponds for the new South African Republic 837 pieces.

Following parliamentary approval in 1881 to upgrade the Royal Mint, the firm provided ten lever presses and a cutting-out press, effectively depriving itself of coining contracts from the Royal Mint for some time.

Shortly before his death, Ralph III converted the family business into a public limited liability company, passing control on 22 March 1889 to the new company named The Mint, Birmingham, Limited. The agreement paid 110,000 to Heaton with 10,000 worth of copper. In addition 2,000 annual rent for the Mint property would be paid, and his son, Ralph IV would be general manager, his other sons Gerald and Walter would have senior positions, and he, Ralph III, would remain as a director. He died two years later.

Ralph Heaton IV

Almost immediately his son, Ralph IV, was elected Managing Director by the board. Between 1896 and 1898 the Mint struck all of Russia's copper coins (over 110,000,000 coins per year).

During the First World War the Mint produced strip brass and copper tubing for munitions.

Orders for colonial coins, blanks and bar metal were a steady source of business until, in 1912, an order for 16.8 million bronze coins for Britain, and in 1918 and 1919, further orders for 7.1 million pence saw the mint striking coins for the home market. British penny coins minted by Heaton and dated 1912 can be identified by a very small upper case letter 'H' appearing alongside the date: many of these coins were removed from circulation by collectors during or before the decade preceding February 1971. However, also in 1912, the Mint saw its first competition as the Kings Norton Metal Company was also contracted to supply bronze blanks to the Royal Mint, and in 1914 struck coins for the colonies. Kings Norton became part of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1926 and was reorganised as part of Imperial Metal Industries Limited (IMI) in 1962.

Ralph IV retired in 1920. His successor was his brother in law, W. E. Bromet. Heaton's son Ralph V joined the firm in 1922 on the commercial part of the business, eventually rising to the position of company secretary.

Depression

In 1923 the almost monopoly position of the Mint as supplier to foreign (non-empire) countries was lost as the Royal Mint was given permission to supply to the world market, although the Mint continued to supply the Royal Mint. During The Depression profits were minute and after shareholder revolt the Mint was taken out of the hands of the Heaton family in May 1935. From this time the production of coins became a small part of the overall business of non-ferrous metal sheet and tube production. Coinage accounted for 10-20% of the business from 1940-64. World War II again demanded quantities of brass sheet and copper tube for ammunition and aluminium-brass cylinder linings for Rolls-Royce aeroplane engines. Bomb damage and the effects of continuous production for the war left the factory run-down. It was unable to supply new minting machinery to the Royal Mint in 1948, but did provide the necessary drawings.

Maria Theresa thaler

In 1949 the Mint produced an edition of the Maria Theresa thaler, a silver "trade dollar" widely used in the Middle East and previously minted by the Vienna Mint, or later, the Rome Mint. Further mintings were in 1953, 1954 and 1955.

1950s

By 1953, coins accounted for only 5% of the business. A major product was copper tubing and fittings for the building industry, supplied under the MBL trade mark. Medals, slot machine tokens and gambling tokens were produced.

1960s onwards

In 1965 a consortium of the Mint, the Royal Mint and IMI achieved a growth in the export market. The Mint expanded to an adjacent site in 1967 but a reduction I orders from the Royal mint immediately followed, apart from a large order for 1680 tons of bronze half-pence blanks and 466 tons of cupro-nickel 10 pence blanks were supplied to the Royal Mint for the decimalization coins in 1968-71.

Business reorganisations saw the sale in 1975 of the copper pipe business and a reinvestment in new coining machinery with continuous casting techniques.

In addition to manufacturing coins, the Birmingham Mint also produced proof medals and tokens for vending machines. They also produced and named Long Service & Good Conduct medals for West Midlands Fire Service.

Decline

In later years, the plant became increasingly busy with the introduction of the Euro within the European Union; the mint produced several million 1 and 2 coins. However, a slump in trade and contractual agreements between them and the Royal Mint resulted in the sale of the mint in late 2003. The Mint was acquired by JFT Law & Co Limited who still produce and sell commemorative coins and medals from a website. Substantial parts of the plant and machinery were subsequently purchased by an Indian company, Lord's Security Mint Limited. The Pobjoy Mint purchased the newest high speed presses plus new tooling.

Most of the complex, excluding the Icknield Street block and the rear, retaining, wall, was demolished in April 2007. The faade is grade II listed.

Redevelopment

After being purchased by George Wimpey, planning consent was given for a large mixed use residential and commercial scheme. However the project was deferred due to the downturn in the wider economic climate, and it was later sold on in January 2007 to Junared Property Group.

Construction of scheme commenced in early 2007 with the intention to be complete by spring 2009. Unfortuately Junared Property Group ceased construction in December 2008 after funding was withdrawn by HBOS before lapsing into administration in February 2009.

See also

History of the British penny (1901-1970)

Further reading

Sweeny, James O. (1981). A Numismatic History of the Birmingham Mint. Birmingham: The Birmingham Mint Ltd,. ISBN 0-9507594-0-6. 

External links

The Birmingham Mint Website

Junared Property Group - Redevelopment of the Mint

A site on attractions in Birmingham

Images of England details from listed building database (217321)

British Coins - Free information about British coins. Includes an online forum.

Coordinates: 522917 15458 / 52.488N 1.916W / 52.488; -1.916

v  d  e

Mints in the United Kingdom

Birmingham Mint Pobjoy Mint Royal Mint Soho Mint The Tower Mint

Categories: Companies established in 1850 | Companies based in Birmingham, England | Mints of the United Kingdom | History of Birmingham, England | Buildings and structures in Birmingham, England

Remanufacturing

China Suppliers


Remanufacturing without identity loss

With this method, a current machine is built on yesterday base, receiving all of the enhancements, expected life and warranty of a new machine. The physical structure (the chassis or frame) is inspected for soundness. The whole product is refurbished and critical modules are overhauled, upgraded or replaced. If there are defects in the original design, they are eliminated. This is the case for customized remanufacturing of machine tools, airplanes, computer mainframes, large medical equipment and other capital goods. Because of its uniqueness, this product recovery is characterized as a project.

Repetitive remanufacturing without identity loss canon clc 900

In this method, there is the additional challenge of scheduling the sequence of dependent processes and identifying the location of inventory buffers. There is a fine line between repetitive remanufacturing without loss of identity and product overhaul. Again, the critical difference is that remanufacturing is a complete process. The final output has a like-new appearance and is covered by a warranty comparable to that of a new product. ricoh color copier

Remanufacturing with loss of original product identity canon copier parts

With this method, used goods are disassembled into pre-determined components and repaired to stock, ready to be reassembled into a remanufactured product. This is the case when remanufacturing automobile components, photocopiers, toner cartridges, furniture, ready-to-use cameras and personal computers. Once the product is disassembled and the parts are recovered, the process concludes with an operation not too different from original manufacturing. Disassembled parts are inventoried, just like purchased parts and made available for final assembly.

Remanufacturing with loss of original product identity encompasses some unique challenges in inventory management and disassembly sequence development. Some of the open questions relate to the commonality of parts in products of different generations, the uncertainty in the supply of used products, and their relationship with production planning. The National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery (NCR3) at Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) is researching remanufacturing processes including testing standards for remanufactured products.

Rebuilding

Rebuilding is an old name for remanufacturing. It is still widely used by automotive industry. For example, the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA), have the new term in their name, but to be safe on their own website use the combined term as 'rebuild/remanufacture'.

The term 'rebuilding' is also often used by railway companies. For example, a steam locomotive may be rebuilt with a new boiler or a diesel locomotive may be rebuilt with a new engine. This saves money (by re-using the frame, and some other components, which still have years of useful life) and allows the incorporation of improved technology. For example, a new diesel engine may have lower fuel consumption, reduced exhaust emissions and better reliability. Recent examples include British Rail Class 57 and British Rail Class 43.

See also

Recycling

Reuse

Lund, R., Remanufacturing: an American resource, Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress Environmentally Conscious Design and Manufacturing, June 16 and 17, 1998, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA.

ProgRama, remanufacturer of automotive electronics

Winona Van Norman Engine Rebuilding Equipment Manufacturer

Categories: Production and manufacturing | Design for XHidden categories: Articles lacking sources from May 2008 | All articles lacking sources

General Electric

China Suppliers


History

Formation

By 1890, Thomas Edison had brought together several of his business interests under one corporation to form Edison General Electric. At about the same time, Thomson-Houston Company, under the leadership of Charles A. Coffin, gained access to a number of key patents through the acquisition of a number of competitors. Subsequently, General Electric was formed by the 1892 merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston Company. residential wind generator

Public company vertical wind generator

In 1896, General Electric was one of the original 12 companies listed on the newly-formed Dow Jones Industrial Average and still remains after 113 years, the only one remaining on the Dow (though it has not continuously been in the DOW index). vertical axis wind turbines

23 Ton diesel electric locomotive made at the General Electric Corp. plant in Schenectady, N.Y.

In 1911 the National Electric Lamp Association (NELA) was absorbed into General Electric's existing lighting business. GE then established its lighting division headquarters at Nela Park in East Cleveland, Ohio. Nela Park is still the headquarters for GE's lighting business.

RCA

The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was founded by GE in 1919 to further international radio. GE used RCA as its retail arm for radio sales from 1919, when GE began production, until separation in 1930. RCA would quickly grow into an industrial giant of its own.

Power generation

GE's long history of working with turbines in the power generation field gave them the engineering know-how to move into the new field of aircraft turbosuperchargers. Led by Sanford Moss, GE introduced the first superchargers during WWI, and continued to develop them during the Interwar period. They became indispensable in the years immediately prior to WWII, and GE was the world leader in exhaust-driven supercharging when the war started. This experience, in turn, made GE a natural selection to develop the Whittle W.1 jet engine that was demonstrated in the US in 1941. Although their early work with Whittle's designs was later handed to Allison Engine Company, GE Aviation emerged as one of the world's largest engine manufacturers second only to the well founded, and older, British company; Rolls-Royce plc, who led the way in innovative, reliable, and efficient high performance heavy duty jet engine design and manufacture.

Computing

GE was one of the eight major computer companies through all of the 1960s with IBM, the largest, called "Snow White" followed by the "Seven Dwarfs": Burroughs, NCR, Control Data Corporation, Honeywell, RCA, UNIVAC and GE. GE had an extensive line of general purpose and special purpose computers. Among them were the GE 200, GE 400, and GE 600 series general purpose computers, the GE 4010, GE 4020, and GE 4060 real time process control computers, and the Datanet 30 message switching computer. A Datanet 600 computer was designed, but never sold. It has been said that GE got into computer manufacturing because in the 1950s they were the largest user of computers outside of the United States federal government. In 1970 GE sold its computer division to Honeywell. This group, including Burroughs, UNIVAC, NCR, Control Data Corporation and Honeywell, were usually, within the industry itself, referred to as the "BUNCH", not as the "Seven Dwarfs".[citation needed]

Acquisitions

This section needs additional citations for verification.

Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

In 1986 GE reacquired RCA, primarily for the NBC television network. The remainder was sold to various companies, including Bertelsmann and Thomson SA. (Bertelsmann acquired RCA Records.)

In 2002 Francisco Partners and Norwest Venture Partners acquired a division of GE called GE Information Systems (GEIS). The new company, named GXS, is based in Gaithersburg, MD. GXS is a leading provider of B2B e-Commerce solutions. GE maintains a minority ownership position in GXS.

In 2004 GE bought 80% of Universal Pictures from Vivendi and Vivendi bought 20% NBC forming the company NBC Universal. GE then owned 80% of NBC Universal and Vivendi owned 20%.

In 2004 GE completed the spin-off of most of its mortgage and life insurance assets into an independent company, Genworth Financial, based in Richmond, Virginia.

Genpact formerly known as GE Capital International Services (GECIS) was established by GE in late 1997 as its captive India based BPO. GE sold 60% stake in Genpact to General Atlantic and Oak Hill Capital Partners in 2005 and hived off Genpact into an independent business. GE is still a major client to Genpact getting its services in customer service, finance, information technology and analytics.

In May 2008, GE announced it was exploring options for divesting the bulk of its Consumer and Industrial business.

For a complete list of acquisitions and divestitures, see General Electric timeline.

General Electric's Schenectady, New York facilities (including GE's original headquarters) are assigned the ZIP code 12345. (All Schenectady ZIP codes begin with 123, but no others begin with 1234.)

On December 3, 2009, it was announced that NBC Universal will become a joint venture between GE and cable TV operator Comcast. The cable giant will hold a controlling interest in the company, while GE retains a 49% stake and will buy out shares currently owned by Vivendi.

Vivendi will sell its 20% stake in NBC Universal to GE for US$5.8 billion. Vivendi will sell 7.66% of NBC Universal to GE for US$2 billion if the GE/Comcast deal is not completed by September 2010 and then sell the remaining 12.34% stake of NBC Universal to GE for US$3.8 billion when the deal is completed or to the public via an IPO if the deal is not completed.

On 01, March, 2010, General Electric (GE) is announced that company is planing to sell its 20.85 per cent stake in Turkey-based Garanti Bank.

Corporate affairs

Classic GE neon sign

GE is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut. Its New York main offices are located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Rockefeller Center, known as the GE Building for the prominent GE logo on the roof. NBC's headquarters and main studios are also located in the building. Through its RCA subsidiary, it has been associated with the Center since its construction in the 1930s.

The company describes itself as composed of a number of primary business units or "businesses." Each unit is itself a vast enterprise, many of which would, even as a standalone company, rank in the Fortune 500[citation needed]. The list of GE businesses varies over time as the result of acquisitions, divestitures and reorganizations. GE's tax return is the largest return filed in the United States; the 2005 return was approximately 24,000 pages when printed out, and 237 megabytes when submitted electronically.

In 2005 GE launched its "Ecomagination" initiative in an attempt to position itself as a "green" company. GE is currently one of the biggest players in the wind power industry, and it is also developing new environment-friendly products such as hybrid locomotives, desalination and water reuse solutions, and photovoltaic cells. The company has set goals for its subsidiaries to lower their greenhouse gas emissions.

On May 21, 2007, GE announced it would sell its GE Plastics division to petrochemicals manufacturer SABIC for net proceeds of $11.6 billion. The transaction took place on August 31, 2007, and the company name changed to SABIC Innovative Plastics, with Brian Gladden as CEO.

CEO

Main article: Jeffrey Immelt

Jeffrey Immelt is the current chairman of the board and chief executive officer of GE. He was selected by GE's Board of Directors in 2000 to replace John Francis Welch Jr. (Jack Welch) following his retirement. Previously, Immelt had headed GE's Medical Systems division (now GE Healthcare) as its President and CEO. He has been with GE since 1982 and is on the board of two non-profit organizations.

His tenure as the Chairman and CEO started at a time of crisis he took over the role on September 7, 2001 four days before the terrorist attacks on the United States, which killed two employees and cost GE's insurance business $600 million as well as having a direct effect on the company's Aircraft Engines sector. Immelt has also been selected as one of President Obama's financial advisors concerning the economic rescue plan.

Brand

GE has the fourth most recognized brand in the world, worth almost $48 billion.

CEO Jeffrey Immelt had a set of changes in the presentation of the brand commissioned in 2004, after he took the reins as chairman, to unify the diversified businesses of GE. The changes included a new corporate color palette, small modifications to the GE Logo, a new customized font (GE Inspira), and a new slogan, "imagination at work" replacing the longtime slogan "we bring good things to life", composed by David Lucas. The standard requires many headlines to be lowercased and adds visual "white space" to documents and advertising to promote an open and approachable company. The changes were designed by Wolff Olins and are used extensively on GE's marketing, literature and website.

The value of the brand is reinforced by ownership of the two letter domain ge.com. Among the millions of domain names that exist today GE.com is the 20th domain to have been registered on August 5, 1986. GE is one of the few corporations worldwide to own a two letter domain name. The brand is also reflected by the GE New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol.

The original GE logo, trademarked at the USPTO, and used by General Electric

The U.S. trademark for "GE" was first filed on July 24, 1899. The description for GE provided to the USPTO in their filing was, "dynamo-electric machines, induction devices, electric translating devices, electric lamps, electric measuring instruments, electric protective devices, switchboards appliances, wiring devices, and supplies." Their application indicates that the GE trademark was continuously used in their business since May, 1899. Trademark registration date for GE was September 9, 1900.

Businesses

Main article: List of assets owned by General Electric

GE's divisions include GE Capital (including GE Commercial Finance and GE Money and GE Consumer Finance), GE Technology Infrastructure (including GE Aviation,the former Smiths Aerospace and GE Healthcare), GE Energy Infrastructure (including GE Energy Financial Services), GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms and NBC Universal, an entertainment company.

Through these businesses, GE participates in a wide variety of markets including the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity (eg. Nuclear, gas and solar), lighting, industrial automation, medical imaging equipment, motors, railway locomotives, aircraft jet engines, and aviation services. It co-owns NBC Universal with comcast, the National Broadcasting Company. Through GE Commercial Finance, GE Consumer Finance, GE Equipment Services, and GE Insurance it offers a range of financial services as well. It has a presence in over 100 countries.

GE gauges to control a railway locomotive

Since over half of GE's revenue is derived from financial services, it is arguably a financial company with a manufacturing arm. It is also one of the largest lenders in countries other than the United States, such as Japan. Even though the first wave of conglomerates (such as ITT Corporation, Ling-Temco-Vought, Tenneco, etc) fell by the wayside by the mid-1980s, in the late 1990s, another wave (consisting of Westinghouse, Tyco, and others) tried and failed to emulate GE's success.

It was announced on May 4, 2008 that GE would auction off its appliances business for an expected sale of $58 billion. GE appliance brands in the United States include: GE, GE Profile, GE Cafe, Monogram and Hotpoint.

The Finnish RFI filter firm DICRO Oy was founded in 1987 and bought out an older rival RFI filter firm named GE Procond Oy on February 13, 2006, which was renamed to Procond Oy and until then part of GE, but now may be sold off too.

Corporate recognition

In 2004, GE was named number one company for employers and employees on the Forbes 500 Global Player list.

Over the years GE has received several awards honoring them for their accomplishments, values and reputation:

In Fortune Magazine's 2005 "Global Most Admired Companies" list, GE ranked first overall. (February 2005)

In Fortune Magazine's 2006 "America's Most Admired Companies" list, GE ranked first overall. (March 2006)

GE was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index as one of the world's leaders in environmental, social and economic programs.

GE ranked ninth on Fortune Magazine's "50 Most Desirable MBA Employers" list. (April 2004)

Environmental record

GE has a history of large-scale air and water pollution. Based on year 2000 data, researchers at the Political Economy Research Institute listed the corporation as the fourth-largest corporate producer of air pollution in the United States, with more than 4.4 million pounds per year (2,000 Tonnes) of toxic chemicals released into the air. GE has also been implicated in the creation of toxic waste. According to EPA documents, only the United States Government, Honeywell, and Chevron Corporation are responsible for producing more Superfund toxic waste sites.

In 1983, New York State Attorney General Robert Abrams filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York to compel GE to pay for the cleanup of what was claimed to be more than 100,000 tons of chemicals dumped (legally, at the time) from their plant in Waterford. In 1999, the company agreed to pay a $250 million settlement in connection with claims it polluted the Housatonic River and other sites with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous substances.

From approximately 1947 to 1977, GE discharged as much as 1.3 million pounds of PCBs from its capacitor manufacturing plants at the Hudson Falls and Fort Edward facilities into the Hudson River. Spending millions over many years, GE fought a media and political battle to avoid cleaning up the river: GE attacked the Superfund law in court, and launched an extensive media campaign to refute the benefits of cleaning up the river, claiming that dredging the river would actually stir up PCBs. In 2002, GE was ordered to clean up a 40-mile (64 km) stretch of the Hudson River it had contaminated.

In 2003, acting on concerns that the plan proposed by GE did not "provide for adequate protection of public health and the environment," the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a unilateral administrative order for the company to "address cleanup at the GE site" in Rome, Georgia, also contaminated with PCBs.

Environmental initiatives

In May 2005 GE announced the launch of a program called "Ecomagination," intended, in the words of CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt "to develop tomorrow solutions such as solar energy, hybrid locomotives, fuel cells, lower-emission aircraft engines, lighter and stronger durable materials, efficient lighting, and water purification technology,37] prompting the The New York Times to observe that, "while General Electric's increased emphasis on clean technology will probably result in improved products and benefit its bottom line, Mr. Immelt's credibility as a spokesman on national environmental policy is fatally flawed because of his company's intransigence in cleaning up its own toxic legacy."

GE has said that it will invest $1.4bn in cleantech research and development in 2008 as part of its Ecomagination initiative. As of October 2008, the scheme had resulted in 70 green products being brought to market, ranging from halogen lamps to biogas engines. In 2007, GE raised the annual revenue target for its Ecomagination initiative from $20bn in 2010 to $25bn following positive market response to its new product lines.

GE Energy renewable energy business has expanded greatly, to keep up with growing U.S. and global demand for clean energy. Since entering the renewable energy industry in 2002, GE has invested more than $850 million in renewable energy technology. In 2009, GE renewable energy initiatives, which include solar power, wind power and GE Jenbacher gas engines using renewable and non-renewable methane-based gases, employ more than 4,900 people globally and have created more than 10,000 supporting jobs.

GE Energy and Orion New Zealand Limited (Orion) have announced implementation of the first phase of a GE network management system to help improve power reliability for customers. GE ENMAC Distribution Management System is the foundation of Orion initiative. The system of smart grid technologies will significantly improve the network company ability to manage big network emergencies and help it to restore power faster when outages occur.

Educational initiatives

GE Healthcare is collaborating with The Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Medical College of South Carolina to offer an integrated radiology curriculum during their respective MD Programs led by investigators of the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity study. GE has donated over one million dollars of Logiq E Ultrasound equipment to these two institutions.

Legal issues

On August 4, 2009 the SEC fined General Electric $50 million for breaking accounting rules in two separate cases, misleading investors into believing GE would meet or beat earnings expectations.

GE has faced criminal action regarding its defense related operations. GE was convicted in 1990 of defrauding the U.S. Department of Defense, and again in 1992 on charges of corrupt practices in the sale of jet engines to Israel.

Media depiction

GE was the focus of a 1991 short subject Academy Award winning documentary, "Deadly Deception: General Electric, Nuclear Weapons, and Our Environment" that juxtaposed "GE's rosy 'We Bring Good Things To Life' commercials with the true stories of workers and neighbors whose lives have been devastated by the company's involvement in building and testing nuclear bombs."

GE is also heavily mentioned in 30 Rock. In the first season, GE owned several companies, including the (fictional) Sheinhardt Wig Company, who owned NBC (who also owned several companies). NBC actually published a chart showing the corporate food chain[citation needed].

In fiction

In the early 1950s Kurt Vonnegut was a writer for General Electric. A number of his novels and stories (notably Cat's Cradle) refer to the fictional city of Ilium, which appears to be loosely based on Schenectady. The Ilium Works is the setting for the short story, Deer in the Works.

See also

List of assets owned by General Electric

Edison Engineering Development Program

Carousel of Progress

GE Building

College Bowl

Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Schenectady, NY

References

^ "GE: Our Company". GE company website. http://www.ge.com/company. Retrieved December 22 2009. 

^ a b c d e f "Form 10-K". http://idea.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/40545/000004054509000012/frm10k.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-07. 

^ Cohan, Peter (July 25, 2008). "GE slices itself into four parts". BloggingStocks. http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/25/ge-slices-itself-into-four-parts. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ Adams, Brent (July 25, 2008). "GE to reorganize operations; Louisville unit not included". Business First. http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2008/07/21/daily48.html. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ "Company Search, EDGAR System, Securities and Exchange Commission". http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000040545&owner=include&count=40. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ "GE emerges world's largest company: Forbes". Trading Markets.com. April 10, 2009. http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2266720. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ "GE emerges world's largest company: Forbes". Indian Express.com. April 9, 2009. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ge-emerges-worlds-largest-company-forbes/445093. Retrieved December 22, 2009. /

^ "Thomas Edison & GE". GE company web site. http://www.ge.com/company/history/edison.html. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ Mahon, Morgan E. A Flick of the Switch 19301950 (Antiques Electronics Supply, 1990), p.86.

^ Goldman, Davis; Pepitone, Julianne (December 3, 2009). "GE, Comcast announce joint NBC deal". CNNMoney.com. http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/03/news/companies/comcast_nbc/index.htm. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ "Vivendi to Sell its Stake in NBC Universal for US$5.8 Billion". Vivendi SA. December 3, 2009. http://www.vivendi.fr/vivendi/Nouvel-article,5902. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ "Vivendi To Sell 20% Stake In NBCU To GE For $5.8 Bln". The Wall Street Journal. December 3, 2009. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091203-704378.html. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

^ "General Electric to sell stake in Garanti Bank". 1 March 2010. http://www.newstatesman.com/banking-and-insurance/2010/03/garanti-bank-turkey-stake. Retrieved 2 March 2010. 

^ United States Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (2006-05-31). "IRS e-file Moves Forward; Successfully Executes Electronic Filing of Nation Largest Tax Return". Press release. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157845,00.html. Retrieved 2007-02-01. 

^ General Electric (2005-05-09). "GE Launches Ecomagination to Develop Environmental Technologies; Company-Wide Focus on Addressing Pressing Challenges". Press release. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050509005663/en. Retrieved 2007-01-15. [dead link]

^ Deutsch, Claudia (May 22, 2007). "General Electric to Sell Plastics Division". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/business/22plastics.html?_r=1. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "Jeff Immelt, CEO". Company Biography. General Electric. http://www.ge.com/company/leadership/ceo.html. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "100 Best Global Brands". Business Week. 2009. http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/best_global_brands_2009/index.asp. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "the 54 domains registered in 1986". VB.com Domains Timeline. VB.com. http://www.vb.com/domains-from-1986.htm. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "WHOIS Domain Registration Information for ge.com". Network Solutions. http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=ge.com. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "These 59 Famous Brands Own a "Two Letter" Domain". VB.com Internet Hall of Fame. VB.com. http://www.vb.com/fame.htm. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ http://www.trademarkia.com/ge-70035089.html

^ "GE Capital". General Electric. http://www.gecapital.com. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "Welcome to Saskrailmuseum.org". Contact Us. September 11, 2008. http://www.saskrailmuseum.org/. Retrieved 2008-10-03. 

^ "GE confirms it's exiting appliance business". MSNBC. May 16, 2008. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24630072. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "DICRO Oy Company History". DICRO Electronics Manufacturing Services. http://www.dicro.fi/default.asp?sivu=39&alasivu=40&kieli=826. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ "America's Most Admired Companies" (PDF). Fortune Magazine. March 6, 2006. http://www.ge.com/files/usa/stories/en/fortunesMostAdmired.pdf. Retrieved December 25, 2009. 

^ Political Economy Research Institute Toxic 100 Corporate Toxics Information Project Technical Notes retrieved 9 November 2007

^ Political Economy Research Institute

^ The Center for Public Integrity

^ The Region; G.E. Plant Accused Of Water Pollution", The New York Times, January 21, 1983

^ GE agrees to $250 Million Settlement to Clean Up PCBs in Housatonic River, Department of Justice news release, October 7, 1999

^ Hudson River PCBs

^ Historic Hudson River Cleanup to Begin After Years of Delay, But Will General Electric Finish the Job? Under the EPA's unusual agreement with General Electric, the company could escape full responsibility for cleaning up the toxic mess it made in the Hudson River

^ The New York Times 1 May 2007

^ United States Environmental Protection Agency

^ "Ecomagination: Inside GE's Power Play"

^ "Talking Green, Acting Dirty." The New York Times 12 June 2005

^ GE cleantech sales to top $17bn this year

^ GE illustrates broad spectrum of alternative energy projects

^ "GE Energy And Orion Start Smart Grid Project To Improve Power Reliability For Customers - Clean Technology : News". http://www.cleantechnology-business-review.com/news/ge_energy_and_orion_start_smart_grid_project_to_improve_power_reliability_for_customers_090714. 

^ A Pilot Study of Comprehensive Ultrasound Education at the Wayne State University School of Medicine

^ http://www.gehealthcare.com/usen/ultrasound/genimg/products/logiq_e/hryfrdhosp_waynestuni.html

^ SEC Fines GE $50 Million for Accounting Misdeeds

^ Sam Husseini, Felons On The Air: Does GE's Ownership of NBC Violate the Law?, FAIR.ORG, November/December 1994

^ Stevenson, Richard W. G.E. Guilty Plea in U.S. Aid to Israel, New York Times, July 23, 1992.

^ Deadly Deception: General Electric, Nuclear Weapons, and Our Environment

^ Nuclear Weaponmakers Campaign - Corporate Accountability International - Challenging Abuse, Protecting People - Think Outside the Bottle - challenging the bottled water indust...

Further reading

Carlson, W. Bernard. Innovation as a Social Process: Elihu Thomson and the Rise of General Electric, 1870-1900 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991).

Woodbury, David O. Elihu Thomson, Beloved Scientist (Boston: Museum of Science, 1944)

Haney, John L. The Elihu Thomson Collection American Philosophical Society Yearbook 1944.

Hammond, John W. Men and Volts: The Story of General Electric, published 1941, 436 pages.

Mill, John M. Men and Volts at War: The Story of General Electric in World War II, published 1947.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: General Electric

Official site for GE Appliances, the corporation's leading consumer product

SEC filings including 10-k

Another Hudson River Controversy Site

Official site for SABIC Innovative Plastics.

Historic Development of the GE.com website.

Financial Times article on GE's effort to go green

Wind energy at GE

G.E. to Double Investments in Renewables to $4B

USA Today article about GE's success at creating CEOs at large companies

GE Business Contacts.

Video clips

GE Reports YouTube channel

Business data

General Electric at Google Finance

General Electric at Yahoo Finance

General Electric at Hoover's

General Electric at Reuters

General Electric SEC filings at EDGAR Online

General Electric SEC filings at the Securities and Exchange Commission

Companies portal

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General Electric Co.

Founders

Thomas Edison  Edwin J. Houston  Elihu Thomson

Corporate

directors

James Cash, Jr.  Ann Fudge  Claudio Gonzalez  Susan Hockfield  Jeffrey Immelt  Andrea Jung  Alan Lafley  Robert Lane  Ralph Larsen  Rochelle Lazarus  Sam Nunn  Roger Penske  Robert Swieringa  Douglas A. Warner III  Bob Wright

Primary

businesses

GE Capital  GE Technology Infrastructure  GE Energy Infrastructure  GE Consumer & Industrial  NBC Universal (80%)

Annual revenue  USD 163.391 billion (2006)    Employees  316,000 (2005)    Stock symbol  NYSE: GE    Website  www.ge.com

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NBC Universal, Inc. (a joint venture of General Electric 80% and Vivendi 20%)

Universal Studios

Focus Features  Islands of Adventure  United International Pictures[nu 1]  Illumination Entertainment   Universal Animation Studios  Universal Studios Home Entertainment  Universal Playback  Geneon Universal (80.1%)[nu 2]  Universal Orlando Resort  Universal Pictures  Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park  Universal Studios Florida Theme Park  Universal Studios Japan  Universal Studios Singapore  Universal Studios Theme Parks  Universal CityWalk

Broadcast TV assets

NBC  Telemundo  NBC News  NBC Sports  Universal Sports (50%)[nu 3]

NBC Universal Cable

A&E Television Networks (25%)  Bravo  Chiller  CNBC  MSNBC[nu 4]  Mun2  Oxygen  Syfy  ShopNBC (30%)  Sleuth  Telemundo Puerto Rico  The Weather Channel[nu 5]  Universal HD  USA Network  Universal Sports (50%)  Weatherscan[nu 5]

CNBC global channels

CNBC (US)  CNBC World  CNBC Latin America  CNBC Europe  CNBC Asia  CNBC Africa

CNBC Europe branches

Class CNBC (20%)  CNBC-e  CNBC Arabiya (according to CNBC Europe)  CNBC Nordic  CNBC Africa  TVN CNBC Biznes

CNBC Asia branches

Nikkei CNBC  CNBC-TV18  CNBC Awaaz  CNBC Pakistan  CNBC Australia  CNBC Hong Kong  CNBC Singapore  SBS-CNBC

NBC Universal

global networks

Sci Fi Channel   13th Street  Universal Channel  Hallmark Channel  Movies 24  KidsCo[nu 6]  Diva TV  Steel[nu 7]  Das Vierte  Studio Universal

Sci Fi global channels

US  UK  Germany  France  Australia  Spain  Benelux  Philippines  Poland  Portugal  Romania  Russia  Latin America  Asia

NBC Universal

Television Group

NBC Studios  NBC Universal Television Distribution  Telemundo Television Studios  RTI Production  Telemundo of Puerto Rico Studios  Universal Media Studios

NBC O&Os

KNBC  KNSD[nu 8]  KNTV  KXAS[nu 8]  WCAU  WMAQ  WNBC (New York Nonstop)  WRC  WTVJ  WVIT

Telemundo O&Os

KBLR  KEJT-LP  KHRR  KDEN  KNSO[nu 9]  KTAZ  KTMD  KVDA[nu 9]  KSTS  KVEA  KXTX  WKAQ  WNEU[nu 9]  WNJU  WSCV  WSNS

ShopNBC O&Os

WWDP

Spanish independent

TV stations

KWHY

Internet ventures:

msnbc.com[nu 4]  iVillage  Television Without Pity  OUTzoneTV.com  getTRIO.com  BrilliantButCancelled.com  calamitygame.com  Hulu[nu 10]

Other assets:

qubo[nu 11]  EMKA, Ltd.  WSI Corporation[nu 5]  International Olympic Committee (79%)

Defunct properties:

NBC Weather Plus (2004-2008)  Trio (1997-2005)

^ 50%, with Viacom's Paramount Pictures.

^ Co-owned with Dentsu.

^ Combined operation with InterMedia Partners.

^ a b Co-owned with Microsoft in a joint venture (82% owned by NBC, 18% owned by Microsoft).

^ a b c Co-owned with Blackstone Group and Bain Capital.

^ Co-owned with Corus Entertainment and Cookie Jar Group.

^ Co-owned with Mediaset.

^ a b The stations are co-owned with LIN TV in a joint venture (76% owned by NBC, 24% owned by LIN).

^ a b c The stations are owned by NBC Universal, but are controlled by ZGS Broadcast Holdings.

^ Co-owned with News Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

^ Co-owned with Corus Entertainment, Classic Media, Scholastic Books and ION Media Networks.

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Dow Jones Industrial Average components

Current

3M  Alcoa  American Express  AT&T  Bank of America  Boeing  Caterpillar  Chevron  Cisco Systems  The Coca-Cola Company  DuPont  ExxonMobil  General Electric  Hewlett-Packard  The Home Depot  Intel  IBM  Johnson & Johnson  JPMorgan Chase  Kraft Foods  McDonald's  Merck & Co.  Microsoft  Pfizer  Procter & Gamble  The Travelers Companies  United Technologies Corporation  Verizon Communications  Wal-Mart  The Walt Disney Company

Selected former

Altria Group  American International Group  American Telephone & Telegraph  American Tobacco Company  Bethlehem Steel  Citigroup  Colorado Fuel and Iron  Eastman Kodak  General Foods  General Motors  Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company  Honeywell  International Harvester  International Paper  Johns-Manville  Nash Motors  Navistar International  North American Company  Owens-Illinois  Sears, Roebuck and Company  Union Carbide  United States Rubber Company  U.S. Steel  F. W. Woolworth Company

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Principal owners of the Houston Astros franchise

Houston Colt .45's (1962-1964)

Roy Hofheinz

Houston Astros (1965-present)

Roy Hofheinz General Electric & Ford Motor Company John McMullen Drayton McLane, Jr.

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