International Automatic Telephone Co
International Automatic Telephone Co, of Liverpool
1912 British Insulated Cables established the Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co[1].
1920 International Automatic Telephone Co was formed in conjunction with Associated Telegraph and Telephone Co (ATT) of USA for purposes of overseas representation of Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co and for securing patent rights in other countries where Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co did not have rights. This brought to an end the independence of Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co[2]. ATT - the 'American Strowger Company' - held a controlling interest and provided technical, commercial as well as financial support to International Automatic Telephone Co for the next 16 years[3].
1926 Formation of Telephone and General Trust as an associated company to arrange credit facilities for export orders in conjunction with Associated Telegraph and Telephone Co (ATT) of USA. In consideration of providing considerable overseas business ATT had been granted shares in the Automatic Electric Co Ltd. This had been of considerable value, not least in terms of research and development and access to patents. ATT provided finance for the entire Ordinary share capital and some of the Preference shares, whilst International Automatic Telephone Co and British Insulated Cables provided the the remainder.
1932 Name of Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co changed to Automatic Electric Co Ltd to reflect its range of business.
1932 Annual meeting of International Automatic Telephone Co told that all of the shares in its subsidiary Automatic Electric Co Ltd that it did not own had now been acquired[4].
1934 Purchase of the Ordinary Shares of Telephone and General Trust Ltd[5].
1935 British Insulated Cables (BIC) purchased the Deferred shares from their American holders. This company and BIC had the same chairman. Result was an all-British group in electrical and communication fields, including cables and telephones[6].
1936 Name changed to Automatic Telephone and Electric Co Ltd[7].