Logolysis of IBM

Welcome once again to a new logolysis post!

This time its IBM. I know that IBM’s logo is not that great and exciting, but being in the number two spot in the 100 best global brands is no easy task for any company. IBM has had its own set of logos and even company names. It will be interesting to learn about it. So here we go:

Down through the years, IBM (and its predecessor companies) has used a series of logos on signs, stationery, vehicles, products — and even flags — to make a distinctive statement and foster immediate recognition all over the world. Here are those logos in chronological order.

1889-1914 - The International Time Recording Company (ITR) began as the Bundy Manufacturing Company in Auburn, New York. ITR's main product line were mechanical time recorders invented and patented by Willard L. Bundy in 1888. ITR was later merged into the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company — the forerunner of IBM — in 1911. ITR had a logo that was typical of those days with simple and clear fonts merging to form a sketch like pattern.

1891-1914 - In 1891, Edward Canby and Orange O. Ozias, two businessmen from Dayton, Ohio, purchased the patents for the newly invented computing scale and incorporated the Computing Scale Company for the production of commercial scales. This time the logo matured into a cursive font type with a more natural merging of the letters of the company’s name.

1911-1924 - In 1911, financier Charles R. Flint directed the merger of the International Time Recording Company, the Computing Scale Company and the Tabulating Machine Company to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR). In 1914 Thomas J. Watson, Sr., was named general manager of CTR. Watson emphasized research and engineering, and introduced into the company his famous motto "THINK." CTR’s logo was again in the form of a collage of letters with the classic font face and gave it a stamp like look to it. The sketch like pattern was still resembling their first logos.

1924-1946 - In 1924, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company adopted the name International Business Machines Corporation. The ornate, rococo letters that formed the "CTR" logo were replaced by the words "Business Machines" in more contemporary sans-sarif type, and in a form intended to suggest a globe, girdled by the word "International." This logo helped IBM look like a global company and was already on its way to become to the largest computer company in the world in the near future.

1947-1956 - IBM borrowed on the equities in its brand image and reputation to help carry it through a difficult transition from the punched-card tabulating business to computers. It began with a change to the logotype, the first in 22 years. The new logo appeared on the masthead of the January 1, 1947 issue of Business Machines with surprisingly little fanfare. The familiar "globe" was replaced with the simple letters "IBM" in a typeface called Beton Bold. This move to a simple font based logo was because of the serious guys working at IBM during those days and even now. The logo depicted a very formal, reverent and big brotherly looking company trying to shred its way across the world.

1956-1972 - In May 1956, shortly before he died, Thomas J. Watson, Sr., presided over the official installation of his son as IBM's chief executive. Tom Watson, Jr. moved quickly, using both actions and symbols to signify a new era. The first visible expression was a relatively subtle change in the company's logotype subtle, in part, to communicate that any changes would come within an overall continuity. Created by noted graphic designer Paul Rand, the new logotype replaced the former Beton Bold typography with City Medium, as the letters "IBM" took on a more solid, grounded and balanced appearance.

1972 - Present -  In 1972, the company introduced a new version of the logotype. Designed by Paul Rand, horizontal stripes now replaced the solid letters to suggest "speed and dynamism." In the intervening quarter-century, the basic design has remained constant, one of the most recognized logotypes in the world, and a design that has been widely imitated by others. The 8 stripes logo was introduced in blue color, this is how it got its name "Big Blue". But the present logo is again in monochrome. IBM's logo has remained the same for a long time from then, except for it is used in different variations according to the need.

 

So that sums up the logolysis of IBM. IBM’s logo will stay one of the most recognized symbols because of the power and reputation this brand brings to the world.