Remington Rand
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Remington Rand was an early American computer manufacturer, best known as the original maker of the UNIVAC I, and now part of Unisys. For a time, the word "univac" was recognized as a generic synonym for "computer". Remington Rand also made office equipment.
Remington Rand was formed by the 1927 merger of the Remington Typewriter Company, Rand Kardex Company, and Powers Accounting Machine Company. Remington Rand merged with Sperry Corporation in 1955 to form a company then known as Sperry Rand (later shortened to Sperry). Sperry merged in 1986 with Burroughs Corporation to form Unisys.
From 1942 to 1945, Remington Rand was one manufacturer of the 1911A1 pistol used by the United States Armed Forces during World War II. Remington Rand produced more 1911A1 pistols than any other wartime manufacturer.
In 1949, Remington Rand introduced the Remington Rand 409, the first business computer. The following year, Remington Rand purchased Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, makers of ENIAC, and in 1951 delivered the first UNIVAC I to the United States Census Bureau.
Remington Rand also made electric razors. The Remington brand of razor was originally produced by a division of Remington Rand, starting in 1937. Sperry sold the division in 1979 to Victor Kiam, who became the company spokesman. His line, "I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company" became one of the more memorable advertising slogans of the early 1980s. Remington Products Company was sold in 2003 to the battery manufacturer Rayovac.
The Remington Rand Building at 315 Park Avenue in New York City is a 20-floor skyscraper completed in 1911.