7     Alec Robinson at work on the Manchester Mark 1

Alec Robinson started a Ph.D. project in the summer of 1947 on an electronic multiplier. He was working for English Electric at the time. Initially the project was kept separate from the CRT research to avoid problems in pursuing the Ph.D. degree, but obviously as soon as the Baby proved itself he became part of the team to produce the Manchester Mark 1 -- he needed the computer as a test bed and the computer needed his multiplier! Later he redesigned the multiplier for the Ferranti Mark 1.