IBM traces its origins to the 16th of June 1911 when four separate companies merged in New York State to form the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company. Charles Ranlett Flint orchestrated this union of manufacturers that produced commercial scales, industrial time recorders, and punched card tabulators.
On the 7th of April 1964, IBM launched the System/360 computer family spanning complete ranges of commercial and scientific applications. The System/360 was followed by the System/370 in 1970 which together created near-monopoly-level market share throughout this period.
Lou Gerstner was hired as CEO from RJR Nabisco to turn the company around after IBM posted an $8 billion loss representing biggest corporate loss in American history at that time. During the decade, IBM purchased Lotus Software best known for its Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software and later sold all personal computer business to Chinese technology company Lenovo.
The IBM 305 RAMAC introduced hard disk drive in 1956 marking major technological advancement while George J. Laurer developed Universal Product Code barcode in 1974. As of 2022, company held 150,000 patents total and generated record annual U.S patents business for 29 consecutive years from 1993 through 2021.
Nazis made extensive use Hollerith punch card alphabetical accounting equipment supplied by IBM majority-owned German subsidiary Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH Dehomag early 1930s. In 2000s, IBM collaborated Chinese defense contractor Huadi develop Golden Shield Project large-scale policing surveillance project Beijing system reportedly monitor online activity target groups Falun Gong Uyghurs individuals considered security risks.