Precision Makers a History of the Instruments Industry in Britain and France 1870 1939 (Comparative & International Business)

The precision instruments industry has been an important and revealing sector of high technology industry. This volume traces the development of the precision instruments industry in Britain and France during the crucial period 1870-1939. Using a comparative approach, Mari Williams identifies the main characteristics of the precision instruments industry. She looks at the influence of rapid innovation; increasing state intervention; the growth of research and development; and the provision of technical innovation. She ties her discussion firmly in with the contemporary political and economic context. Particular focuses are the growing role of military requirements in shaping the industry; the legacy of the First World War; and the influence of the arms race, sparked off by the rise of Germany in the late 19th century. The development of the small and medium-sized firm is also examined in connection with the industry, as well as the development of organized research, and the crucial interactions between the industry and academic research.