Editing Sinclair Research (section)

== History ==
{| class ="wikitable" align="right"
|+ Profit and turnover data<ref name="corphist">{{cite web|url=http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/sinclair/corphist.htm|title=Sinclair: A Corporate History|work=Planet Sinclair|access-date=2006-12-15}}</ref>
!  Period
!  Profit
!  Turnover
|-
| 1980
| style="text-align: center;" | {{increase}} £131K
| style="text-align: center;" | £640K
|-
| 1981
| style="text-align: center;" | {{increase}} £818K
| style="text-align: center;" | £4.6m
|-
| 1982
| style="text-align: center;" | {{increase}} £8.55m
| style="text-align: center;" | £27.17m
|-
| 1983
| style="text-align: center;" | {{increase}} £13.8m
| style="text-align: center;" | £54.53m
|-
| 1984
| style="text-align: center;" | {{increase}} £14.28m
| style="text-align: center;" | £77.69m
|-
| 1985
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£18m
| style="text-align: center;" | £102m
|-
| 1988 to 1989
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£183K
| style="text-align: center;" | £8K
|-
| 1989 to 1990
| style="text-align: center;" | {{increase}} £618K
| style="text-align: center;" | £5K
|-
| 1990 to 1991
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£272K
| style="text-align: center;" | £5K
|-
| 1991 to 1992
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£593K
| style="text-align: center;" | £1K
|-
| 1992 to 1993
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£169K
| style="text-align: center;" | £380K
|-
| 1993 to 1994
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£195K
| style="text-align: center;" | £511K
|-
| 1994 to 1995
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£304K
| style="text-align: center;" | £436K
|-
| 1995 to 1996
| style="text-align: center;" | {{decrease}} −£123K
| style="text-align: center;" | £256K
|-
|}

=== Founding and early years ===
{{See also|Sinclair Radionics}}

On 25 July 1961, Clive Sinclair founded his first company, [[Sinclair Radionics|Sinclair Radionics Ltd.]] in [[Cambridge]]. The company developed [[hi-fi]] products, radios, calculators and scientific instruments.<ref name="radionics_ad">[https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Technology/Technology-All-Eras/Archive-Practical-Wireless-IDX/IDX/60s/PW-1969-03-IDX-70.pdf Sinclair Radionics advertisement], March 1963, [https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Technology/Technology-All-Eras/Archive-Practical-Wireless-IDX/IDX/60s/PW-1969-03-IDX-70.pdf page 876], (further details at [https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Technology/Technology-All-Eras/Archive-Practical-Wireless-IDX/IDX/60s/PW-1969-03-IDX-71.pdf page 877]) ''Practical Wireless,'' as photo-archived at WorldRadioHistory.com, retrieved May 21, 2023.</ref> When it became clear that Radionics was failing, Sinclair took steps to ensure that he would be able to continue to pursue his commercial goals. In February 1975, he changed the name of Ablesdeal Ltd (a [[shelf corporation|shelf company]] he had bought in September 1973 for just such an eventuality) to Westminster Mail Order Ltd. The name was changed to Sinclair Instrument Ltd in August 1975.

Finding it inconvenient to share control after the [[National Enterprise Board]] became involved in Radionics in 1976, Sinclair encouraged [[Christopher Curry (businessman)|Chris Curry]] to leave Radionics, which he had worked for since 1966, and get [[Sinclair Instrument]] operational. The company's first product was a watch-like Wrist Calculator.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sinclair Instrument Wrist Calculator |url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/52845/Sinclair-Instrument-Wrist-Calculator/ |website=Centre for Computing History website}}</ref>

=== Calculators ===
The [[Sinclair Executive]] was introduced in 1972 as the first calculator which could easily be carried in a pocket. It was also significantly cheaper than similarly featured 4-function calculators available at the time. The [[Sinclair Cambridge]] was launched in 1973 as a basic calculator and later in several enhanced versions supporting memory, advanced mathematical functions, and programmability. The [[Sinclair Scientific]] featuring trigonometric and logarithmic functions and employing [[Reverse Polish notation|Reverse Polish Notation]] was introduced in 1974.

=== Development of the ZX80 ===
In July 1977, Sinclair Instrument Ltd was renamed '''Science of Cambridge Ltd.''' <!-- DONT WIKILINK  'Science of Cambridge' or 'Science of Cambridge Ltd'. They both redirect to THIS ARTICLE-->Around the same time, Ian Williamson showed Chris Curry a prototype [[microcomputer]] based on a [[National Semiconductor SC/MP]] [[microprocessor]] and parts from a Sinclair calculator. Curry was impressed and encouraged Sinclair to adopt it as a product. In June 1978, Science of Cambridge launched its [[MK14]] microcomputer in kit form.

In May 1979, [[Jim Westwood]], Sinclair's chief engineer, designed a new microcomputer based on the [[Zilog Z80]] microprocessor. Sinclair Instrument Ltd introduced the computer as the [[ZX80]] in February 1980, as both a kit and ready-built.<ref name = "InfoWorld Oct 27, 1980">{{Cite magazine | last = Clarke | first = Jerry | title = Micro Industry in U.K. Shows Stiff Upper Lip | magazine = [[InfoWorld]] | volume = 2 | issue = 19 | pages = 1, 35 | date = 27 October 1980 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Qj4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PP1 | issn = 0199-6649}}</ref>

In November 1979, Science of Cambridge Ltd was renamed Sinclair Computers Ltd.

=== Commercial success and home computers ===
[[File:ZXSpectrum48k.jpg|right|thumb|[[ZX Spectrum]] (1982)]]

In March 1981, Sinclair Computers was renamed '''Sinclair Research Ltd''' and the [[Sinclair ZX81]] was launched. In February 1982, [[Timex Group USA|Timex Corporation]] obtained a license to manufacture and market Sinclair's computers in the [[United States|USA]] under the name [[Timex Sinclair]]. In April the [[ZX Spectrum]] was launched. In July Timex launched the [[Timex Sinclair 1000|TS 1000]] (a version of the ZX81) in the United States. In March 1982 Sinclair Research Ltd made an £8.55m profit on turnover of £27.17m, including a £383,000 government grant to develop a flat screen.

In 1982 Clive Sinclair converted the Barker & Wadsworth [[mineral water]] [[bottling line|bottling factory]] at 25 Willis Road, Cambridge, into the company's new headquarters. (Following Sinclair's financial troubles, the premises were sold to Cambridgeshire County Council in December 1985.)

In January 1983 the ZX Spectrum personal computer was presented at the [[Las Vegas]] [[Consumer Electronics Show]]. In September the Sinclair [[TV80]] pocket [[television]] was launched, but was a commercial failure.

In 1983 the company bought Milton Hall in the village of [[Milton, Cambridgeshire]], for £2m, establishing its ''MetaLab'' research and development facility there.

In late 1983 Timex decided to pull out of the Timex Sinclair venture which, due to strong competition, had failed to break into the United States market. However, Timex computers continued to be produced for several years in other countries. Timex Portugal launched improved versions, the [[Timex Sinclair 2048|TS 2048]] and [[Timex Sinclair 2068|2068]]; that company also developed and launched the [[Timex FDD3000|FDD3000]], a [[floppy disk]] system, although it was not well received by the market.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

=== Mid-1980s developments ===
The [[Sinclair QL]] was announced on 12 January 1984, shortly before the [[Macintosh|Apple Macintosh]] went on sale.<ref name="Sue Denham 1984">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr02/yr02_q2.htm | magazine=[[Your Spectrum]]| issue=2 |date=March 1984 | first=Sue | last=Denham | title=Sir Clive Makes The Quantum Leap | access-date=2006-04-19}}</ref> The QL was nowhere near as successful as Sinclair's earlier computers. It suffered from several design flaws,<ref name="QL News / SinclairWatch">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr05/yr05_47.htm#SinclairWatch |magazine=[[Your Spectrum]] |issue=5|date=July 1984|title=QL News / SinclairWatch|access-date=2006-12-15}}</ref> and ''[[Your Sinclair]]'' noted that it was "difficult to find a good word for Sinclair Research in the computer press".

Fully working QLs were not available until late summer and complaints against Sinclair regarding delays were upheld by the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] in May of that year. (In 1982 it had upheld complaints about delays in shipping Spectrums.) Especially severe were allegations that Sinclair was cashing cheques months before machines were shipped. In the autumn Sinclair was still publicly predicting it would be a "million seller", and that 250,000 would be sold by the end of the year.<ref name="Roger Munford 1984">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr07/yr07_72.htm#Circe|magazine=[[Your Spectrum]]|issue=7|date=September 1984|title=Circe|author=Roger Munford|access-date=2006-12-15}}</ref> QL production was suspended in February 1985, and the price was halved by the end of the year.<ref name="Timex/Sinclair history">{{cite web|url=http://www.zqaonline.com/Events/History.aspx|title=Timex/Sinclair history|work=ZQAOnline|access-date=2006-12-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717042421/http://www.zqaonline.com/Events/History.aspx|archive-date=17 July 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The ZX Spectrum+, a repackaged ZX Spectrum with a QL-like keyboard, was launched in October 1984 and appeared in [[WHSmith]]'s shops the day after release. Retailers stocked the machine in large numbers in expectation of good Christmas sales. However, the machine did not sell as well as expected and, because retailers still had unsold stock, Sinclair's income from orders dipped alarmingly in January. The Spectrum+ had the same technical specifications as the original Spectrum. An enhanced model, the ZX Spectrum 128, was launched in Spain in September 1985, with development funded by the Spanish distributor Investronica.<ref name="Kept in the Dark">{{cite magazine |date=November 1985 |title=Kept in the Dark| magazine = [[CRASH (magazine)|CRASH]] | issue = 22| url = http://www.crashonline.org.uk/22/editrl.htm | access-date = 2006-12-15 }}</ref> The UK launch of this was delayed until January 1986, because retailers had large unsold stocks of the previous model.<ref name="comphist-spec128">{{cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/cgi-bin/sitewise.pl?act=det&p=2584|title=Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128|publisher=The Center for Computing History|access-date=4 December 2009}}</ref>

At the January 1985 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, Sinclair re-entered the United States market, announcing the "FM Wristwatch Radio", an [[LCD]] [[wristwatch]] with a [[radio receiver|radio]] attached.<ref name="fmwr">{{cite web|url=http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/audio/wristwatch_radio.htm|title=FM Wristwatch Radio|work=Planet Sinclair|access-date=2009-12-09}}</ref> However, the watch had several problems and never went into full production.

Sinclair had long had an interest in electric vehicles, and during the early 1980s he worked on the design of a single-seater "personal vehicle", eventually starting a company called Sinclair Vehicles Ltd in March 1983. He launched the [[Sinclair C5]] electric vehicle on 10 January 1985, but it was a commercial disaster, selling only 17,000 units and losing Sinclair £7,000,000. Sinclair Vehicles went into liquidation later the same year. The failure of the C5, combined with those of the QL and the [[TV80]], caused investors to lose confidence in Sinclair's judgement.

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{{anchor|Amstrad acquisition}}

=== Amstrad acquisition of assets ===
Sinclair Research had reportedly intended a public offering of shares on 12 March 1985, but this offering was postponed, ostensibly due to turmoil in the microcomputer industry, with [[Acorn Computers]] undergoing refinancing, and other companies such as Sinclair's competitor [[Oric computers|Oric]] and distributor Prism entering receivership. Although the collapse of the latter was not expected to have a significant effect on Sinclair's ability to reach customers, the observation was made that "Sir Clive would not be trying to go public unless he thought he could use the cash", indicating that the postponement of an offering whose timing would have been planned for optimal effect would be a setback for the company.<ref name="pcw198504_prism">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1985-04/page/101/mode/1up | title=Still waters | magazine=Personal Computer World | date=April 1985 | access-date=22 October 2021 | last1=Kewney | first1=Guy | pages=101–102 }}</ref>

On 28 May 1985, Sinclair Research had announced it wanted to raise an extra £10m to £15m to restructure the organisation. Given the loss of confidence in the company, the money proved hard to find. In June 1985, [[business magnate]] [[Robert Maxwell]] announced a takeover of Sinclair Research, through Hollis Brothers, a subsidiary of his [[Pergamon Press]].<ref name="nyt-srl">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/18/business/sinclair-to-sell-british-unit.html|title=Sinclair to Sell British Unit|date=18 June 1985|work=[[The New York Times]]|agency=[[The Associated Press]]|url-access=limited|access-date=4 December 2009}}</ref> However, the deal was aborted in August 1985.<ref name="corphist"/>

The future of Sinclair Research remained uncertain until 7 April 1986, when the company sold its entire computer product range, and the "Sinclair" brand name, to [[Amstrad]] for £5 million.<ref>{{cite magazine | author = Graham Kidd |date=May 1986 | title = Amstrad has bought Sinclair Research | magazine = [[CRASH (magazine)|CRASH]] | issue = 28 | pages = 7 | url = http://www.crashonline.org.uk/28/editrl.htm | access-date = 2006-08-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | date = May 1986 | title = Amstrad axes QL in Sinclair sell out | magazine = [[Sinclair User]] | issue = 50 | pages = 7 | url = http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/050/news.htm | access-date = 2006-08-19 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060924102231/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/050/news.htm | archive-date = 24 September 2006 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The deal did not include the company itself, only its name and products.

===Spin-offs===
Sinclair Research was reduced to an [[research and development|R&D]] business and a [[holding company]], with shareholdings in several new "spin-off" companies formed to exploit technologies developed by the main company. These included Anamartic Ltd ([[wafer-scale integration]]), Shaye Communications Ltd ([[CT2]] mobile telephony) and Cambridge Computer Ltd ([[Cambridge Z88|Z88]] portable computer and [[satellite television]] receivers).<ref name="corphist"/>

=== Return to invention ===
[[File:AbikeInventors.png|thumb|Inventors of the A-bike, Sir Clive Sinclair and Alexander Kalogroulis]]

Since 1986, the company has continued to exist, but in a completely different form. In 1993, 1994, and 1995 Sinclair made continuing losses on decreasing turnover. Investors became worried that Clive Sinclair himself was using his own personal wealth to fund his inventions. By 1990 the company's entire staff had been reduced to just Sinclair himself, a salesman/administrator, and an R&D employee. By 1997 only Sinclair himself was working at his company.

In 1992, the "[[Sinclair Zike|Zike]]" electric bicycle was released, Sinclair's second attempt at changing people's means of transport. It had a maximum speed of {{convert|10|mph|abbr=on}}, and was only available by mail order. Much like the [[Sinclair C5|C5]], the "Zike" was a commercial failure, and sold only 2,000 units. In 1999 Sinclair released the world's smallest radio, in the form of the "Z1 Micro AM Radio".

In 2003, the Sinclair "ZA20 Wheelchair Drive Unit" was introduced, designed and manufactured in conjunction with Hong Kong's Daka Designs, a partnership which also led to the SeaDoo Sea Scooter underwater propulsion unit.

July 2006 saw the release of the [[A-bike]], a [[folding bicycle]] invented by Sinclair, which was on sale for £200. It had been originally announced two years previously. In November 2010, Sinclair Research announced the X-1 two-wheel electric vehicle, which failed to reach production.