History

Elihu Thomson

History of a global brand

From humble beginnings, Elihu Thomson established one of the leading electricity companies of the 19th century together with his academic colleague Professor Edwin Houston. He predicted the future of electricity and is one of America’s most prolific inventors. During his long history of innovation and industrial leadership, Thomson has provided many millions of people with entertainment and information.

2000

2008	Hama takes over the “Home Solutions” sector in Europe.
2004	Joint venture with TCL and transformation of the television production into the joint enterprise TTE.

1900

1989	Production of the 50 millionth television by RCA.
1988	Thomson Consumer Electronics is founded and renamed Thomson SA.
1979	Production of the hundred millionth cathode ray tube by RCA.
1969	Technicolor cameras record the departure and early flight phase of the Apollo mission which led to the first moon landing.
1967	Thomson goes on to become an electronics giant in France as a result of the merger with CSF.
1929	CFTH enters the radio and television business through the acquisition of Etablissements Ducretet.
1919	Radio Corporation America (RCA) is founded.

1800

1893	Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston (CFTH) is founded in Paris.
1892	General Electric is created by the merger of the electricity companies Thomson-Houston and Edison General.
1879	Thomson-Houston is founded by Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston.