Moving Targets: Elliott-Automation and the Dawn of the Computer Age in

In this review of Moving Targets: Elliott-Automation and the Dawn of the Computer Age in Britain, Simon Lavington offers a focused company history that will appeal to students of computing history and engineering culture. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its close, documentary account of one firm that straddled secret defence work and commercial computing, making it a useful lens on how Britain's computer industry evolved. The narrative combines technical description with institutional context, so readers who want more than a superficial timeline will find valuable detail here.

Key Features

• Company-focused narrative: The book traces the rise of Elliott-Automation from Borehamwood Research Laboratories and explains how internal teams shaped early computing efforts.
• Coverage of classified work: Lavington examines early Elliott digital computers developed for military and GCHQ tasks, illuminating a typically obscured strand of computing history.
• Analogue and airborne systems: The text describes Elliott's analogue computers and includes a history of airborne computers, showing the range of engineering work the company undertook.
• Profiles of key figures: The roles of John Coales and Leon Bagrit are detailed, helping readers understand the personalities and leadership decisions behind technological choices.
• Commercial transition: The book reviews the development of the first commercial Elliott computers and how those machines found use in industrial automation.

Who It's For

This book is best for readers with an interest in the history of computing, defence technology, or British industrial history who want a company-level case study rather than a broad survey. Graduate students, historians, and technically minded general readers will appreciate the combination of organisational detail and descriptions of specific machines.

Readers looking for a beginner's primer on general computing concepts or a global history of early computers may prefer a more generalist volume; this book is strongest when read as a focused study of Elliott-Automation and its contexts.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides detailed company history that clarifies how Elliott-Automation influenced early British computing.
• Includes discussion of both classified military projects and later commercial applications, connecting defence research to civilian use.
• Documents key personnel and organisational developments, which helps explain decision-making and technical direction.

Cons

• The book is tightly focused on one company, so readers wanting a wider comparative history of multiple manufacturers may find the scope limited.

Specifications

Title	Moving Targets: Elliott-Automation and the Dawn of the Computer Age in Britain
Author	Simon Lavington
Subject	History of computing; company history
Coverage	Early digital and analogue Elliott computers, airborne systems, commercial machines
Key figures discussed	John Coales; Leon Bagrit
Focus areas	Defence projects, GCHQ work, industrial automation

Our Verdict

Moving Targets is a well-researched, narrowly focused book that rewards readers who want an in-depth company study of Elliott-Automation and its role in Britain's computing emergence. Its value lies in connecting classified defence programmes to later commercial and industrial applications, making it a strong purchase for historians and technically literate readers seeking substance over broad coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book cover Elliott analogue computers?
Yes; the author describes the analogue computers developed by Elliott-Automation alongside their digital efforts.

Are defence and secret projects discussed?
Yes; the review notes that the book examines early Elliott digital computers designed for classified military applications and work associated with GCHQ.

Is this suitable for a general introduction to computing history?
It is more of a specialist company history, so readers seeking a broad introductory textbook may want a more general survey instead.