Home Hardware Peripherals Software Publications Projects

On This Day - 2nd February

« Previous Day Next Day »
1943

Printed circuit board patented

Austrian-born engineer Paul Eisler files a British patent application covering his printed-circuit technology, an important step toward the modern printed circuit board (PCB).

Eisler's idea replaced much of the conventional point-to-point wiring of electronic equipment with conductive patterns formed on an insulating surface. His approach allowed electrical connections to be produced as part of the board itself, greatly simplifying the construction of electronic equipment.

Eisler had already demonstrated a radio using printed-circuit technology around 1936, but the 1943 patent application provides a firm documented date for his formal protection of the invention.

Printed circuits would eventually become fundamental to electronic equipment, including the ZX Spectrum, whose electronics are assembled on printed circuit boards.
Source: Paul Eisler, British patent application, 2 February 1943; subsequently published as GB639178, Manufacture of electric circuits and circuit components.
The historical record shows that Eisler filed his first provisional British specification on 2 February 1943. A further provisional specification followed on 3 April 1943, and the complete British specification was filed on 2 February 1944.

The resulting patent GB639178, naming Paul Eisler and Harold Vezey Strong, has a priority date of 2 February 1943 and was published on 21 June 1950.

Eisler had produced an experimental printed-circuit radio earlier, around 1936. Consequently, 2 February 1943 should be understood as the patent milestone, rather than the date on which the printed circuit itself was first physically demonstrated.
Printed Circuit Board PCB Printed Circuit Paul Eisler Electronics Circuit Board Manufacturing Electronic Components ZX Spectrum Sinclair Home Computing 1943

Also in this month

Other historical information recorded for February.

Sinclair Research computer division moves to Willis Road
1983

Sinclair Research computer division moves to Willis Road

Sinclair Research's computer division moved into newly refurbished premises at 25 Willis Road, Cambridge. The former factory had been bought by Sinclair in the autumn of 1981 and had been undergoing improvement work since then. The move brought the division's research and development and marketing sections together on the same site for the first time.
Source: Sinclair User, February 1983
Sinclair User, February 1983, reported that Sinclair Research's computer division had moved into newly refurbished premises at Willis Road, Cambridge. The site had been bought in the autumn of 1981, with improvement work continuing before the move. The article notes that research and development and marketing were now together on one site.
Sinclair Research ZX Spectrum Sinclair Computer Division Willis Road Cambridge Sinclair Hardware UK Home Computers
Sinclair User Issue 11
Page Revised: 07/09/2026

Mister Spectrum © 2022–2026 Kevin R. Carr