Clive Marles Sinclair born to George William Carter Sinclair and Thora Edith Ella Sinclair.

Leaves St. George's College, Weybridge. Employed by Practical Wireless as journalist.

Becomes editor of Bernards Publishers Ltd.

Authors Practical Transistor Receivers. Becomes member of Mensa.

25th July

Sinclair Radionics formed.

Leaves Bernards Publishers and goes freelance. Joins Instrument World staff.

December

Sinclair Micro-Amplifier advertisements appear, priced at 28/6d and serviced from 69 Histon Road, Cambridge.

Marries Ann Trevor Briscoe.

April

Sinclair Slimline pocket medium wave radio kit appears, priced at 49/6d.

September

James Westwood joins Sinclair Radionics.

December

Sinclair Micro-Injector signal generator appears, priced at 27/6d in kit form and 32/6d ready-built.

Authors British Semiconductor Survey.

January

TR5 pre-amp/0.5 watt amp appears, priced at 59/6d built.

April

Sinclair Radionics moves to Duncan Terrace, Islington.

August

Sinclair Radionics moves to Comberton, Cambridge. Announces supply delays are now a thing of the past.

September

Micro-6 matchbox-sized radio appears, priced at 59/6d kit, 'Transrista' strap for wearing on wrist, 7/6d.

TR750 0.75 watt power amp appears, priced at 39/6d in kit form and 45/- ready-built.

December

Sinclair X-10 pulse width modulation '10 watts' amplifier designed by Cambridge Consultants Ltd. appears, priced at £5.19.6d in kit form and £6.19.6d ready-built, power supply £2.14.0

June

X-20 '20 watt' amplifier appears, priced at £7.19.6d in kit form and £9.19.6d ready-built, power supply £4.19.6d

December

Micro FM pocket radio appears at £5.19.6d, priced at in kit form.

January

Z12 12 watt amplifier/pre-amp appears, priced at 89/6d ready-built.

April

Sinclair Radionics moves to Newmarket Road, Cambridge.

Clive Sinclair moves house to Cambridge.

Chris Curry joins Sinclair Radionics.

May

PZ3 power supply unit appears, priced at 79/6d built.

September

Stereo 25 'De-luxe' pre-amp and control unit priced at £9.19.6d ready-built.

October

Microvision pocket TV receiver demonstrated at Radio and TV Exhibition. Announced as 'available early 1967 at a cost of 49 Guineas'.

February

Sinclair Micromatic - the 'world's smallest radio' - appears, priced at 59/6d in kit form and 79/6d ready-built.

April

Micromatic kit becomes available in new 'see for yourself' sealed polystyrene kit pack at no extra cost.

May

Sinclair Radionics turnover £100,000.

October

Q14 loudspeaker available, priced at £6.19.6d.

December

Micromatic dropped in price to 49/6d in kit form and 59/6d ready-built.

April

Neoteric 60 amplifier launched but abandoned.

October

System 2000 35-watt amplifier (29 Guineas), FM tuner (25 Guineas), plug-in stereo decoder (4 Guineas) and loudpeaker (12 Guineas) launched. Available from dealers.

June

IC-10 integrated circuit amplifier announced but unavailable.

December

Stereo 60 pre-amp and control unit, priced at £9.19.6, and Z30 25-watt amplifier, priced at 89/6d appear.

June

Z50 amplifier added to Project 60 range, priced at 109/6d.

November

Stereo FM tuner, priced at £25 and Q16 speakers added to Project 60 range.

December

Active Filter unit added to Project 60 range, priced at £5.19.6d

February

Sinclair Radionics operation moves to Enderby's Mill, London Road, St. Ives, Huntingdonshire.

May

Sinclair Radionics profits £85,000 on turnover of £563,000

June

IC12 integrated circuit amplifier announced, priced at £2.98

May

Sinclair Radionics profits £97,000 on turnover of £761,000

June

Executive calculator launced, priced at £79.95, wins Design Centre Award.

Appoints Primary Contact as advertising agency.

October

Q30 loudspeaker launched.

May

Sinclair Radionics generates a turnover of £1.8m.

August

Sinclair Cambridge calculator introduced, priced at £29.95 excluding VAT ready-built and £24.95 in kit form.

September

Ablesdeal Ltd. registered.

November

Executive Memory calculator launched, priced at £24.95 excluding VAT.

December

Project 80 redevelopment of Project 60 modules launched with advice on building it into your furniture included.

February

£1.5m of Executive calculators sold to Japan.

April

Sinclair Scientific calculator launched, priced at £19.95 excluding VAT ready-built and £14.95 in kit form.

DM1 multimeter launched but unavailable.

May

Sinclair Radionics profits £240,000 on turnover of £4m.

June

System 4000 hi-fi system launched.

November

Clive Sinclair receives Institute of Marketing award.

DM1 multimeter kit reduced in price to £24.95

Sinclair Radionics Inc., USA founded with Nigel Searle as President.

February

Ablesdeal Ltd becomes Westminster Mail Order Ltd.

DM2 digital multimeter launched, priced at £59 excluding VAT.

March

Oxford range of calculators launched: '100', £12.95; '200', £19.95; '300', £29.95, excluding VAT.

April

Sinclair Radionics wins Queen's Award to Industry.

Sinclair Radionics profits £45,000 on turnover of £6.3m.

August

Cambridge Scientific Programmable (Mk 1) calculator launched at £29.95 excluding VAT.

Westminster Mail Order Ltd. becomes Sinclair Instruments Ltd.

November

Black Watch announced.

January

Black Watch available with 'totally in-house designed chip', priced at £17.95 in kit form.

March

Black Watch kit reduced in price to £14.95

April

Sinclair Radionics reports a loss of £355,000 on turnover of £5.6m.

Black Watch available ready-built, priced at £24.95.

July

Black Watch adverts cease to appear.

August

National Enterprise Board (NEB) injects £650,000 capital for 43% stake in Sinclair Radionics.

October

National Research and Development Council agrees to £1m input into flat-screen television.

January

Microvision TV1A pocket television launched, priced at £225, production 200 a month.

February

Cambridge Scientific Programmable (Mk 2) launched, priced at £17.22 with program library at £4.95

Sinclair Instruments Ltd. launches Wristwatch Calculator, priced at £9.95 in kit form.

April

Sovereign calculator in 'brushed chrome' wins Design Centre Award.

Sinclair Radionics reports a loss of £820,000 for the previous twelve months.

July

NEB injects a further £1.65m to take 73% equity in Sinclair Radionics, and extend loan facility of £1m.

Norman Hewett appointed Managing Director of Sinclair Radionics on behalf of NEB.

Sinclair Instruments Ltd. becomes Science of Cambridge Ltd.

Clive Sinclair and Norman Hewett visit Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

October

Enterprise calculator launched at £9.95

November

Microquartz car clock produced for retail at £12.95

December

Sinclair Radionics reports a loss of £1.29m for the previous eight months.

February

President desktop calculator launched.

April

Microvision wins Design Centre Award.

June

Science of Cambridge Ltd. launch the MK-14 microcomputer, priced at £39.95 excluding VAT in kit form.

July

Norman Hewett leaves Sinclair Radionics.

Science of Cambridge Ltd. offers a VDU module, priced at £33.75, a cassette interface at £7.25, and PROM programming card at £11.85 for the MK-14.

Enterprise Programmable Calculator launched, priced at £25

September

Michael Pye is appointed Managing Director of Sinclair Radionics.

November

Simplified UK version of Microvision TV1B launched, priced at £99.95

December

Sinclair Radionics reports a loss of £1.98m on £6.39m turnover. Total NEB investment: £4.45m, plus trading losses.

Design work starts on the machine that later became the Grundy NewBrain.

March

Sinclair PFM-200 frequency meter launched, priced at £49.80.

April

Science of Cambridge Ltd. commission ZX-80 version of NEB announces plans to sell off calculator and TV interests of Sinclair Radionics.

July

Clive Sinclair resigns from Sinclair Radionics with £10,000 golden handshake.

August

Binatone pays in excess of £1m for stock and rights to Microvision and Enterprise calculators.

September

NEB shift instruments division into Sinclair Electronics.

December

NEB loss totals £7.8m on Sinclair Radionics operation.

January

Sinclair Electronics becomes Thandar Electronics Ltd. Sinclair Radionics ceases to exist.

February

Sinclair ZX-80 launched, priced at £79.95 in kit form. Ready-built versions are to be made available in March, priced at £99.95. Power supplies £8.95. Memory expansions ranging from 1K, priced at £28.00, to 15K priced at £276.00, are available.

March

Science of Cambridge Ltd. reports a profit of £131,000 on turnover of £640,000

Work starts on HK ROM for ZX-80 with extended ROM for ZX-80 withdrawn.

Clive Sinclair is appointed Chairman of British Mensa.

February

£5m, four-year capital investment in flat-screen TV production announced by Sinclair for Timex plant includes £2.6m grants from Department of Industry and SEPD.

First flat-screen TV production models to be called Microvision 2700, priced 'about £50' and 'expected summer 1982'.

Clive Sinclair announces that the ZX-80 will be linked to flat-screen-TV 'some time next year'.

March

ZX-80 advertisements announce 16K RAM pack memory add-on and claim 'over 20,000' sold.

Sinclair Computers Ltd. becomes Sinclair Research Ltd.

Clive Sinclair denies ZX range will use flat-screen TV.

ZX-81 launched, priced at £69.95 ready-built and £49.95 in kit form. 16K RAM pack £49.95.

ZX-80 discontinued after sales of some 50,000 units.

ZX Printer announced for June.

Sinclair Research Ltd. reports pre-tax profits of £818,000 on turnover of £4.6m.

Clive Sinclair receives payment of £242,000 in past year.

ZX-81 square root bug discovered.

April

Despite assurances, users are still reporting faults in RAM packs.

May

Sinclair offer secondary schools the opportunity to purchase one ZX-81 and RAM pack at 46% discount.

Cive Sinclair states that a '4- or 5-inch flat screen will be incorporated into ZX-81.'

June

Sinclair Browne Ltd. publishing company formed.

July

ZX-81 delivery delays of up to nine weeks reported.

September

W.H. Smith start retail sales of ZX-81.

ZX Printer launched, priced at £49.95

October

ZX-81 sales exceed 100,000

Mitsui take ZX-81 for sale in Japan.

American Express test-market mail order ZX-81.

December

ZX-81 sales exceed 250,000 with monthly production of 50,000.

Faulty ROM still being shipped.

ICL announces plans to use Sinclair BASIC and flat-tube TV for 'One-Per-Desk' (OPD) terminal/telephone workstation.

February

Timex are licensed to manufacture and market Sinclair products in USA.

March

Sinclair Research reports profits of £8.55m on turnover of £27.17m, including £383,000 government grants for flat screen television.

Clive Sinclair receives £1m bonus in addition to £13,000 salary for past year.

Employees' total salary £400,000

ZX-81 discounted to $53 by some retailers in US.

April

ZX Spectrum launched, priced at £125 for 16K RAM and £175 for 48K, upgrade £60, 'for delivery in two weeks.'

ZX-81 16K RAM pack reduced to £29.95

ZX Printer price increases to £59.95

ZX Microdrive announced, priced at £50, RS232 (serial interface) unit at £20

June

First ZX Spectrum deliveries reported.

July

ZX Spectrums start to roll off production lines after initial ULA chip problems resolved.

ZX Spectrum approved for use in secondary schools under Government support scheme.

Annual three-week holiday at Timex halts ZX Spectrum production.

Timex launches TS-1000 in USA.

August

ZX-81 price reduced to £49.95.

Boots start retail sales of ZX-81

Prism Microproducts to start wholesaling ZX-81.

September

Sinclair Research Ltd. includes a free ZX Printer and LOGO language program with every ZX Spectrum bought under Government's 'Micros in Schools' scheme.

Currys and John Menzies start retail sales of ZX-81.

October

ZX-81 sales exceed 500,000 units Worldwide.

Sinclair Research Ltd. claims advertisements for Dragon computers used ZX Spectrum details in a misleading fashion.

Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upholds complaints against ZX Spectrum advertisements on grounds of 'appalling delays' in delivery.

November

W.H. Smith's agree to take ZX Spectrum on retail basis, order 6,000 but 'only 300 turned up.'

December

ZX Spectrum order backlog still three months.

Sinclair Research Ltd. confirms new computer under development, to incorporate 'flat screen' and 'dual microfloppies.'

January

ZX Spectrum launched at Las Vegas CES

Sinclair threatens to stop production at Timex Dundee plant if strike over redundancies takes place.

N. M. Rothschild & Son place 400,000 shares (10% of equity) of Sinclair Research Ltd. at £34 each with financial institutions, valuing the company at £136m. Clive Sinclair now owns 85%, gains £13.6m as result of sale.

February

Boots, John Menzies and Currys start retail sales of ZX Spectrum.

Prism Microproducts starts wholesaling.

First Sinclair Prize for Fiction won by 'Death is Part of the Process'' by Hilda Bernstein.

Computer division of Sinclair Research Ltd. moves to Willis Rd, Cambridge.

March

Sinclair Research profits of £13.8m on £54.53m turnover, including £1.1m flat TV grants.

Clive Sinclair receives salary of £82,000

ZX Spectrum sales reach 200,000.

Nigel Searle heads Computer Division, and is MD

Clive Sinclair heads Advance Products Division. Employs fifty-five staff, but claims creation of 'more than 2000' jobs.

14,000 Spectrum faulty power packs recalled

Clive Sinclair wins 'Young Businessman of the Year Award' from The Guardian.

April

TS-2000 announced in the USA, with TS-2040 printer.

TS-1000 sales 600,000 reach to date

Sinclair Research Ltd. abandons plans for Prestel/Teletext adaptor, originally announced at ZX Spectrum launch.

May

16K ZX Spectrum price reduced to £99.95

48K ZX Spectrum price reduced to £129.95

ZX Printer price reduced to to £39.95

ZX-81 price reduced to £39.95

Kempston launch Centronics (Parallel) standard Printer Interface, priced at £45, and a Joystick Interface priced at £25 for the ZX Spectrum.

Micronet 800 launch Prestel/Teletext adaptor for the ZX Spectrum.

16K to 48K RAM upgrade for the ZX Spectrum, priced at £60, becomes available one year after promised.

Plans for official ZX Spectrum Modem abandoned on grounds of lack of profit margins.

ZX Microdrive launch announced for end of May.

Nigel Searle announces that 'ZX-84 to be a portable'.

Richard Cutting recruited to head 'MetaLab' Research Centre.

June

Clive Sinclair receives Knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II.

July

ZX Interface I and ZX Microdrive launched. ZX Interface I is priced at £29.95 if purchased with ZX Microdrive(s) and £49.95 without. ZX Microdrives priced at £49.95 each, with cartridges costing £4.95 each. Supply is rationed by Sinclair Research Ltd.

Milton Hall, purchased for £2m, becomes the home of MetaLab

ZX-81 shipments 'in excess of 30,000' a month but W. H. Smith cut back machine and software purchases owing to 'lack of demand'

Timex announce TS-1500 upgrade of TS-1000 with 16K memory, priced at $80, and TS-2000 version of ZX Spectrum, priced at $150 for the 16K model and $200 for the 48K machine.

Issue 3 of ZX Spectrum board, with redesigned ULA, is shipped but proves incompatible with some software for earlier issues.

September

Sinclair Research Ltd. introduces flat-screen pocket TV, priced at £79.95. Uses Polaroid battery packs at £3.30 each.

ZX Interface II Joystick and ROM Cartridge add-on for ZX Spectrum launched, priced at £19.95

Prism Microproducts produces ZX Spectrum Modem, prced at £99.95

Sinclair Research Ltd.claims Issue 3 board problems due to 'unprofessional practices' by software houses.

October

Sir Clive Sinclair allocates £400,000 for 'deluxe Knightsbridge dwelling' construction from £1m bonus from Sinclair Research Ltd. for year ending March 1982.

Sir Clive Sinclair receives salary of £82,000 for 1983.

December

Flat-screen TV price increases to £99.95

£50,000 advertising campaign started for TV.

W. H. Smith orders 7000 for Christmas delivery, 'only 300' turn up.

January

Sinclair QL computer launched.

February

Timex discontinues computer production in USA.

March

Sinclair Research Ltd. reports profit of £14.28m on turnover of £77.69m, including £309,000 in Government grants.

April

ZX Interface I and ZX Microdrive available through retail outlets.

May

First reported delivery of a Sinclair QL to mail order customer. Returned returned within a week.

The ASA upholds complaints on QL advertising delivery claims, and ZX Spectrum Chess program advertising.

Sinclair Vehicles moves to University of Warwick Science Park. Barry Wills is MD.

June

Sinclair Research Ltd. announces that the ZX Interface I ROM is to be changed.

July

Production of the Sinclair QL is reported to be '2000 a week.'

Corrected versions of QL User Guide due in August. Sinclair Research Ltd. expects 250,000 QL's to be sold by the end of 1985.

Improved PSION Software packages promised for 'later in the year'

AB Electronics, located in South Wales, and Samsung Electronics of Korea are appointed as ZX Spectrum assemblers.

Projected 200,000 a month production of ZX Spectrums by the end of 1984, 50,000 a month for Sinclair QL, 20,000 a month for flat-screen TV.

August

ZX Spectrum LOGO language launched by Sinclair Research Ltd., priced at £39.00

September

Sinclair QL and flat-screen TV available through retail outlets.

QL 'now in large volume production.'

October

An improved 48K ZX Spectrum, the ZX Spectrum+, is released at £179.95

ICL's 'One-Per-Desk' workstation launched, using Sinclair Microdrives and SuperBASIC.

Sinclair Research Ltd. predicts record sales of 400,000 ZX Spectrums in fourth quarter, with 175,000 ZX Spectrums to be shipped in December.

ZX Spectrum shipments reach 2m units.

£4m advertising campaign starts.

10th January

C5 electric vehicle launched, priced at £399

16th January

Sinclair shows FM wristwatch radio at Las Vegas CES.

20th January

ZX Spectrum+ price reduced to £129.95

48K ZX Spectrum discontinued.

Upgrade of ZX Spectrum to ZX Spectrum+ offered for £30, or £20 in kit form.

30th January

ZX Microdrive cartridge price reduced to £1.99 as cartridge sales reach 750,000.

Free duplication and bulk carriage purchase offered to software houses to boost QL software.

Febraury

QL production suspended.

ICL launch 'One-Per-Desk' workstation with Sinclair microdrives, a version of SuperBASIC and PSION Software packages.

7th February

Sinclair Research Ltd. suspends stock market flotation.

9th February

Sinclair Vehicles reports 5,000 orders for C5.

20th February

Sinclair Research Ltd. restructures into TV and Communications Divisions. TV division is headed by Bill Jeffrey, brought in from Mars Electronics. Computer Division is headed by Davis Chatten, previously a Sinclair Production Director. Hugo Davenport, previously with Solatron-Schlumberger, is appointed Engineering Director.

Nigel Searle transfers to head US operation for QL, FM wristwatch radio and flat-screen TV mail order.

Sinclair Research Ltd. holds overseas distributors conference, displaying 33 software packages and 17 peripherals available, or projected, for the QL.

22nd February

Improved version 2.0 PSION Software packages for the QL are announced, to be shipped with new QLs. Free upgrades are to be provided to QLUB members.

March

Production faults on C5 halt production for three weeks.

Unemployed teenagers are hired to drive C5's around London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.

12th March

Plans to form and seek funding for separate company for wafer-scale chips under Robb Wilmot are announced by Sir Clive Sinclair. Robb Wilmot is appointed a director of Sinclair Research Ltd.

Institutions holding 10% shares told profits to December are £7.9m on £89m turnover, stocks held £34m.

25th March

Intensive television and press marketing campaign for QL starts. Sinclair Research Ltd. states it 'intends' to sell 200,000 QLs this year.

April

Figures, not released until November, show pre-tax loss of £18m on turnover of £102m. £22m written off for decrease in stock value and bad debts.

14th April

The C5 is banned in Holland.

16th April

Spanish language QL launched.

25th April

ASA upholds complaints on unsubstantiated claims in C5 adverts in draft report.

Hoover cut C5 workforce from 100 to 12 and production from 1000 a week to 100.

May

Several London retailers discount QL prices in stores.

Hoover make C5 production controller redundant.

14th May

French language QL launched.

25th May

Sinclair Research Ltd. confirms it is seeking £10m-15m to 'fund long-term growth and restructuring' and a new Chief Executive to replace Sir Clive Sinclair in this role. Sir Clive Sinclair to retain his position as Chairman, and counters reports of weak computer market by stating they shipped 300,000 Spectrums in the pre-Christmas period.

2nd June

Sinclair Vehicles confirms it is looking to sell company. 'About 9000' C5s sold.

6th June

Timex sell ZX Spectrums directly to Zeta Services to reduce debts owed by Sinclair Research Ltd.

17th June

Robert Maxwell announces rescue bid for Sinclair Research Ltd., which has £15m debts. Deal to leave Sir Clive Sinclair with 8%, Chairmanship and Consultancy.

Sinclair Research Ltd. announces wafer-scale integration process proven viable for commercial production, to be used in 500K memory add-on for QL.

July

Timex lay off 400 workers from ZX Spectrum assembly line, but continue flat-screen TV production.

Boots say ZX Spectrum+ returns are running at 20-30%.

13th July

Hoover issue writ against Sir Clive Sinclair for £1.5m due for work done on C5, but it is not served.

17th July

ASA upholds four out of five complaints on misleading C5 advertisements.

August

Robert Maxwell abandone Sinclair Research Ltd. takeover.

Dixons purchase 160,000 computers and flat-screen TVs for £10m.

August 13th

Hoover ceases C5 production.

24th August

QL price reduced in price from £399 to £199.95

September

Sinclair Vehicles renamed as TPD Ltd.

Comet reduces C5 price to £189, including accessories.

19th September

Digital Research confirms talks are taking place with Sinclair Research Ltd. over GEM Operating System for QL.

23rd September

128K ZX Spectrum unveiled at Barcelona Computer Fair, result of joint venture with Investronica and Sinclair Research Ltd.

14th October

Receivers called in to TPD Ltd. Only 4500 C5s sold in total.

17th October

'Pandora' 68000 based portable scheduled for April 1986, priced at £300.

25th October

'Enigma' leaked to Your Computer Magazine, May 1986. Features 3½ inch disc drive, mouse, monitor, printer and PSION Software packages for '£500-1000'.

'Pandora' will be ZX Spectrum, Z80 chip based.

'Personal Communicator' L99 portable Cellnet phone leaked to press.

6th November

TPD Ltd. goes into voluntary liquidation with debts of £6.4m.

Sinclair Vehicles (Sales) Ltd. to continue electric car projects.

6th February

Timex take over worldwide marketing and distribution of flat-screen pocket TV, with price cut to £79.95.

13th February

ZX Spectrum 128K launched in UK, featuring a new sound chip, video output, improved BASIC editor, full keyboard input, non-standard RS232 port, keypad interface and no "dot crawl", with 128K memory for £179.95. Numeric keypad available separately for £19.95. Disc drive promised. Clive Sinclair says '"Pandora" could just be a CP/M machine.'

13th March

Amstrad announce PCW-8512 machine, with twin disc drives, 512K memory, monitor and printer for £573.85.

April

C5's go on sale in the USA, priced at $595 ready-built or $395 in kit form.

7th April

Amstrad pays £5m for all rights to existing Sinclair computer products, and commits £11m for outstanding orders and work in progress. Sinclair Research becomes research and consultancy, two separate subsidiaries to be formed, one with Timex holding 75 percent for portable phone project, one with Barclays Bank funding for wafer-scale development.

7th July

Anamartic Ltd. launched. Seeks to raise £6m to produce wafer-scale memory device for production in early 1987.