Giant Corporation, Armstrong Co Ltd
by Shou Satou
Oct 31 2007
1.Topic
a.What kind of value did Japanese market have for Armstrong?
b.Why did Armstrong accomplish a rapid growth in only 30〜40 years?
2.Japanese market
In the End of Edo Period to Meiji Revolution, Japan imported warships
from abroad. Most of them were old ships. This continuied until the
beginning of the 20th century.However, Japan hurried the Naval
expantion plan, and Armstrong and UK supported Japan. So Japanese Navy
had many high-powered warships.
3.Armstrong
In 1847, W･G･Armstrong company was established. Armstrong made
Armstrong Cannon. The cannon played an active part in Arrow War,
Anglo-Satuma War and so on.
In the 1860s, Armstrong began to cooperate with a shipbuilding company.
After this, importation of warships played a central role.
4.Rapid growth of Armstrong company
Royal Navy consigned warships to private company. Non weapons section
were generally under free competition, but Armor and gun were
monopolized by few company. To monopolize these section, Armstrong
repeated the mergers. Through these mergers, Armstrong grow up to major
munitions company.
5.Back ground of rapid growth
There were large munitions boom from the end of 19th century to early
20th century. In that period, the arms race got violent. In Britain,
expense for warship building increased 10times. In addition, the
ammount assigned to private company increased 22 times.
The Questions and Answers
by Kie Chada
Q(Yanauchi): Could you let me know about your conclusion about question
No.2.
Why did Armstrong accomplish a rapid growth in only 30 to 40 years?
A: Armstrong monopolized weapon section in Britain.
Q(Fuzimura): Most of European countries thought that Japan would not
win the Russo-Japanese War. However, why Britain was so positive to
cooperate with Japan?
A: Britain was interested in China. So Britain wanted to protect China.
Q(Fuzimura): Was Russia attacking China?
A: Britain didn’t want Russia to win the war. So Britain strengthened
Japan to protect the Far East from Russia.
Q(Yasui): Does Armstrong still flourish?
A: Armstrong was
changed into Vickers-Armstrong Limited because of the merger in 1928.
Q(Yasui): Why and when did it disappear?
A: Because Armstrong's management got worse by the postwar depression.
So Armstrong merged with Vickers. Vicers-Armstrong Limited was
nationalized in the 1960's to 1970's.
Q(Tsumura): What was the relationship between Elswick and Armstrong?
A: Because Armstrong’s main factory was in Newcastle.
Q(Shibu): Why Armstrong could monopolize? How did Armstrong get that
position?
A: Armstrong’s engineers were elected for the important position in the
Navy.
Q(Fuzikawa): So why those engineers were selected?
A: The person, William White, was the designer of the warship in the
Navy. After that Armstrong employed him and got the good connection
with the Navy.
Q(Fuzikawa): How Armstrong did get the good connection with the Navy?
A: Cannons of Armstrong were adopted by the Navy. It was because of
advance in technology.
Q(Harada): Was there any influence from Britain on Armstrong’s way to
deal with commerce?
A: Britain didn’t want Armstrong to spread their technology because
Britain didn’t want to strengthen other countries. So there was some
kind of influence from Britain.
Q(Fuzikawa): Why did Britain approve that Armstrong would sell the most
advanced weapons to other countries even to Japan?
A: Britain wanted to inspect their newest technology in the real war.
So Britain used Japan’s Navy for experiment.
Q(Yasui): What does ‘Merchant of death’ mean?
A: That means Armstrong was not engineers but merchants of weapons.
Yanauchi Fumio
Mr.Sato set two arguments before all. and each one was explicated.But I
couldn't see any relation between those, the development of Armstrong
and its position in the commerce with Japan.
about other point, his resume with tables , graphics in power point ,
he did very well.
Harada Suguru
I think you prepared pretty well, and you made a good presentation. But
I will make some comments about your Question-and-Answer time. I have
to say that it was not good that you referred your dictionary many
times. You should have said with your vocabulary. If you couldn't find
appropriate words, the professor and other audience would support you,
I think. And when you were asked questions, you always read the
textbook. I doubt it was great. You should have remembered the contents
to some extent. As a whole, I wanted you to predict audience's
questions and prepare for them. Oh, I might say too much to you. You
can say too aggressive comments to me next time.
Fujimura Yasuhiro
About Mr.Sato's presentation,
I suppose Merchant of death means prohibition of free transaction . Mr
Sato should explain that at first , because the title of article is
"Merchant of death in British Empire" .
Why Armstrong Company can get the monopolized position ?
I suppose they have the forefront technology , so they can get the
connection with navy and get the good positoin .
Shibu Junnosuke
Thank you for your presentation. I have never known about Armstrong Co
Ltd until I heard your presentation. I was very surprised at your
opinion that Britain used Japanese Navy to inspect how effective
British newest technology is. I thought , in the era of imperialism,
there were many complicated thoughts among the Great Powers. Anyway you
are the first person of other third-year students that made
presentation. I want to refer to your presentation and I also want to
do my best.
Chiyada Kie
I really enjoyed Sato's presentation. His topic was so unique because
the enterprise, Armstrong co.ltd., was dealt with. He said his
graduation thesis will be another, but I want him to deepen this theme.