Thomson Logo PNG
The Thomson logo has a secret. The emblem contains an encrypted message about the great people who founded the brand. The sign signifies partnership and the connection among the conglomerate’s different branches.
Thomson’s history began in 1879 in the United States, when engineers Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston founded Thomson-Houston Electric Company. On April 15, 1892, it merged with Edison General Electric Company to form General Electric. Around the same time, the group opened Thomson Houston International, and in 1893, Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston was established in Paris.
The French company worked in power supply and electric traction motors for city tramways. In 1903, GE sold the French subsidiary to local investors, who kept the founders’ name and continued licensing ties with GE. From 1921, the company moved into consumer products, following the model of General Electric. In the 1920s and 1930s, Thomson-Houston entered civilian and military radio systems.
In 1928, part of Thomson-Houston’s assets merged with SACM to form Alsthom. In 1966, Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston merged with Hotchkiss-Brandt, a maker of appliances and weapons, and became Thomson-Brandt. In 1968, its electronics division joined Compagnie Générale de Télégraphie Sans Fil, creating Thomson-CSF, focused on defense and communications electronics.
In 1982, under François Mitterrand, Thomson-Brandt and Thomson-CSF were nationalized and combined as Thomson SA. In 1983, Thomson acquired Telefunken. In June 1987, it bought Thorn-EMI’s consumer electronics division. In July 1987, Thomson exchanged Compagnie Générale de Radiologie and cash for General Electric’s consumer electronics business, gaining RCA and GE brand rights. Thomson Consumer Electronics appeared in 1988, became Thomson Multimedia in 1995, while Thomson-CSF was later privatized and renamed Thales Group in 2000. Thomson SA became Technicolor SA in 2010.
Meaning and History
Despite multiple relocations, mergers, and name changes, the French division maintained a consistent logo for over 100 years until the brand’s new owners ceased production. The Thomson brand dates back to 1925, when the first logo likely appeared. There were several minor modifications to the sign, but the combination of the first letters remained the hallmark of each emblem.
What is Thomson?
A European brand of TVs, tablets, smartphones, routers, receivers, and multimedia, founded in France in 1893 as a subsidiary of American General Electric. It is now marketed under the Technicolor brand. The company has representations in the US, Belgium, England, and India.
1892 – today
The company logo is simple and has a red inscription in uppercase letters. Its only feature is merging the first letters T and H, which have become one.
The technique indicates the numerous acquisition and merger processes the company has experienced:
- Thomson CFTH was born through the merger of two companies.
- In 1966, Hotchkiss-Brandt was acquired, forming Thomson-Brandt.
- Then, in 1968, a partial merger with Compagnie Générale de Télégraphie Sans Fil and the formation of Thomson-CSF.
- In 1982, Thomson-Brandt was renamed Thomson SA and merged with Thomson-CSF.
The special emphasis on the letters T and H is associated with the names Thomson and Houston, which are part of the company’s historical past. American inventors Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston made significant contributions to the industry. They were also at the origins of the parent company, Thomson-Houston Electric Company (the future General Electric). Its divisions, Société Française Thomson-Houston and Edison-Lalande, became part of French Thomson.
Interestingly, the French branch was sponsored by entrepreneur François Charles Thompson, who was unrelated to Elihu Thomson, despite the similarity of their last names. Ultimately, the brand name is associated with these two historical figures. One founded the parent company, and the other its French subsidiary.
Highlighting these two letters emphasizes the number 2, which is significant for the company. Formed by the union of two large enterprises in 1893, the brand was reborn in 1982 as the Thomson Group, the result of a merger. In 1999, the single corporation split into two: Thomson Multimedia and Thomson-CSF.
The inscription’s slant speaks to the aspiration for development and forward movement, while the capital letters signify the brand’s significant role in the market.
Font and Colors
Red is the color of life, growth, and leadership. The company itself is the result of General Electric’s development and expansion into European countries. The shade is related to energy and electricity, which GE founder Elihu Thomson worked on. Red tells the story of the brand’s rise to the top, which has long competed with Sony and Samsung.
The font of the inscription is similar to ITC Blair Bold Italic. The wide letters indicate the scope of the corporation, which has production capabilities worldwide.