IBM Endicott: a work-history dossier
Endicott was not simply an IBM office. Public records document a large, long-running manufacturing and engineering complex in Broome County. For a mesothelioma investigation, the useful question is not merely “Did you work for IBM?” but where, when, in what building or department, and around what work.
What the public record establishes
How Endicott fits into IBM's history
The predecessor history started in Binghamton
IBM's history of International Time Recording says the company relocated from Binghamton to Endicott in 1907. That means a family memory of “IBM around Binghamton” needs geographic clarification before it becomes a workplace conclusion.
Endicott became a central company location
IBM says C-T-R was incorporated in 1911 and its headquarters moved to Endicott. The company later adopted the IBM name in 1924.
Endicott built and developed major IBM systems
IBM documents the development of the IBM 650 in its Endicott laboratory and 1950s production activity there. IBM also documents extensive employee education in Endicott.
A timeline for reconstructing an Endicott work history
Binghamton predecessor operations
International Time Recording had a factory presence in Binghamton before moving to Endicott.
Move to Endicott
International Time Recording relocated to Endicott, anchoring the future IBM story there.
C-T-R headquarters and the IBM name
C-T-R formed in 1911; IBM's history places its headquarters in Endicott. The company became International Business Machines in 1924.
Manufacturing, laboratories and training expanded
IBM sources document the Endicott Schoolhouse, employee education and major product development and production activity.
The IBM 650 and electronic computing era
IBM announced development of the 650 from its Endicott laboratory in 1953 and preserves images of production activity there.
Environmental investigation and cleanup record
NYSDEC's 2025 update says VOC contamination was discovered in soil and groundwater in 1979 and describes decades of investigation and cleanup overseen by the state.
Interconnect-products operations sold
IBM's 2004 annual report records the sale of its Endicott interconnect-products operations to Endicott Interconnect Technologies.
The campus was large enough that “IBM Endicott” is still too broad
NYSDEC divides the former IBM Endicott site into multiple operable units and identifies different source and cleanup areas. For work-history reconstruction, building numbers, street side, department, product line and adjacent work can matter.
What H&S would investigate next
If a person with mesothelioma remembers IBM Endicott, we would try to connect the remembered years and work to more specific records: building and department history, job descriptions, union or Social Security records, coworkers, contractors, equipment, maintenance records, construction or renovation documents, product records and available testimony.
You do not need to identify an asbestos product yourself.
Start with what you remember → How H&S investigates a jobsite →
Primary and authoritative sources
- IBM — International Time Recording Company Binghamton / Endicott history
- IBM — The origins of IBM Company history
- IBM — The IBM 650 Endicott laboratory / production
- IBM — Education at IBM Endicott institutional history
- NYSDEC — Former IBM Endicott Site, April 2025 Community Update Government update
- NYSDEC — 2004 Consent Order for Former IBM Endicott Facility / cleanup record
- NYSDOH — Endicott Area Investigations Public health / industrial history
- IBM 2004 Annual Report 2002 Endicott transaction
Do not confuse Endicott with TechCity / Kingston.
The former IBM facility in the Town of Ulster has a separate EPA asbestos cleanup record. It is a different workplace and a different evidentiary history.