56 – 1956 Ford F100

In 1956, the F100 reached its finest design. Many changes were implemented that make this truck the best of the 53-56 Ford pickups. It might be the coolest truck ever built, but that’s my opinion. The easiest and quickest way to recognize a 56 over the 53-55 F100 models is by the cab. The slant front windshield pillars from 53-55 F100 are gone in favor of a more refined wrap around windshield on the 56 F100. A lot of people call the 53-55 trucks “slant cabs” because of the windshield and front cab pillars that slant up to the roof. This 56 cab design change leads to all kinds of additional changes. 53-55 slant cab trucks had a triangle shaped vent window to match the slant. 1956 F100 models have a more rectangular shaped vent window. Of course the door windows and division bars are different from slant cab models also. One of the most sought after options on the 56 F100 is the big back window truck. There were fewer of these made and they literally had a huge back window. The front grille & parking light assemblies are unique to 56 models. Because the headlights are sunken into the buckets on the grille, 56 F100 air deflectors have a dished out area for the headlight bucket to have room. The dash gauge area became arched on the 56 F100, rather than flat as on 53-55 models. 1956 also saw a new 12 volt electrical system. Vacuum wipers were gone in favor of an electric wiper system. Rear tail lights were the shield type. The engine line-up for the 56 F100 consisted of a 223 straight 6 cylinder as well as a 272 V8, though there were 3 versions of the 272 available in 56. There was a 2V carburetor light duty 272 engine and a 2V carburetor heavy duty 272. The third variation of the 272 was a 4V carburetor heavy duty engine.

1994-1955 Ford F100

Few things changed for the 54 F100. Basic changes to the 54 F100 included a redesigned grille and other minor trim changes including a few new paint colors. The most notable change on the 54 F100 occurred in the engine compartment. Flathead V8 engines were gone. Two new overhead valve engines were available. 54 F100 engines were slightly larger. Available engines were: 223 Straight 6, 239 V8 and 256 V8. Otherwise the 1954 F100 was a repeat of the 53. No reason to change much on a great truck!

There were few changes again for the 55 F100 over the 53 and 54. A new grille was designed for the 55 F100 as well as matching chrome parts. Side chrome hood trim became more elaborate rather than the more simple block F100 letters from the 53 and 54. A custom cab option was available on the 55 F100. A custom cab truck came with chrome Custom Cab door emblems. Some paint colors changed for the 55 F100. Engine combinations remained the same on the 54 and 55 F100. All were overhead valve engines. Available engines were: 223 Straight 6, 239 V8 and 256 V8.

1953 Ford F100 Information

1953 was the first year of the F100 and the last year you could get a Flathead in a Ford pickup. The new 53 F100 was uniquely styled with a slant cab window, fat fenders and larger cab space than the F1. 1953 was also the 50th anniversary of the Ford pickup. The horn button on the 53 F100 is unique and displays the anniversary year. Differences were minor when compared with today’s truck options. A fresh air cab option on the 53 F100 was available. Deluxe 53 F100 trucks had 6 chrome teeth mounted in the grille – 3 on each side of the center chrome emblem. Deluxe trucks also had a chrome gull wing on each side of the hood surrounding the chrome 53 F100 emblem.

3 Engine options were available: O.H.V. 6 Cylinder-215 cid, L-Head 6 Cylinder-254 cid and the L-Head 8 Cylinder-239 cid (Flathead). Most 53 F100 trucks came with a 3 speed transmission shifted on the column. V8 trucks had a chrome V8 emblem on the center of the grille while 6 cylinder trucks had a chrome 3 pointed star.

Turn signals were not standard equipment. Seat belts were also not available. Vacuum wipers were used and only worked when you let off of the gas to free up vacuum from the engine to run the wipers. Front suspension was a straight axle with leaf springs. Brakes consisted of a single master cylinder with drum brakes on all 4 corners. These are fine for speeds below 45, but hardly safe on today’s roads.

Most parts on the 53 – 55 F100 trucks are the same or will fit. These years are basically the same except for trim and engine options. The grille on the 53 F100 is unique to that year. Front parking lights are the same on 53 and 54 F100 models, as well as the lower valance that runs below the grille. Gull wing chrome and the F100 hood emblems are the same on 53 and 54 F100 trucks. Taillights were also the same on 53 and 54 models and were the round version rather than the shield shape lights found on the 55 and 56.

Microsoft 2005

January 10 Microsoft files a development agreement (DA) with the City of Redmond, WA, outlining its plans to make one of the largest corporate campuses in the world even larger through a major expansion of its corporate headquarters. In the plan, Microsoft also commits up to $30 million to local transportation and infrastructure improvements.

January 11 Microsoft announces the retirement of its Chief Financial Officer of five years, John Connors. He was a 16-year veteran of the company.

January 12 Microsoft Research launches operations at Microsoft Research India (MSRI) in Bangalore. MSRI is to initially focus on geographic information systems (GIS), technologies for emerging markets, multilingual systems, and sensor networks.

February 1 MSN launches a new Search service, available in 25 markets and 10 languages. The new MSN Search service delivers results of greater relevance, instant answers to specific questions, and a collection of tools that give Internet users greater control in targeting and refining searches.

March 30 Microsoft reaches an agreement with the EU to detach MicrosoftMediaplayer from Windows XP – rebranded as WindowsXP N. Microsoft also agrees to pay 497 million Euro in fines.

Microsoft 2004

March 15 The Shared Source Initiative reaches a milestone of 1 million participants. Through Shared Source programs, Microsoft shares source code with customers, governments, partners, academics, and individuals.

April 2 Microsoft and Sun Microsystems enter into a broad technology collaboration arrangement to enable their products to work better together and to settle all pending litigation between the two companies. The companies also enter into agreements on patents and other issues.

July 20 Microsoft’s board of directors approves an $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, plans to buy back up to $30 billion of the company’s stock over four years, and a special one-time dividend of $3 per share. In all, $75 billion is to be returned to shareholders over four years.

August 11 Microsoft announces a five-country pilot program for Windows XP Starter Edition, a low-cost introduction to Windows XP designed for first-time desktop PC users in developing technology markets.

October 12 Bill Gates delivers Microsoft’s vision of digital entertainment anywhere, unveils Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, and showcases a variety of sleek new computer designs, portable media devices, and digital content services.
December 30 Microsoft announces a commitment of $3.5 million in financial support for relief and recovery efforts in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami.

 

Stats

Revenues: $36.84B %Growth 14%
Employees:57,086
Net Income (US$) $8.17B % Growth 8%

Microsoft 2003

Launch of GTSC (Global Technical Support Center) in Bangalore, India
January 16 Microsoft declares annual dividend

April 16 Windows Server System™ replaces .NET Enterprise Servers as the first official portfolio name that encompasses more than a dozen Microsoft server software offerings, including Windows Server™ 2003. The new Windows Server System brand change informs customers that Windows Server 2003 is at the heart of the company’s server strategy and that Microsoft’s server software offerings are being designed around a common architecture to ensure interoperability.

April 24 Windows Server 2003 launches. It is the largest software development project in Microsoft history to date.

June 23 Microsoft announces Windows Mobile, a new global brand for Microsoft software for mobile devices such as Pocket PCs and smart phones. The new Windows Mobile brand helps customers more readily understand and identify the software inside Pocket PCs and smart phones and the consistent experience they can expect.

October 9 Microsoft opens the inaugural Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference for its global network of industry partners, highlighting resources to drive the success of its industry partners, the innovation of its technology offerings, and a renewed commitment to helping partners capture opportunity.

October 21 Microsoft announces the general availability of the new Microsoft Office System, along with research that shows how leading companies are already gaining a competitive advantage from Microsoft Office System productivity solutions.

November 3 Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA) announces the founding of the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Beijing, China, a new division that is to focus on further developing innovations produced in the lab.

November 11 Microsoft shareholders approve the addition of two new directors, Charles H. Noski and Helmut Panke, increasing the size of its board of directors from eight to 10 members.

Microsoft 2001

February 13 Microsoft Windows XP operating system makes its public debut at the Experience Music Project in Seattle.

May 31 Microsoft Office XP launches, promising to unlock hidden knowledge and unleash the next wave of productivity gains

October 25 Microsoft Windows XP is released worldwide.

November 15 Microsoft Xbox® launches, offering the only system on the market designed from the ground up to deliver a complete online gaming experience

Stats

Revenues: $25.30B % Growth 10%
Employees:48,030
Net Income (US$) $7.35B % Growth -22%
June 30, 2001

Microsoft 2000

January 7 Microsoft acquires Visio Corporation, the largest acquisition in Microsoft’s history.

January 13 Bill Gates creates a new role for himself chairman and chief software architect so that he can dedicate all of his time to helping drive the next-generation Windows Internet platform and services. Steve Ballmer becomes president and CEO, and will take over management of the company.

February 17 Microsoft launches Windows 2000

April 3 Microsoft announces the retail availability of Microsoft Project 2000 and the companion, Web-based Microsoft Project Central, a major upgrade to the world’s best-selling project-management software, with more than 5 million users.

June 22 Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer outline Microsoft’s .NET strategy for Web services the vision and road map for its next generation of software and services. Microsoft .NET (pronounced dot net) will provide easier, more personalized, and more productive Internet experiences by harnessing constellations of smart devices and Web sites with advanced software through Internet protocols and formats.

September 14 Microsoft announces the availability of Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me).

September 20 Warner Books publishes Inside Out, Microsoft—In Our Own Words, a commemorative 25th anniversary book.
 
Stats

Revenues: $22.96B % Growth 16%
Employees:39,170
Net Income (US$) $9.42B % Growth 21%

Microsoft 1999

January 8 Microsoft launches Encarta Africana, the first comprehensive encyclopedia of black history and culture

February 24 Microsoft opens its first online store, Shop

March 18 Bill Gates introduces Internet Explorer 5.0 at a launch event on the Microsoft campus in Redmond.. By the following week, more than 1 million downloads of the new version have taken place.

March 24 Bill Gates releases his latest book, Business @ the Speed of Thought, published by Warner Books. At the heart of the new book is a single idea: For businesses to think and move quickly enough to succeed in the fast-paced digital economy, they must enable the flow of digital information.

June 7 Steve Ballmer officially launches Microsoft Office 2000, a key element of the company’s vision of “Knowledge Workers Without Limits.”

September 13 Microsoft announces Windows Distributed interNet Architecture (Windows DNA) 2000, a comprehensive, integrated platform for building and operating state-of-the-art distributed Web applications as well as the next wave of Internet-based Web services

Stats

Revenues: $19.75B % Growth 29%
Employees:31,575
Net Income (US$) $7.79B % Growth 73%

MICROSOFT 1998

WINDOWS CE–Smarter & Better Devices 
 With the 1997 introduction of the handheld PC (HP/C), Windows CE products continue to expand with the introduction of new devices and updated OS versions and applications. The Palm-size PC and the Auto PC along with the HP/C professional edition expand the PC companion line.

 Launch of India Development Center in Hyderabad, India. The center will become the second largest development center outside the US facillity in Redmond (WA)

Microsoft’s Board of Directors approved a 2 for 1 split of its common shares. Shareholders will receive one additional common share held on the record date of February 6, 1998. As of December 31, 1997, Microsoft had approximately 1.2 billion common shares outstanding. This is the seventh time the common stock has split since the company went public on March 13, 1986.

Microsoft realigns its product groups to respond to changing consumer and market needs. The reorganization focuses the product groups on investing in Windows with the goal of delivering simplicity and scalability, allowing businesses to maximize their competitive advantage through their digital nervous system, and promoting the Web lifestyle

Microsoft delivers on its commitment to build innovative products for the Macintosh by releasing Office 98, Macintosh Edition, which offers Mac users all of the features found in Office 97, plus added functionality.

For the first time ever, Exchange Server outsold Lotus Notes in the first quarter of calendar year 1998. In its two years on the market, sales of Exchange Server totaled more than 13 million seats, easily making it the fastest-growing server product in PC history.

Slate becomes the first Internet-based magazine to join the New York Times global news distribution service, which includes content from The Economist and Le Monde

Microsoft launches Windows 98 worldwide

Presidents

On July 21, 1998, Steve Ballmer, 42, is appointed president of Microsoft to broaden the leadership of the company and better position the company to take advantage of future growth opportunities. Ballmer’s new responsibilities include boosting the business discipline and performance of all Microsoft’s existing and emerging businesses as well as improving customer satisfaction.

Bill Gates, 42, will continue as chairman and CEO, and will focus more time on Microsoft’s long-term planning and working with the development teams to devise the technologies and products of the future.
Stats
Revenues: $14.48 billion Growth 30%
Net Revenue (US$) $15.26B %Growth 28%
Employees: 27,055