1882 - Sebastian de Ferranti left Siemens Brothers to form Ferranti, Thompson & Ince Ltd. He patented a dynamo with a zigzag armature that he had begun to develop at the age of 16. As Sir William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) had patented a similar armature, the dynamo was marketed as the Ferranti-Thomson alternator.

1883 - Ferranti, Thompson & Ince Ltd was dissolved. With Robert Hammond, Sebastian de Ferranti formed a new company, the Ferranti Hammond Electric Light Co. This company was also short-lived, lasting for only two years.