Western Electric Company
1869 - 1995
Founded by Elisha Gray and Enos Barton as a Cleveland workshop in 1869, the company moved to Chicago in 1872 and called itself the Western Electric Manufacturing Company. It produced electrical equipment for Western Union and Morse telegraph instruments.
In 1881 it had become a subsidiary of American Bell Telephone (est. 1877 in Boston), and soon was a major supplier of telephone equipment. The company opened a new operations in New York City. Once American Telephone & Telegraph became the parent of American Bell and led the Bell System, Western Electric might be seen as AT&T's manufacturing arm.
In 1905, the Hawthorne Works opened outside of Chicago. It had over 20 factories along with its own power plant and city functions.
In 1907 the research and development departments of Western Electric and AT&T were consolidated in a single New York City building at 463 West Street. In 1925, the engineering department was renamed Bell Telephone Laboratories, with half owned by Western Electric and half by AT&T. The transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947.
In 1912, Harold Arnold and Western Electric engineers are able to witness De Forest's Audion, and buy the patent. Within months they develop the first high-vacuum tube. It is used to amplify sound.
In 1915, the Arnold team establish the first transcontinental telephone lines from New York to San Francisco. In 1916, Edward Christopher Wente developed the condenser microphone for Western Electric.
In 1881 it had become a subsidiary of American Bell Telephone (est. 1877 in Boston), and soon was a major supplier of telephone equipment. The company opened a new operations in New York City. Once American Telephone & Telegraph became the parent of American Bell and led the Bell System, Western Electric might be seen as AT&T's manufacturing arm.
In 1905, the Hawthorne Works opened outside of Chicago. It had over 20 factories along with its own power plant and city functions.
In 1907 the research and development departments of Western Electric and AT&T were consolidated in a single New York City building at 463 West Street. In 1925, the engineering department was renamed Bell Telephone Laboratories, with half owned by Western Electric and half by AT&T. The transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947.
In 1912, Harold Arnold and Western Electric engineers are able to witness De Forest's Audion, and buy the patent. Within months they develop the first high-vacuum tube. It is used to amplify sound.
In 1915, the Arnold team establish the first transcontinental telephone lines from New York to San Francisco. In 1916, Edward Christopher Wente developed the condenser microphone for Western Electric.