Federal Telephone & Radio Corporation
founded 1940
Federal Telephone & Telegraph Co. began as Federal Telegraph, in the late 19th century, based in Palo Alto, California. It began buying out smaller telephone companies including several on the East Coast, including Century Telephone Construction Company, based in Buffalo, NY. In the early 1900s Century was one of several smaller companies that merged with Federal. In 1909 Federal's name was changed to Federal Telephone and Telegraph.
Federal Telephone and Telegraph Co. operated a manufacturing facility in Buffalo, New York which produced telephone, telegraph and radio apparatus. It was headed by President B. G. Hubbell.
In 1901 Federal opened a telephone exchange in Salamanca, NY. The Salamanca Telegraph & Telephone Co., founded in Salamanca in 1899 as one of the first independent telephone exchanges in New York State. It merged with Federal Telephone & Telegraph Co. in 1910.
FTC's chief engineer was Frederick Kolster, sometimes credited inventor of the directional loop antenna. Lee DeForest was associated with the company at one time. During the mid-twenties, FTC built consumer radios under the "Kolster" brand name. Mackay Radio & Telegraph Company had close ties to FTC and all early Mackay maritime radio equipment was built by FTC. When Mackay was purchased by ITT in 1928, it was not very long before FTC also was added to the growing list of companies owned or controlled by ITT. The purchase took place around 1931 and at this time FTC moved to New Jersey. In New Jersey, FTC continued to build maritime radio equipment, usually for Mackay Radio. Around 1940, Federal Telegraph Company's name was changed to Federal Telephone & Radio Corporation.