Western Electric
From NEC Retro
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| Western Electric |
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| Founded: 1869-07-17 |
| Defunct: 1996-07-02 |
| Merged into: Lucent Technologies |
| Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States |
The Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering and manufacturing company that operated from 1869 to 1996. A subsidiary of the AT&T Corporation for most of its lifespan, Western Electric was the primary manufacturer, supplier, and purchasing agent for all telephone equipment for the Bell System from 1881 until 1984, when the Bell System was dismantled. Because the Bell System had a near-total monopoly over telephone service in the United States for much of the 20th century, Western Electric's equipment was widespread across the country. The company was responsible for many technological innovations, as well as developments in industrial management.
The company was, alongside ITT Corporation, one of the main owners of Nippon Electric, until it was spun off in the aftermath of World War II.