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Western Electric

Western Electric (sometimes abbreviated WE and WECo) was a US electrical engineering company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T from 1881 to 1995 . It was the scene of a number of technological innovations and also some seminal developments in industrial management. more...

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It also served as the purchasing agent for the member companies of the Bell system.

In 1856, George Shawk, purchased an electrical engineering business in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1869, he became partners with Enos N. Barton and, later the same year, sold his share to inventor Elisha Gray. In 1872 Barton and Gray moved the business to Clinton Street, Chicago, Illinois and incorporated it as the Western Electric Manufacturing Company. They manufactured a variety of electrical products including typewriters, alarms and lighting and had a close relationship with the telegraph company Western Union to whom they supplied relays and other equipment.

In 1875, Gray sold his interests to Western Union, including the caveat that he had filed against Alexander Graham Bell's patent application for the telephone. The ensuing legal battle over patent rights, between Western Union and the Bell Telephone Company, ended in 1879 with the former company withdrawing from the telephone market and the latter acquiring Western Electric in 1881.

Western Electric Company was the first company to join in a Japanese joint venture with foreign capital. It invested in Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. in 1899, now known as NEC Corporation. Western Electric held 54% of NEC at the time. Their representative in Japan was Walter Tenney Carleton.

Despite the existence of 1300 Independent telephone companies, the Bell System, popularly known as Ma Bell, had an effective monopoly on both long distance and local telephone service from 1881, until its break-up in 1984. AT&T secured all urban areas in the early 20th century. The independent companies were left to serve less-profitable outlying areas and vast stretches of rural America.

The bulk of AT&T revenue came from the Bell System -- regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs), such as The New York Telephone Co.,The Pacific Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co. and The Southwestern Bell Telephone Co.. Other divisions of AT&T and parts of the Bell System included Bell Laboratories (Bell Labs), AT&T Long Lines and Western Electric, the manufacturing arm.

All telephones in areas where AT&T subsidiaries provided local service, all components of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), and all devices connected to the network were made by Western Electric and no other devices were allowed to be connected to AT&T's network.

Until 1983, Western Electric telephones were leased by subscribers and never sold, and so had to be repaired at no charge if they failed. This led Western Electric to pursue extreme reliability and durability in design. In particular, the work of Walter A. Shewhart, who developed new techniques for statistical quality control in the 1920s, helped lead to the legendary quality of manufacture of Western Electric telephones. In 1983, Western Electric telephones began being sold to the public through the newly created American Bell subsidiary of AT&T, under the American Bell brand name. Prior to Judge Greene prohibiting AT&T from using the Bell name after 01/01/1984, the plan was to market products and services under the American Bell name, accompanied by the now familiar AT&T globe logo.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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175+ Untested Vacuum Tubes - Firestone Rca Ge Sylvania Philco Western Electric175+ Untested Vacuum Tubes - Firestone Rca Ge Sylvania Philco Western Electric $59.99 Western Electric 231D Vacuum Tubes set of two untestedWestern Electric 231D Vacuum Tubes set of two untested $65.00
Antique vacuum tube display Western Electric 205-D Deforest Dv2 Eimac 201-A BhAntique vacuum tube display Western Electric 205-D Deforest Dv2 Eimac 201-A Bh $11.50 Western Electric Vt-5 215-A Vacuum Tube Vintage Us Navy 1944 Sealed Box Nos NibWestern Electric Vt-5 215-A Vacuum Tube Vintage Us Navy 1944 Sealed Box Nos Nib $33.00
Rare Nos Western Electric 420A 5755 Tube D-Getter Nib Perfect 100% L@K! 12Ax7Rare Nos Western Electric 420A 5755 Tube D-Getter Nib Perfect 100% L@K! 12Ax7 $40.00 Vintage Nos Western Electric 346C Electron Tube Vacuum Tube Kr-85 MarkedVintage Nos Western Electric 346C Electron Tube Vacuum Tube Kr-85 Marked $25.00
New ListingGood Western Electric Vt-1 Vacuum TubeNew ListingGood Western Electric Vt-1 Vacuum Tube $175.00 Pair Of Date Matched Vintage Vacuum Tube Western Electric In Sealed Box Feb 1944Pair Of Date Matched Vintage Vacuum Tube Western Electric In Sealed Box Feb 1944 $68.00
Western Electric Vt-1 Vacuum Tubes Pair Good Filament Multiple AvailableWestern Electric Vt-1 Vacuum Tubes Pair Good Filament Multiple Available $280.00 Stc 4310A x 2 Fine mesh plate - Western Electric 310A - The Best - 300BStc 4310A x 2 Fine mesh plate - Western Electric 310A - The Best - 300B $396.00
Rare Western Electric 102L vintage tubeRare Western Electric 102L vintage tube $120.00 Quad Rca 6Sl7Gt Tubes Us Navy Contract 1939 Western ElectricQuad Rca 6Sl7Gt Tubes Us Navy Contract 1939 Western Electric $109.00
New ListingThree, Western Electric, We216A, We-216-A tubes, matched trio, tennis ball, 216ANew ListingThree, Western Electric, We216A, We-216-A tubes, matched trio, tennis ball, 216A $1,248.95 Vintage Nos Western Electric 121B Electron Vacuum TubeVintage Nos Western Electric 121B Electron Vacuum Tube $15.00
New ListingWestern Electric Vt1 radio & Audio amplifier tubeNew ListingWestern Electric Vt1 radio & Audio amplifier tube $100.00 Western Electric 300B Matched Pair No ReserveWestern Electric 300B Matched Pair No Reserve $610.00
Nos Nib Matched Pair Western Electric 311B Vacuum Tubes Same 1968 Date #2Nos Nib Matched Pair Western Electric 311B Vacuum Tubes Same 1968 Date #2 $149.99 Western Electric 101F Radio Vacuum Tube, Tv-7 TestedWestern Electric 101F Radio Vacuum Tube, Tv-7 Tested $50.00
717A/713A Western Electric By Raytheon & Tungsol Vacuum Tubes Lot Of 22717A/713A Western Electric By Raytheon & Tungsol Vacuum Tubes Lot Of 22 $199.99 Two Tubes, Vintage Western Electric 354A Power Thyratron Vacuum TubesTwo Tubes, Vintage Western Electric 354A Power Thyratron Vacuum Tubes $104.00
2 x 301A Western Electric Vacuum Tubes2 x 301A Western Electric Vacuum Tubes $720.00 Vintage Western Electric Jan-Cw-393A Vacuum Tubes Set of 2 Untested -Read DescVintage Western Electric Jan-Cw-393A Vacuum Tubes Set of 2 Untested -Read Desc $49.99
Pair Western Electric 429A Tubes (Matching Codes)Pair Western Electric 429A Tubes (Matching Codes) $100.00 Vintage Vacuum Tubes Two Western Electric 717A Vt269Vintage Vacuum Tubes Two Western Electric 717A Vt269 $30.00
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1 Excellent strong new western electric D getter 5842 / 417a tube #Z531 Excellent strong new western electric D getter 5842 / 417a tube #Z53 $49.99 Western Electric 310A Radio Vacuum Tube, Possibly Nos, Tv-7 TestedWestern Electric 310A Radio Vacuum Tube, Possibly Nos, Tv-7 Tested $59.99
Western Electric 417A Vacuum Tube - Qty 2Western Electric 417A Vacuum Tube - Qty 2 $40.00 Western Electric 101D 101-D Globe Vacuum TubeWestern Electric 101D 101-D Globe Vacuum Tube $500.00
western electric vacuum tube 101fwestern electric vacuum tube 101f $175.00 Vintage Western Electric 417A 407A 408A Lenkurt Radio Amplifier Vacuum Tubes S86Vintage Western Electric 417A 407A 408A Lenkurt Radio Amplifier Vacuum Tubes S86 $49.00
New ListingWestern Electric 247A Vacuum Tube Tv7 Tested StrongNew ListingWestern Electric 247A Vacuum Tube Tv7 Tested Strong $95.00 Vacuum Tube Vt-136, Western ElectricVacuum Tube Vt-136, Western Electric $30.00
Western Electric 102F Tennis ball tube Tested StrongWestern Electric 102F Tennis ball tube Tested Strong $140.00 Pair Western Electric 310A Rare 1950s Vacuum Audio TubePair Western Electric 310A Rare 1950s Vacuum Audio Tube $250.00
Western Electric Vt-52 Vacuum Tubes Pair Tested Used JpWestern Electric Vt-52 Vacuum Tubes Pair Tested Used Jp $799.99 101D Vacuum Tube American Tel & Tel Company 101-D Western Electric ? Early Model101D Vacuum Tube American Tel & Tel Company 101-D Western Electric ? Early Model $500.00
Vintage And Rare Matched Set Of Western Electric 421A Vacuum TubesVintage And Rare Matched Set Of Western Electric 421A Vacuum Tubes $799.00 Western Electric 121A Ballast Vacuum Tubes Pair Engraved BaseWestern Electric 121A Ballast Vacuum Tubes Pair Engraved Base $17.50
Western Electric Vt-25 Type 10 Radio Vacuum Tube, Tv-7 TestedWestern Electric Vt-25 Type 10 Radio Vacuum Tube, Tv-7 Tested $100.00 Pair of 1960 Western Electric 323B Vacuum Tubes with Mash BasketPair of 1960 Western Electric 323B Vacuum Tubes with Mash Basket $68.00
Perfectly Matched Pair Western Electric Jw 5755 420A Clear Top 1953 Vacuum TubesPerfectly Matched Pair Western Electric Jw 5755 420A Clear Top 1953 Vacuum Tubes $175.00 Western Electric 445A Reflex Klystron vacuum Tube untested Nasa Echo RadarWestern Electric 445A Reflex Klystron vacuum Tube untested Nasa Echo Radar $30.00
Western Electric 300b tubes - matched pair. New production factory matched set.Western Electric 300b tubes - matched pair. New production factory matched set. $1,300.00 Two, Western Electric, We205D, We-205-D tubes, match pair, tennis ball, 205Two, Western Electric, We205D, We-205-D tubes, match pair, tennis ball, 205 $2,198.95
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Western Electric 264C Tubes- Untested- Came From Collector- *53Western Electric 264C Tubes- Untested- Came From Collector- *53 $130.31 Vintage Signal Corps Western Electric Vt-2 Electron Amplifier Radio Vacuum TubeVintage Signal Corps Western Electric Vt-2 Electron Amplifier Radio Vacuum Tube $400.00
Vintage Western Electric F-52983 Vacuum TubeVintage Western Electric F-52983 Vacuum Tube $54.95 U.S. Manufactured Western Electric 300B triode Pair. New in Box and never usedU.S. Manufactured Western Electric 300B triode Pair. New in Box and never used $850.00
4612 Lot Of Western Electric 13L 704A 14A 12L 13J 13C Etc Vacuum Tubes4612 Lot Of Western Electric 13L 704A 14A 12L 13J 13C Etc Vacuum Tubes $18.99 Pair Western Electric 401A - 5590 Tubes (Matching Codes)Pair Western Electric 401A - 5590 Tubes (Matching Codes) $15.00
Western Electric 275A Engraved Base Radio Vacuum Tube, Tv-7 TestedWestern Electric 275A Engraved Base Radio Vacuum Tube, Tv-7 Tested $600.00 1953 Western Electric 101F black plate Tube Tests Nos, 1450 Micromhos Tv-7 58/281953 Western Electric 101F black plate Tube Tests Nos, 1450 Micromhos Tv-7 58/28 $106.00
Two Western Electric by Tungsol 717A Vacuum TubesTwo Western Electric by Tungsol 717A Vacuum Tubes $22.00 2 Nos Western Electric 403A aka 6Ak5 Vacuum Tubes 1960's Audio Pentodes2 Nos Western Electric 403A aka 6Ak5 Vacuum Tubes 1960's Audio Pentodes $40.00
2 Nos Western Electric 401A aka 5590 Vacuum Tubes - Audio Pentodes2 Nos Western Electric 401A aka 5590 Vacuum Tubes - Audio Pentodes $40.00 New ListingWestern Electric 300B Matched Pair of Vacuum Tubes 1988 Usa Rare Includes BoxNew ListingWestern Electric 300B Matched Pair of Vacuum Tubes 1988 Usa Rare Includes Box $3,080.00
1957 Western Electric 437A D Getter Tube1957 Western Electric 437A D Getter Tube $600.00
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Prices current as of last update, 04/02/25 4:20am.

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