Back Western Electric German Western Electric Spanish وسترن الکتریک Persian Western Electric Company French Western Electric ID Western Electric Italian ウェスタン・エレクトリック Japanese 웨스턴 일렉트릭 Korean Western Electric Malay Western Electric Portuguese
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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Defunct | February 7, 1996 |
| Fate | Absorption, remnants operating as Nokia |
| Successor | |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Products | Telephones, Central office switches, computers, electrical and electronics parts, and all other telecommunications related products supplied to Bell System companies |
| Parent | AT&T Corporation (1881–1996) |
Western Electric Co., Inc. 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.