Western Electric

Western Electric Co., Inc.
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Telecommunications
Founded	1869
Defunct	February 7, 1996
Fate	Absorption, remnants operating as Nokia
Successor	AT&T Technologies; Lucent Technologies; Alcatel-Lucent; Nokia; ;
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)

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 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.