COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 421610

Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Construction Materials Wholesalers

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1865–1997founding years16still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedCameron & Barkley CompanyFoundedCameron & Barkley Company
1865
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedNoland CompanyFoundedNoland Company
1919
FoundedGenuine Parts CompanyFoundedGenuine Parts Company
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedElectrocomponents PLCFoundedElectrocomponents PLC
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTyco International Ltd.FoundedTyco International Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedBenchmark Electronics, Inc.FoundedBenchmark Electronics, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedNovar plcFoundedNovar plcFoundedSLI, Inc.FoundedSLI, Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedL-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.FoundedL-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Cameron & Barkley Company →
Active · founded 1865
Cameron & Barkley Company is one of the oldest and best known providers of industrial and electrical supplies in the…
Cameron & Barkley Company →
Active · founded 1865
Cameron & Barkley Company is one of the oldest and best known providers of industrial and electrical supplies in the…
Noland Company →
Active · founded 1919
Noland Company is a wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical, and…
Noland Company →
Active · founded 1919
Noland Company is a wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical, and…
Genuine Parts Company →
Active · founded 1928
Genuine Parts Company is one of the largest automobile parts suppliers in the United States, providing parts to about…
Genuine Parts Company →
Active · founded 1928
Genuine Parts Company is one of the largest automobile parts suppliers in the United States, providing parts to about…
Electrocomponents PLC →
Active · founded 1937 · United Kingdom
Electrocomponents PLC sits in the top tier of U.K.
Electrocomponents PLC →
Active · founded 1937 · United Kingdom
Electrocomponents PLC sits in the top tier of U.K.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
Tyco International Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Bermuda
Tyco International Ltd.
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Benchmark Electronics, Inc., based in Angleton, Texas, provides electronic manufacturing services to original equipment…
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
Benchmark Electronics, Inc., based in Angleton, Texas, provides electronic manufacturing services to original equipment…
Novar plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
Novar plc is a U.K.-based corporation consisting of three primary business segments: security systems, aluminum product…
Novar plc →
Active · founded 1985 · United Kingdom
Novar plc is a U.K.-based corporation consisting of three primary business segments: security systems, aluminum product…
SLI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
For the past 29 years, SLI, Inc.
SLI, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
For the past 29 years, SLI, Inc.
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1997
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., through its L-3 Communications Corp.
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1997
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., through its L-3 Communications Corp.
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