COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3829

Measuring and Controlling Devices, Not Elsewhere Classified

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

24companies1886–1990founding years22still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedRobert Bosch GmbHFoundedRobert Bosch GmbH
1886
FoundedGleason Corporation
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedAcme-Cleveland Corp.FoundedAcme-Cleveland Corp.
1904
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.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedCitizen Watch Co., Ltd.
1930
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
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.
FoundedWashington Scientific Industries, Inc.FoundedWashington Scientific Industries, Inc.
1950
FoundedKeithley Instruments Inc.
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedKyocera CorporationFoundedKyocera Corporation
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAnalogic Corporation
1964
FoundedEsterline Technologies Corp.FoundedEsterline Technologies Corp.
1967
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.
FoundedGenRad, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedThermo Instrument Systems Inc.FoundedThermo Instrument Systems Inc.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedOrbital Sciences Corporation
1990
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.
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

Robert Bosch GmbH →
Active · founded 1886 · Germany
One of the ten largest companies in Germany, Robert Bosch GmbH is best known as a worldwide supplier of automotive…
Robert Bosch GmbH →
Active · founded 1886 · Germany
One of the ten largest companies in Germany, Robert Bosch GmbH is best known as a worldwide supplier of automotive…
Gleason Corporation →
Active · founded 1903
With a history stretching over 130 years, Gleason Corporation is the world's most comprehensive resource for the…
Gleason Corporation →
Active · founded 1903
With a history stretching over 130 years, Gleason Corporation is the world's most comprehensive resource for the…
Acme-Cleveland Corp. →
Active · founded 1904
For over a century, Acme-Cleveland Corp.
Acme-Cleveland Corp. →
Active · founded 1904
For over a century, Acme-Cleveland Corp.
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Washington Scientific Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Washington Scientific Industries, Inc.
Washington Scientific Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1950
Washington Scientific Industries, Inc.
Keithley Instruments Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 1996, Keithley Instruments Inc.
Keithley Instruments Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 1996, Keithley Instruments Inc.
Kyocera Corporation →
Active · founded 1959 · Japan
Kyocera Corporation, founded in 1959, was one of the first companies to produce fine ceramic components.
Kyocera Corporation →
Active · founded 1959 · Japan
Kyocera Corporation, founded in 1959, was one of the first companies to produce fine ceramic components.
Analogic Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Analogic Corporation is a leading custom designer, manufacturer, and seller of sophisticated precision instruments for…
Analogic Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Analogic Corporation is a leading custom designer, manufacturer, and seller of sophisticated precision instruments for…
Esterline Technologies Corp. →
Active · founded 1967
A diversified manufacturing company divided into three business groups--Automation, Aerospace and Defense, and…
Esterline Technologies Corp. →
Active · founded 1967
A diversified manufacturing company divided into three business groups--Automation, Aerospace and Defense, and…
GenRad, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
GenRad, Inc.
GenRad, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
GenRad, Inc.
Thermo Instrument Systems Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Thermo Instrument Systems Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Thermo Electron, is an international leader in…
Thermo Instrument Systems Inc. →
Active · founded 1986
Thermo Instrument Systems Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Thermo Electron, is an international leader in…
Orbital Sciences Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1990
Orbital Sciences Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, is an unrivaled, leading-edge space technology company…
Orbital Sciences Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1990
Orbital Sciences Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, is an unrivaled, leading-edge space technology company…
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