COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 33429

Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing

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

26companies1910–1983founding years24still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedInternational Business Machines CorporationFoundedInternational Business Machines Corporation
1910
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedMcKechnie plc
1915
FoundedTelefonaktiebolaget LM EricssonFoundedTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
1918
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedADC Telecommunications, Inc.
1935
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.
FoundedPittway Corporation
1950
FoundedScientific-Atlanta, Inc.FoundedScientific-Atlanta, Inc.
1951
FoundedLaBarge Inc.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedGriffon CorporationFoundedGriffon Corporation
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedVicon Industries, Inc.
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.
FoundedTellabs, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedLoJack CorporationFoundedLoJack CorporationFoundedMicron Technology, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedLodgeNet Entertainment Corporation
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
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.
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

International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
International Business Machines Corporation →
Active · founded 1910
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the largest computer maker in the world.
McKechnie plc →
Active · founded 1915 · United Kingdom
Once nicknamed 'Widget plc'--because of its myriad of low-margin, high-volume commodity products, such as the plastic…
McKechnie plc →
Active · founded 1915 · United Kingdom
Once nicknamed 'Widget plc'--because of its myriad of low-margin, high-volume commodity products, such as the plastic…
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson →
Active · founded 1918 · Sweden
Telefonaktiebolaget LM (Ericsson) is one of the world's largest telecommunications concerns with the largest customer…
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson →
Active · founded 1918 · Sweden
Telefonaktiebolaget LM (Ericsson) is one of the world's largest telecommunications concerns with the largest customer…
ADC Telecommunications, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1935
ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
ADC Telecommunications, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1935
ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
Pittway Corporation →
Active · founded 1950
Pittway Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of professional fire and burglar…
Pittway Corporation →
Active · founded 1950
Pittway Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of professional fire and burglar…
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
LaBarge Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
LaBarge Inc.
LaBarge Inc. →
Active · founded 1953
LaBarge Inc.
Griffon Corporation →
Active · founded 1959
Griffon Corporation is a diversified manufacturing company with operations in four business segments: garage doors,…
Griffon Corporation →
Active · founded 1959
Griffon Corporation is a diversified manufacturing company with operations in four business segments: garage doors,…
Vicon Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Vicon Industries, Inc.
Vicon Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Vicon Industries, Inc.
Tellabs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Tellabs, Inc.
Tellabs, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Tellabs, Inc.
LoJack Corporation →
Active · founded 1978 · www.lojack.com
LoJack Corporation is the recognized world leader in vehicle-tracking technology.
LoJack Corporation →
Active · founded 1978 · www.lojack.com
LoJack Corporation is the recognized world leader in vehicle-tracking technology.
Micron Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Micron Technology, Inc., is a holding company for subsidiaries engaged in the design and production of computers,…
Micron Technology, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Micron Technology, Inc., is a holding company for subsidiaries engaged in the design and production of computers,…
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation is a leading entertainment company providing network-based video games,…
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation →
Active · founded 1983
LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation is a leading entertainment company providing network-based video games,…
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