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Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Encyclopedia
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse
. The company purchased CBS
in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997. George Westinghouse had previously founded the Westinghouse Air Brake Company
.
The company pioneered long-distance power transmission and high-voltage transmission. Westinghouse Electric received the rights for the first patent for alternating-current
transmission from Nikola Tesla
and unveiled the technology for lighting in Great Barrington, Massachusetts
.
In addition to George Westinghouse, engineers working for the company included William Stanley, Nikola Tesla
, Oliver B. Shallenberger
, Benjamin Garver Lamme and his sister Bertha Lamme. The company was historically the rival to General Electric
which was founded by George Westinghouse's arch-rival, Thomas Edison
(see War of the Currents
).
The company is also known for its time capsule contributions
during the 1939 New York World's Fair
and 1964 New York World's Fair
.
Westinghouse produced the first operational American turbojet, but fumbled on the disastrous J40
project. It not only severely hampered a generation of U.S. Navy jets when the project had to be abandoned, but led to leaving the aircraft engine business in the 1950s.
George Westinghouse
George Westinghouse, Jr was an American entrepreneur and engineer who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer of the electrical industry. Westinghouse was one of Thomas Edison's main rivals in the early implementation of the American electricity system...
. The company purchased CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997. George Westinghouse had previously founded the Westinghouse Air Brake Company
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
The railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
.
The company pioneered long-distance power transmission and high-voltage transmission. Westinghouse Electric received the rights for the first patent for alternating-current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
transmission from Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
and unveiled the technology for lighting in Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,104 at the 2010 census. Both a summer resort and home to Ski Butternut, Great Barrington includes the villages of Van...
.
In addition to George Westinghouse, engineers working for the company included William Stanley, Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
, Oliver B. Shallenberger
Oliver B. Shallenberger
Oliver Blackburn Shallenberger was an American engineer and inventor.He was born in Rochester, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Aaron T. Shallenberger and Mary . His uncle was William Shadrack Shallenberger.In 1877 he entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. After his...
, Benjamin Garver Lamme and his sister Bertha Lamme. The company was historically the rival to General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
which was founded by George Westinghouse's arch-rival, Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
(see War of the Currents
War of Currents
In the "War of Currents" era in the late 1880s, George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison became adversaries due to Edison's promotion of direct current for electric power distribution over alternating current advocated by several European companies and Westinghouse Electric based out of Pittsburgh,...
).
The company is also known for its time capsule contributions
Westinghouse Time Capsules
The Westinghouse Time Capsules are two time capsules prepared by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company: "Time Capsule I", created for the 1939 New York World's Fair; and "Time Capsule II", created for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Both are buried 50 feet below Flushing Meadows Park,...
during the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
and 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
.
Westinghouse produced the first operational American turbojet, but fumbled on the disastrous J40
Westinghouse J40
|-References:...
project. It not only severely hampered a generation of U.S. Navy jets when the project had to be abandoned, but led to leaving the aircraft engine business in the 1950s.
Timeline of company evolution
1880s
Starting years- 1886 – Founded Westinghouse Electric Company
- 1889 – renames itself the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company
1890s
Alternating currents promoter- 1888 – introduces an induction ampere-hour meterElectricity meterAn electricity meter or energy meter is a device that measures the amount of electric energy consumed by a residence, business, or an electrically powered device....
for alternating current developed by Oliver B. ShallenbergerOliver B. ShallenbergerOliver Blackburn Shallenberger was an American engineer and inventor.He was born in Rochester, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Aaron T. Shallenberger and Mary . His uncle was William Shadrack Shallenberger.In 1877 he entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. After his...
) - 1891 – built world's first commercial AC system (Ames Hydroelectric Generating PlantAmes Hydroelectric Generating PlantThe Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant, located near Ophir, Colorado, was the world's first commercial system to produce and transmit alternating current electricity. It is now on the List of IEEE Milestones....
) - 1893 – supplied electric lights and power for World's Columbian ExpositionWorld's Columbian ExpositionThe World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
and generators for Gettysburg Electric RailwayGettysburg Electric RailwayThe Gettysburg Electric Railway was a borough trolley that provided summer access to Gettysburg Battlefield visitor attractions such as military engagement areas, monuments, postbellum camps, and recreation areas... - 1895 – installed hydropower AC generators at Adams Power Plant, Niagara FallsNiagara FallsThe Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
which supplied power to Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the... - 1899 – founded British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing CompanyBritish WestinghouseBritish Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company was a subsidiary of the American Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. British Westinghouse would become a subsidiary of Metropolitan-Vickers in 1919; and after Metropolitan Vickers merged with British Thomson-Houston in 1929, it...
1900s to 1920s
Growth and change- 1901 – acquires Bryant Electric CompanyBryant Electric CompanyThe Bryant Electric Company was a manufacturer of wiring devices, electrical components, and switches founded in 1888 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA...
of Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, which continues operation as a subsidiary - 1909 – introduces continuous-filament tungsten light bulb; ousts George Westinghouse as chairman during bankruptcy reorganization
- 1914 – acquires Copeman Electric Stove Company in Flint, MichiganFlint, MichiganFlint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
from Lloyd Groff CopemanLloyd Groff CopemanLloyd Groff Copeman was a prolific American inventor who devised the first electric stove and the flexible rubber ice cube tray, among other products. Copeman was raised by his Canadian parents on a farm in Hadley Township, Michigan which was later incorporated into Farmer's Creek, Michigan -...
, moves it to Mansfield, OhioMansfield, OhioMansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
and enters the home appliance market (sold in 1974 to White Consolidated Industries) - 1915 – New England Westinghouse Company opens for business. First product is Mosin-NagantMosin-NagantThe Mosin–Nagant is a bolt-action, internal magazine-fed, military rifle invented under the government commission by Russian and Belgian inventors, and used by the armed forces of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and various other nations....
rifles for the Czar's army. - 1916 – share of British Westinghouse purchased by a British holding company, which becomes Metropolitan-VickersMetropolitan-VickersMetropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam...
- 1921 – acquires the Pittsburg High Voltage Insulator Company
- 1920s – enters the broadcasting industryWestinghouse BroadcastingThe Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, also known as Group W, was the broadcasting division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It owned several radio and television stations across the United States and distributed television shows for syndication....
, with stations like KDKAKDKA (AM)KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...
in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and WBZWBZ (AM)WBZ is the call sign for an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts owned by CBS Radio, itself owned by the CBS Corporation. Originally based in and broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, WBZ was the first commercial radio station in the United States...
in MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
1930s and 1940s
- 1932 – announces Ignitron mercury-arc rectifier
- 1934 – opens its Home of Tomorrow in Mansfield, OhioMansfield, OhioMansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
, to demonstrate Westinghouse home appliances - 1935 – completes longest continuous electric steel annealing furnace in the world at Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, Dearborn, MichiganDearborn, Michigan-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the... - 1930s – funds invention of the magnetohydrodynamic generator
- 1937 – builds first "industrial atom smasher", a 5 MeVMEVMeV and meV are multiples and submultiples of the electron volt unit referring to 1,000,000 eV and 0.001 eV, respectively.Mev or MEV may refer to:In entertainment:* Musica Elettronica Viva, an Italian musical group...
Van de GraaffVan de GraaffVan de Graaff can refer to the physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff or machines named in honor of the physicist. The devices include:* Van de Graaff generator* The linear particle accelerator design that bears his name....
electrostatic nuclear acceleratorElectrostatic nuclear acceleratorAn electrostatic nuclear accelerator is one of the two main types of particle accelerators, where charged particles can be accelerated by subjection to a static high voltage potential. The static high voltage method is contrasted with the dynamic fields used in oscillating field particle... - 1940s – enters aviation with airborne radarRadarRadar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
(defense electronics sold 1996), jet engine propulsion, and ground based airport lighting, gets defense contract from U.S. military to produce plastic helmet liners for the M1 HelmetM1 HelmetThe M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the American military from World War II until it was succeeded by the PASGT helmet beginning in 1985. For over forty years, the M1 was standard issue for the U.S... - 1941 – after years of resistance to the unionization efforts of its employees and to the National Labor Relations ActNational Labor Relations ActThe National Labor Relations Act or Wagner Act , is a 1935 United States federal law that limits the means with which employers may react to workers in the private sector who create labor unions , engage in collective bargaining, and take part in strikes and other forms of concerted activity in...
, signs a national labor agreement with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of AmericaUnited Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of AmericaThe United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America , is an independent democratic rank-and-file labor union representing workers in both the private and public sectors across the United States....
after a United States Supreme Court decision that upheld the Act. - 1943 – purchased the lamp division of Kentucky-Radio Corporation (Ken-Rad) in Owensboro Kentucky from Roy Burlew in exchange of 35,000 shares of Westinghouse stock valued at $1,600,000.
- 1945 – renames itself the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and makes first automatic elevator.
- Westinghouse Aviation Gas Turbine DivisionWestinghouse Aviation Gas Turbine DivisionThe Westinghouse Aviation Gas Turbine Division was established by Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945 to continue the development and production of its gas turbine engines.-History:...
(AGT) started in 1945
1950s to 1970s
Enters finance: Westinghouse Credit Corporation- 1954 – leaves railroad (locomotive and mass transit) propulsion equipment business.
- 1955 – Westinghouse J40Westinghouse J40|-References:...
engine failure causes all F3H fighters using the engine to be grounded, and all other jets using it to switch to other engines. Westinghouse forced out of aircraft engine business. - 1960s – acquires ThermoKing, begins automated mass transit (sold 1988); adopts "You Can Be Sure If It's Westinghouse" as advertising slogan for home appliances
- 1970s – sells well-known home appliance division to White Consolidated Industries which becomes White-WestinghouseWhite-WestinghouseWhite-Westinghouse is an American home appliance brand currently used under license by trademark owner CBS Corporation. It was created in 1975 when White Consolidated Industries bought the Westinghouse Electric Corporation's appliance unit...
- 1979 – withdraws from all oil related projects in the Middle East after Iranian RevolutionIranian RevolutionThe Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
1980s
- 1981 – acquires cable televisionCable televisionCable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
operator TelePrompterTeleprompterAn autocue is a display device that prompts the person speaking with an electronic visual text of a speech or script. Using a teleprompter is similar to the practice of using cue cards...
(sold 1985) - 1982 – acquires robot maker Unimation
- 1982 – sells street lightStreet lightA street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or walkway, which is turned on or lit at a certain time every night. Modern lamps may also have light-sensitive photocells to turn them on at dusk, off at dawn, or activate...
division to Cooper Lighting - 1983 – sells electric lamp division to PhilipsPhilipsKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
- 1988 – sells elevator/escalator division to Schindler GroupSchindler Groupthumb|200px|Schindler Test Tower in Ebikon, Lucerne, SwitzerlandSchindler was founded in Switzerland in 1874 and is the largest manufacturer of escalators and the second largest manufacturer of elevators world wide. Schindler produces, installs, maintains and modernizes elevators and escalators in...
- 1988 – Enters into joint venture with Taiwan Electric to build Electric motors; Taiwan Electric eventually becomes sole owner of business as TECO Motor Company
- 1988 – closes the East Pittsburgh plant, which had once been the primary Westinghouse manufacturing facility
- 1989 – sells transmission and distribution business to Asea Brown BoveriAsea Brown BoveriABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and best known for its robotics. ABB operates mainly in the power and automation technology areas. It ranked 143rd in Forbes Ranking ....
Group (ABB)
1990s to 2000s
- 1994 – sells electric power distribution and control business unit to Eaton CorporationEaton CorporationEaton Corporation is a global diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. The company is a leading provider of electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment;...
for $1 billion - 199x – separates IT and phone service sales into Westinghouse Communications division
- 1995 – under the leadership of Michael H. Jordan buys CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
for US$5.4 billion - 1996 – buys Infinity Broadcasting
- 1996 – sells Westinghouse Electronic Systems defense business to Northrop GrummanNorthrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
for $3 billion, becoming Northrop Grumman Electronic SystemsNorthrop Grumman Electronic Systems' was created by Northrop Grumman's acquisition of Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group in 1996. The Electronic Systems sector is a leading designer, developer, and manufacturer of a wide variety of advanced defense electronics and systems. The division has 120 locations worldwide, including 72... - 1997 – sells most non-broadcast operations; renames itself CBS Corporation
- 1998 – sells remaining manufacturing asset, its nuclear energy business, to BNFLBNFLBritish Nuclear Fuels Limited was a nuclear energy and fuels company owned by the UK Government. It was a former manufacturer and transporter of nuclear fuel , ran reactors, generated and sold electricity, reprocessed and managed spent fuel , and decommissioned nuclear plants and other similar...
which sold it to ToshibaToshibais a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
in 2006 which still operates it as Westinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
today - 1998 – CBS Corporation creates a new subsidiary called Westinghouse Electric Corporation to manage the Westinghouse brandBrandThe American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
- 1999 – sells itself to Viacom, Inc.
- 2005 – Viacom renamed itself CBS CorporationCBS CorporationCBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
- 2010 – The Westinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
opened new headquarters in Cranberry Township, Butler County, PennsylvaniaCranberry Township, Butler County, PennsylvaniaCranberry Township is a township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is classified as a Second Class Township and follows the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code. The population was 28,098 as of the 2010 census....
where it preserves the industrial legacy of the original Westinghouse Electric Corp.
See also
- For other companies named Westinghouse, see Westinghouse (disambiguation).
- For the spinoff nuclear energy company see Westinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
. - Westinghouse Works, 1904Westinghouse Works, 1904Westinghouse Works, 1904 is a collection of 21 short films, averaging about three minutes each, taken of various Westinghouse manufacturing plants from April 13, 1904 to May 16, 1904. They were made by G. W. Bitzer of the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, were shown at the Westinghouse...
- Westinghouse BroadcastingWestinghouse BroadcastingThe Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, also known as Group W, was the broadcasting division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation. It owned several radio and television stations across the United States and distributed television shows for syndication....
, also known as Group W - Siemens Westinghouse, also known as Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
- List of Westinghouse locomotives
- The Westinghouse signWestinghouse SignThe Westinghouse Sign was a large, animated, electric sign advertising the Westinghouse Electric company and located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The sign was best known for the huge number of combinations in which it was commonly believed its individual elements could be illuminated...
External links
- Timeline of Westinghouse historical events
- "Who Killed Westinghouse?" – 1997 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article detailing Westinghouse's history and break-up
- The Westinghouse Legacy Pittsburgh Technology Council broken link