This is the Western Electric/Northern Electric
Section of The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Last update 7/3/06
Western Electric Company, Inc.
New York, N.Y.

Western Electric was a part of the AT&T (Bell) system. It manufactured broadcast equipment until the mid-1950s, when it was an anti-trust settlement limited Bell to telephone business only. Apparently, the decision was made not to sell the broadcast division, but simply close it. (Some audio aspects were spun to Westrex and Altec) There was a Canadian arm of the company, called Northern Electric (which has since morphed into Nortel), that manufactured many of the same items, but with an NE nameplate.

(If anyone knows of a parts source, or catalog ... any anything in print that would help fill out this page for WE Co, please let me know. Even a better picture of the logo would help.)

Consoles:

Click on picture to enlarge Model / Info
   

22-D "portable" remote console
Burt Weiner's model
  23-A
23-C 5 pot studio console
40A/25-B 9 pot console; "Tops for FM"!
  26-B WDAE, Tampa (1950's)
   
 

Northern Electric models

 5420E  On display at the SPARC Museum near Vancouver, BC.
 

Altec Models

 230B Shown in use at
WCCY, Houghton, MI in 1979.
Another Studio shot
250SU - 10 Pot dual mono console

 

 

 

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Copyright 1993-2006, 2007  by Barry Mishkind. This material on this site should not be reproduced or reposted in whole or part without express approval.

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An important note about this resource:

We have used many sources, including FCC files, university lecturers, historical publications and more, and have tried to be as accurate as possible, not repeating many of the myths of the industry (such as the Uncle Don Story) nor histories "manufactured" by promotion departments. However, I am not perfect, and may well have overlooked something. If you do see an error or omission, please let me know.

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