Library
Browse our archive of documents, technical specifications, and artifacts to discover fascinating milestones and notable heroes in our epic corporate story.
Corporate Archive
Technical Library
Wordmark origin
The original Western Electric slanting signature has two origins: an ‘electric’ effect deemed appropriate to our name, and the tapering thorns of the hawthorn bush. The Hawthorne Works, too derived its name from the same bush, which had given its name to a street in a Chicago suburb which was laid out in 1869, the same year Western Electric was founded.
Corporate Archive
Taken from our historical archives, these documents show the life of the company in years past. Click the cover to view PDF.
Historical Reports & Periodicals
A collection of magazines that place groundbreaking projects and scenes from corporate culture on proud display. Click the cover to view PDF.
Western Electric and Film Sound
In the 1920s, Western Electric partnered with the biggest Hollywood studios to commercialize film sound under a subsidiary company called Electrical Research Products Incorporated (ERPI). The rush to satisfy audiences who marveled at talking pictures led to huge advancements in electrical sound recording. This video, created by Western Electric, explains the optical sound on film process used by the movie industry until the 1990s.
Further Reading
Insightful reading around the web.
Manufacturing the 300B
A photographic tour of the Kansas City Works, where current president Charles Whitener began managing electron tube operations.
The Bell System
Dig deeper into the network of companies that made universal telephone service possible. Western Electric was there from the beginning.
Understanding Audio
The science behind how audio reproduction works, brought to you by the Valve Museum.
Bell Laboratories Record
A record of research, technologies, systems, and operations developed at Bell Labs, originally known as Western Electric’s engineering department.
How Tubes Work
Tubes, valves, bulbs, electron tubes. Learn the fascinating science behind the device that started a technological revolution.
The Bell System Technical Journal
A massive online collection of research articles and papers published by the Bell System.
Technical Library
Browse our selection of historical technical documentation.
STATISTICAL QUALITY CONTROL HANDBOOK
This Handbook, as indicated in the "Foreword," was prepared to assist Western Electric people in performing Western Electric Company work. Others elsewhere may also think it useful as a guide for applying statistical quality control. This handbook is not made available through ordinary commercial channels. Sections are available in PDF format.
Introduction
Section I - Fundamental Principles (1 of 2)
Section I - Fundamental Principles (2 of 2)
Section II - Engineering Applications (1 of 2)
Section II - Engineering Applications (2 of 2)
Section III - Shop Applications (1 of 2)
Section III - Shop Applications (2 of 2)
Section IV - Inspection Procedures (1 of 2)
Section IV - Inspection Procedures (2 of 2)
Acknowledgements, References, and Index (1 of 2)
Acknowledgements, References, and Index (2 of 2)
PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRON TUBES
Principles of Electron Tubes - This introductory yet comprehensive study of modern electron tubes emphasizes basic physical principles, and gives a clear picture of how electron-field interactions lead to useful device performance of special value to engineers concerned with the development or utilization of electron tubes. Sections are available in PDF format.
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Electrons and Fields
Chapter 2 - Electron Emission
Chapter 3 - Beams and Lenses
Chapter 4 - Diodes and Electron Guns
Chapter 5 - Grid-Controlled Tubes - Static Characteristics
Chapter 6 - Induced Currents, Equivalent Networks and Gain-Bandwidth Products
Chapter 7 - High-Frequency Effects and Beam Admittance
Chapter 8 - Microwave Components and Circuits
Chapter 9 - Klystrons
Chapter 10 - Traveling-Wave Amplifiers
Chapter 11 - Backward-Wave Oscillators and Amplifiers
Chapter 12 - Crossed-Field Devices
Chapter 13 - Noise
Chapter 14 - Conduction Through a Gas at Low Currents
Chapter 15 - The Glow Discharge and Cold-Cathode Tubes
Chapter 16 - Hot-Cathode Tubes
Chapter 17 - Gas Lasers
Appendix and Index
AUDIO FACILITIES
The equipment in this catalogue was designed by Bell Telephone Laboratories - the world's largest organization devoted exclusively to research and development in all phases of electrical communications. It was made by Western Electric, manufacturing unit of the Bell System and the nation's largest producer of communications equipment. You can depend on this team to give you the best.
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Microphones
Chapter 2 - Reproducer Groups
Chapter 3 - Speech Input Consoles
Chapter 4 - Amplifiers
Chapter 5 - Volume Indicating Equipment
Chapter 6 - Loudspeakers
Chapter 7 - Power Units
Chapter 8 - Components & Accessories
Index
COMPONENTS
A collection of component specifications from the Western Electric archives. Documents are available in PDF format.
AMPLIFIERS
A collection of amplifier specifications from the Western Electric archives. Documents are available in PDF format.
TRANSFORMERS
A collection of transformer specifications from the Western Electric archives. Documents are available in PDF format.
ELECTRON TUBES
A collection of electron tube specifications from the Western Electric archives. Documents are available in PDF format.
WE Electron Tubes - General Bulletin - Index & General Information