The Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering and manufacturing company founded in 1869. It originally served as the manufacturing arm of the Bell Telephone Company, producing telephone equipment and components. Over the years, it became a major supplier of telecommunications equipment and played a significant role in the development of the telephone industry. In the 20th century, Western Electric expanded its operations to include the production of various electronic devices and systems. The company was known for its innovation and quality, contributing to the growth of the AT&T telecommunications monopoly. It eventually became part of Lucent Technologies in the 1990s, marking the end of its independent operations.