US plugs and sockets manufacturers

U.S. manufacturers
of plugs and sockets

US start
page

info page

Note that logos and information are restricted to company and brand names found on material that is shown in the museum. Manufacturers are listed in alphabetical order.

Sources: catalogs and internet sites of the given companies and Wikipedia. Information on Monowatt and GE has been given by Chris Hunter, Museum of Innovation and Science, Schenectady, NY.
Ž shown logos are registered trademarks of given companies or brands. Logos may not be copied, except for strict encyclopedic purposes in relation to plugs and sockets.

		Academy Electrical Products Corp. started business in 1947 in New York, NY. The company made electrical cord plugs, cord receptacles and outlets, and lamp sockets and switches. Production came to an end in the late 1990s. Dissolution by proclamation in 2000.
		Arrow Electrical Wiring Devices. Several companies have played a role in the history of Arrow. In 1890 Gerald W. Hart and George Hegeman founded the Hart and Hegeman Manufacturing Co. in Hartford, CT. They started to produce rotary snap switches for electric lamps. In 1905 Charles G. Perkins founded the Arrow Electric Manufacturing Co. In 1928 the two companies merged and create the Arrow-Hart and Hegeman Co. In 1981 Arrow-Hart is acquired by Cooper Industries.
		Bryant Electrical Corporation. Founded in 1888 in Bridgeport, CT by Waldo Bryant, manufacturer of wiring devices, electrical components and switches. The company grew rapidly, but to realize even more expansion he sold a majority interest to Westinghouse Electric. Bryant was also known for promoting standardization of electrical accessories. In the process of regional deindustrialization Westinghouse closed the Bryant Electric plant in Bridgeport in 1988 and sold the remaining interest to Hubbell (see below).
		Cooper Industries. Charles and Elias Cooper opened in 1833 an iron foundry in Mt. Vernon OH, named C&G Cooper Co. They switched to manufacturing steam engines and later to gas engine technology. After World War II they focussed, among others, on electrical products. After acquiring Arrow-Hart in 1981 and Eagle Electric in 2000, the Cooper Wiring Devices was created with headquarters in Houston. In 2012 Cooper was acquired by the Eaton Corporation, a multinational power management company.
		Eagle Electric Manufacturing Company. Founded in 1920 by Louis and Philip Ludwig and based in New York. Louis Ludwig introduced the slogan "Eagle Electric-Perfection is not an accident". In 1986 Eagle was the first to introduce sockets that were protected against voltage spikes by means of a patented surge protector. In 2000 Eagle Electric was purchased by Cooper Industries.
		General Electric Company. In 1892 the Edison General Electric Company and the competitive Thomas Houston Company combined business as General Electric Company. It started with incandescent lighting. GE is now a large multinational conglomerate corporation. Manufacturing of domestic plugs and sockets ended in the second half of the 20st century. Power cords for modern GE appliances may have a GE logo, but are made by other companies.. Note that US General Electric Co is not linked to British General Electric Co.
		Hubbell Incorporated. In 1888 Harvey Hubbell II opened a manufacturing facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Hubbell was the inventor of a pull-chain socket (patented in 1896) and a separable attachment plug (1903). The iconic type with two, parallel positioned flat blades was patented in 1912. Hubbell is still one of the prominent manufacturers of, among others, plugs and sockets. Hubbell has acquired many companies, among others Bryant Electrical Corporation (see above), a still existing brand name.
		Leviton Manufacturing Company. Founded in 1906 by Isodor Leviton in Manhattan. After starting production of Edison lamp sockets, the company expanded the range to wiring devices, lighting controls and other electrical products. It is the largest privately held manufacturer of electrical equipment in North America.
		Monowatt Electric Corporation. When and by whom Monowatt has been founded is unknown. A1925 patent assigned to Monowatt Electric Import Company Inc of New York for Christmas tree lighting. The name Monowatt refers to the first, one Watt, lamp that was imported. In 1926 the decorative (Christmas) lighting division merged into NOMA. In 1929 General Electric bought the wiring division. George Benander, engineer and inventor was a key figure; more than 60 of his patents are assigned to Monowatt and General Electric. Monowatt electric accessories had a strong position in serving the chain store market. In 1951 GE brought subsidiary companies under direct control and the trade name Monowatt disappeared gradually.
		NOMA Electric Company. NOMA stood for National Outfit Manufacturer's Association, a trade organization founded in 1925. Thirteen companies joined the association. The aim was reducing marketing and purchasing costs to all members. Most of them were active in lighting and electric accessories production. One of them was Monowatt. After a successful year, the member companies merged into one company: NOMA Electric Corporation. Once it was the largest manufacturer of holiday (Christmas) lighting, but had to close down in 1967. The trademark NOMA is now held by Inliten of Glenville, IL.
		Pass & Seymour. James Pass, a ceramic technologist, developed in 1888 at Onondaga Pottery a vitreous type of tableware of unusual strength, known as American Type China. Albert Seymour, superintendent at Syracuse's lighting company was looking for a replacement of wood, that was mostly used as insulator. In 1890 Pass and Seymour formed a partnership for the manufacture of electrical porcelain. In 1900, Pass & Seymour Inc was established in Syracuse, New York (source). The French company Legrand acquired P&S in 1984.
		Woods Industries. The U.S. company was founded in 1929. In 1950 a branch of Woods Industries was established in Canada. Both companies now operate as subsidiaries of Coleman Cable since 2007. Products made by Woods are appliance and extension cords, outlet power strips and a small range of plugs and connectors. The adapter shown in the museum has been bought in Canada.
		Also non-US manufacturers sell NEMA type plugs in the USA and Canada. The museum has products of companies listed below.
		Ching Cheng Wire Material. Established in 1980 in Taichung City, Taiwan.* Tumbler Corporation (in 1988 renamed to Linvox) is a subsidiary of Ching Cheng. It is responsible for distribution, service and promotion of Ching Cheng plugs and appliance cords in the U.S.
		I-Sheng Electric Wire & Cable Co. Established in 1973 in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.* Acquired UL certification in 1999 that allowed export of power supply cables to the US.
		Rich Bay Co.. Established 1986 in New Taipei City,Taiwan.* Specialized in various types of IEC 60320 appliance cords with NEMA type wall plugs.
		Weico (Asia) Industries Ltd. Company founded in 1983 in Taiwan. The Weico Shanghai plant was set up in 1987 and four years later the US Weico plant in Dongguan (China). Manufacturer of electronic devices, LED illumination, plugs and sockets, etc. Among others Pass & Seymour sells plugs made by Weico.
		* main production facilities are based in Mainland China (PRC). Plugs of these companies are also shown on the IEC 60320 page.

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