COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3825

Instruments to Measure Electricity

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1920–1985founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedSnap-On, IncorporatedFoundedSnap-On, Incorporated
1920
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedTektronix, Inc.FoundedTektronix, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedFluke Corporation
1953
FoundedKeithley Instruments Inc.FoundedKeithley Instruments Inc.
1955
FoundedWatkins-Johnson CompanyFoundedWatkins-Johnson Company
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedCobra Electronics Corporation
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAnalogic CorporationFoundedAnalogic Corporation
1964
FoundedPentair, Inc.FoundedPentair, Inc.FoundedSchneider S.A.
1966
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedGenRad, Inc.FoundedGenRad, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedAdtran Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Dynatech Corporation →
Active
Dynatech Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of products that support voice, video, and data…
Dynatech Corporation →
Active
Dynatech Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of products that support voice, video, and data…
Snap-On, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1920
Snap-On, Incorporated is one of the largest and most successful manufacturers and marketers of hand tools, power tools,…
Snap-On, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1920
Snap-On, Incorporated is one of the largest and most successful manufacturers and marketers of hand tools, power tools,…
Tektronix, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Tektronix, Inc., founded in 1946, is the world's leading manufacturer of oscilloscopes--instruments used to measure and…
Tektronix, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Tektronix, Inc., founded in 1946, is the world's leading manufacturer of oscilloscopes--instruments used to measure and…
Fluke Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
Fluke Corporation is a leading designer, developer, manufacturer, and seller of commercial electronic test and…
Fluke Corporation →
Active · founded 1953
Fluke Corporation is a leading designer, developer, manufacturer, and seller of commercial electronic test and…
Keithley Instruments Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 1996, Keithley Instruments Inc.
Keithley Instruments Inc. →
Active · founded 1955
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 1996, Keithley Instruments Inc.
Watkins-Johnson Company →
Active · founded 1957
A leading high-technology competitor, Watkins-Johnson Company is a producer of semiconductor-manufacturing equipment…
Watkins-Johnson Company →
Active · founded 1957
A leading high-technology competitor, Watkins-Johnson Company is a producer of semiconductor-manufacturing equipment…
Cobra Electronics Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Cobra Electronics Corporation designs and markets consumer electronics products like cordless telephones, telephone…
Cobra Electronics Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Cobra Electronics Corporation designs and markets consumer electronics products like cordless telephones, telephone…
Analogic Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Analogic Corporation is a leading custom designer, manufacturer, and seller of sophisticated precision instruments for…
Analogic Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
Analogic Corporation is a leading custom designer, manufacturer, and seller of sophisticated precision instruments for…
Pentair, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Pentair, Inc.
Pentair, Inc. →
Active · founded 1966
Pentair, Inc.
Schneider S.A. →
Active · founded 1966 · France
After a dizzying series of complicated restructurings, acquisitions, and divestments that began in 1980 when the…
Schneider S.A. →
Active · founded 1966 · France
After a dizzying series of complicated restructurings, acquisitions, and divestments that began in 1980 when the…
GenRad, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
GenRad, Inc.
GenRad, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
GenRad, Inc.
Adtran Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
In 1970, a 29-year-old electronics entrepreneur named Mark Smith founded Universal Data Systems (UDS) in Huntsville,…
Adtran Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
In 1970, a 29-year-old electronics entrepreneur named Mark Smith founded Universal Data Systems (UDS) in Huntsville,…
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