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Originally founded in 1869 by Enos Barton and Elisha Gray in Cleveland, Ohio, Western Electric became a cornerstone of American telecommunications history. Initially manufacturing electrical and telegraph equipment, the company moved to Chicago in 1872 and was acquired by Bell Telephone Company in 1881, becoming the exclusive supplier for AT&T and the Bell System. Western Electric pioneered numerous innovations including the legendary 300B vacuum tube, the world's first audio limiter (110A Program Amplifier in 1937), and massive horn loudspeakers for movie theaters that are now prized by collectors. After the Bell System breakup in 1984, the Western Electric name was abandoned until entrepreneur Charles G. Whitener acquired the intellectual property and brand license from AT&T in 1995. Re-established in 1996 in Rossville, Georgia, the modern Western Electric continues manufacturing premium vacuum tubes and high-end audio equipment, maintaining the legacy of innovation and quality that began over 150 years ago. The company specializes in electron tubes and high fidelity equipment, with their 300B tubes particularly sought after by audiophiles worldwide for their unbeatable standards in thermionic tube manufacturing.