Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing Company
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 20 W. 11th St. Covington, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | George Lubrecht |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001585 |
| Added to NRHP | January 28, 1994 |
The Wadsworth Electric Manufacturing Company was started by two brothers, George B. and Harry Wadsworth, in 1904. George was an inventor! In 1907, he got his first patent for a special electrical device. A patent is like an official paper that says you invented something. This device was a "safety switch" for homes. It helped prevent accidents and fires. It also made it easier for people to change their own fuses. Fuses are small safety devices that protect electrical circuits. George kept inventing, getting 15 more patents by 1925. Harry Wadsworth left the company in 1910.
Contents
Growing the Company
The company officially became a corporation in 1918. This meant it was recognized as a separate legal business. They also moved to a new location on Pike Street. By 1922, Wadsworth Electric was doing very well. They had 100 employees and made $1.5 million in sales. That's a lot of money for that time!
In 1922, the company announced plans for a brand new building. This building was built on 11th Street in Covington, Kentucky. It was finished in March 1923.
New Leadership and Inventions
In 1925, George Wadsworth sold his rights to 16 of his inventions. He sold them to a company in Cincinnati. After that, he left Wadsworth Electrical Manufacturing.
However, the family's inventing spirit continued! David Wadsworth, George's brother, became the vice president and chief engineer in 1927. He kept inventing new things for the company until he passed away in 1937.
Company People and Products
After David Wadsworth's death, a local banker named Joseph Feltman became the company president. Later, his son-in-law, Leo Kuhlman, took over as president. Leo led the company until 1981.
During this time, the company was very successful. In the 1950s, they had as many as 300 employees! They made many important electrical products. These included breaker boxes, fuses, wiring ducts, and power outlets. These are all things we use every day to make electricity safe and useful in our homes.
The End of Wadsworth Electric
Leo Kuhlman's sons, John and Joseph, took over the company after him. They ran the business until it closed down. The company was officially "liquidated" in December 1990. This means it was shut down and its assets were sold.
Images for kids
