Gould Storage Battery Corporation
of Depew, New York State
Late 1800s: Charles J. Gould started a small foundry to forge couplings for railway carriages.
1895 After a disastrous fire, Gould rebuilt his business on a much larger scale and established a town around his factory (Depew) outside Buffalo, New York.
Gould produced storage batteries for use by trains, electric utilities, subways, elevators, and farms; the business name was changed to Gould Storage Battery Corporation.
c.1907 A company called Gould Storage Battery Co was established in Britain (but this was done by a third party who was subsequently sued by Charles Gould for non-payment for the batteries).
By 1930, the company had become an established name in the battery industry and was one of the largest manufacturers of industrial batteries in the country.
1930 The National Lead Battery Company (National Battery) acquired Gould, especially for a patent it held; the new group grew into a national business.
1948 The company changed its name to Gould-National Batteries, Inc. but struggled during the 1950s and 1960s.
In an effort to increase market share, the company began to diversify.
1958 Gould-National acquired a group of companies that manufactured parts for internal combustion engines, followed by another engine parts manufacturer called Wilkening Manufacturing Company in 1960.
With the acquisition of Cyclone Filter Corporation, Gould-National entered the air and fuel filter markets. The company also branched out into the alkaline battery and rechargeable battery markets.
In the late 1960s demand for automotive batteries continued to decrease because of improvements in technology and the use of alternators. Earnings at Gould-National also continued to fall, and the company needed to reevaluate its business strategy. The company moved away from its reliance on the battery market.
Merged with Cleveland-based Clevite Corporation, which manufactured precision automotive parts, batteries, and electronic systems and components. The merger resulted in Gould, Inc.
From 1969 to 1976, Gould acquired 20 companies, including makers of electronic controls, computer output devices, battery-related equipment, medical instrumentation, and electronic test and measurement equipment. It transformed itself into a major electronics company,
1980s: the company sold its industrial group of businesses including the company's battery operations. Money from these sales was used to further strengthen the business as an electronics company. Gould's electronic business then made up 75 percent of sales.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Company histories