 More than a
Century of Commitment to the Telecommunications Industry
The story of Comdial began when two employees of Chicago Bell
Telephone formed a partnership in 1894. The business strategy of
Alfred Stromberg and Androv Carlson was simple: they wanted to
manufacture a better telephone. With the expiration of the patents on
Alexander Graham Bell's telephone, about thirty independent companies
sought to capture a piece of the market that Bell had dominated.
Stromberg and Carlson created one such company.
The Farmer's Telephone
The Stromberg-CarlsonŽ phone became known as the "farmer's
telephone," because it helped the American farmer by connecting
towns and breaking down the harsh isolation of rural life. By the turn
of the century, Stromberg-Carlson emerged as a leader among the
independent telephone manufacturers. This was due to their reputation
for stable prices, uncompromising quality, and a strong emphasis on
quality workmanship.
The War Years
In 1904, Home Telephone Company, based in Rochester, NY, purchased
Stromberg-Carlson and moved all operations to New York. World War I
created a great demand for Stromberg-Carlson's phone equipment, so
much so that all civilian business was put on hold during the war.
During WWI, Stromberg-Carlson produced portable telephones and camp
switchboards bital to the Signal Corp[s fighting in Europe. During
World War II, the company increased production of advanced
communications products, supplying switchboards, telephone
instruments, field radio sets, and sound-powered systems to the U.S.
Navy. After the war, with technology booming, the company expanded
into the electronics industry. General Dynamics, a major defense
supplier, became interested in the scientific abilities and electronic
developments of Stromberg-Carlson. In 1955, the two companies merged,
providing a wide range of products.
Back to Basic Telephony
During the 1960s, Stromberg-Carlson decided to concentrate on their
traditional market: the U.S. independent telephone industry. They
acquired the United States Instrument Corporation in Charlottesville,
Virginia - a major manufacturer of telephone components. Soon, all
telephone manufacturing divisions of Stromberg-Carlson/General
Dynamics moved to Charlottesville. In 1982, a company at the forefront
of research in telecommunications Comdial Corporation, purchased the
Charlottesville facility from General Dynamics. This acquisition
provided Comdial with a major product design and manufacturing
operation with which to implement the technology they had developed.
The Sunshine State
In 1996, Comdial purchased Key Voice Technologies (KVT), an
acknowledged leader in the voice processing industry. Based in
Sarasota, Florida, KVT develops and manufactures a complete line of
voice mail, automated attendant, fax processing and unified messaging
products. All KVT voice products work with Comdial phone systems, as
well as other manufacturers. In 2001, Comdial corporate headquarters
re-located to Florida.
Today, Comdial remains dedicated to preserving the fundamental
values that have brought us successfully into our second century of
American-based telephony. With outstanding prices, integrity, and
quality workmanship, we are committed to excellence in the field of
telecommunications. We will continue to develop products both for
today and for the networks of the future.
|
