Eagle Electric
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electrical components manufacturing |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Founder | Louis Ludwig, Philip Ludwig |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Acquired by Cooper Industries; became Cooper Wiring Devices |
| Headquarters | Long Island City, New York, Queens , United States |
| Products | Electrical components, switches, circuit assemblies, wiring devices |
Eagle Electric Manufacturing Company, established in 1920, specialized in producing electrical components, including switches and circuit assemblies, and was headquartered in Long Island City, New York, Queens.
History
The enterprise was initiated by brothers Louis Ludwig and Philip Ludwig, with management staying within the family lineage across generations.
In January 1938, union workers from New York organized a picket line outside the factory, which led to several arrests.
For many years, Eagle Electric was well-known for its prominent neon sign near the Queensboro Bridge, featuring the tagline "Eagle Electric-Perfection is not an accident", a phrase coined by Louis Ludwig. In 1987, under the leadership of Advertising Manager Mel Ludwig, Oswald Fernandez updated the company’s slogan, logo, and packaging design. By 2006, manufacturing operations had expanded internationally to locations in Mexico, China, and the southeastern United States under the Cooper Wiring Devices brand.
By the early 1980s, Eagle Electric had developed a portfolio of thousands of wiring device SKUs distributed nationwide. In 1991, under the guidance of the Advertising Director, the firm introduced the eSmart surge protector series—among the earliest products branded with an "e"—aimed at large retail chains to address a market niche. However, Marketing Director Jim Cook later discontinued the eSmart line, considering computers a temporary fad.
During the early 1980s, production began shifting from New York facilities to Greensboro, North Carolina, and subsequently to Mexico. Although new labor agreements and tax benefits in 1997 encouraged Eagle to continue some operations in New York, in 1998 the board of directors removed the president along with several other executives.
In spring 2000, Eagle was purchased by Cooper Industries, transitioning into Cooper Wiring Devices with headquarters in Peachtree City, Georgia. After Cooper Industries was acquired by Eaton Corporation in 2012, Eagle Electric was rebranded as Eaton Wiring Devices.