Electro-Dynamic Company
| Industry | Electrical machinery |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1880 |
| Founder | William Woodnut Griscom |
| Fate | Dissolved 2000 |
| Headquarters | |
Key people |
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| Products | Electric motors and electric generators |
The Electro-Dynamic Company specialized in manufacturing electric motors and generators from its inception in 1880 until its closure in 2000. Throughout much of its existence, it operated mainly as a subsidiary under the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics and its antecedent organizations.
History
Established by the electrical innovator William Woodnut Griscom in 1880, Electro-Dynamic initially counted the Electric Launch Company (Elco) among its principal clients. Following a bankruptcy event in 1892, financier Isaac Rice intervened to salvage the firm and assumed co-ownership. Griscom passed away in 1897. The company provided the primary propulsion motor for , recognized as the United States Navy's inaugural modern submarine, which was launched that same year. In 1899, Rice founded Electric Boat, incorporating Electro-Dynamic and Elco as its subsidiaries.
Prior to 1964, Electro-Dynamic relocated from Philadelphia to Bayonne, New Jersey, where it operated a manufacturing facility on Avenue A until it was destroyed by fire in 1964. Subsequently, the company acquired a new plant in Avenel, New Jersey, previously owned by Security Steel. Throughout the twentieth century, Electro-Dynamic produced electric motors and generators for submarines constructed by Electric Boat as well as for naval and civilian vessels built by Elco. After Electric Boat reorganized into General Dynamics in 1952, Electro-Dynamic continued as a division within the larger corporation. The company was ultimately dissolved in 2000, with its operations consolidated at Electric Boat’s primary site in Groton, Connecticut.
See also
- Electric Launch Company sister company
- New London Ship and Engine Company sister company
- Submarine Boat Company sister company