Crouse-Hinds Company
Encyclopedia
Crouse-Hinds Electric Company, a manufacturer of high grade electrical specialties, was established in 1894 in Syracuse, New York
. They later shortened their name to Crouse-Hinds Company and beginning in the early 1920s specialized in the manufacture of traffic signals, controllers and accessories. The company name is still in use today as a subsidiary of Cooper Industries
, however, the traffic signal production ended in 1981 after Cooper sold the traffic products division.
, inherited a large sum of money from his uncle, Huntington Beard, who owned several small companies. Crouse teamed up with the older and wiser, Jeff Lorenzo Hinds, 51, who he met through a relative. Hinds was factory superintendent (and former mechanic) of the Electric Engineering and Supply Company of Syracuse
.
. The company was a manufacturer of high grade electrical specialties. Their first product offering was a changeable headlight for trolley cars.
A new plant was constructed in 1911 at the corner of Wolf and 7th North Streets in Syracuse
.
The company manufactured the first traffic signal in Syracuse
which was installed in 1924 at the corner of James and State Streets. Crouse-Hinds produced traffic signals locally for many years, including the famous Tipperary Hill
upside down light on the city's Far Westside
.
, a wire and cable manufacturer founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1902 by Joseph C. Beldon.
On April 10, 1981 the newly merged company was acquired by Cooper Industries
of Houston, Texas
. Not long after, Cooper sold the traffic products division to Traffic Control Technologies of Liverpool, New York
who then sold the division to Peek Traffic Transit of Tallahassee, Florida
. In 1992, Component Products Inc. purchased the patterns for Crouse-Hinds cabinets, mountings and bases from Traffic Control Technologies.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. They later shortened their name to Crouse-Hinds Company and beginning in the early 1920s specialized in the manufacture of traffic signals, controllers and accessories. The company name is still in use today as a subsidiary of Cooper Industries
Cooper Industries
Cooper Industries is a former US-based company that in 2009 switched its incorporation office from Bermuda to Ireland, maintaining its chief operational offices in Houston, Texas. It produces transformers, tools and electrical equipment, employing 29,000 staff around the world. Revenue in 2007 was...
, however, the traffic signal production ended in 1981 after Cooper sold the traffic products division.
History
In 1894, at age 25, Huntington Beard Crouse from the village of Fayetteville, New YorkFayetteville, New York
Fayetteville is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the village had a population of 4,190. The village is named after Lafayette, a national hero of both France and the United States...
, inherited a large sum of money from his uncle, Huntington Beard, who owned several small companies. Crouse teamed up with the older and wiser, Jeff Lorenzo Hinds, 51, who he met through a relative. Hinds was factory superintendent (and former mechanic) of the Electric Engineering and Supply Company of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Electrical specialties
Crouse had the capital and Hinds had the electrical know how as well as business and management experience to start their own company. They drew up papers and formed a partnership called Crouse-Hinds Electric Company on January 18, 1894 and went on to become one of the major employers in SyracuseSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. The company was a manufacturer of high grade electrical specialties. Their first product offering was a changeable headlight for trolley cars.
A new plant was constructed in 1911 at the corner of Wolf and 7th North Streets in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
Traffic signals
By 1918, the company had shortened their name to Crouse-Hinds Company and produced traffic lights, controllers and accessories.The company manufactured the first traffic signal in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
which was installed in 1924 at the corner of James and State Streets. Crouse-Hinds produced traffic signals locally for many years, including the famous Tipperary Hill
Tipperary Hill
Tipperary Hill, sometimes known as Tipp Hill, is a district in the city of Syracuse, New York, largely settled by immigrants from Ireland, especially from County Tipperary. It makes up half of Syracuse's Far Westside neighborhood.-History:...
upside down light on the city's Far Westside
Far Westside, Syracuse
The Syracuse Far Westside is one of 26 recognized neighborhoods by the City of Syracuse, USA. Until this area joined the city in 1886 it was known as the village of Geddes.-History:...
.
Current operations
On December 10, 1980 the Crouse-Hinds Company merged with BeldenBelden Inc.
Belden Inc.Belden Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets highly engineered signal transmission products for demanding applications. These cable, connectivity and networking products serve the industrial automation, enterprise, security, transportation, infrastructure, residential and consumer...
, a wire and cable manufacturer founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1902 by Joseph C. Beldon.
On April 10, 1981 the newly merged company was acquired by Cooper Industries
Cooper Industries
Cooper Industries is a former US-based company that in 2009 switched its incorporation office from Bermuda to Ireland, maintaining its chief operational offices in Houston, Texas. It produces transformers, tools and electrical equipment, employing 29,000 staff around the world. Revenue in 2007 was...
of Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Not long after, Cooper sold the traffic products division to Traffic Control Technologies of Liverpool, New York
Liverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
who then sold the division to Peek Traffic Transit of Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
. In 1992, Component Products Inc. purchased the patterns for Crouse-Hinds cabinets, mountings and bases from Traffic Control Technologies.