NAIC 335110

Electric Lamp Bulb and Part Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

2companies1892–1985founding years2still active0no longer operating

§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory

FoundedGeneral Electric Company

1892

1903

TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.

1914

EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.

1939

EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.

1945

EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.

1947

TechnologyThe transistor is invented.

1958

TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.

1962

EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.

1975

TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.

1981

TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.

1984

TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.

FoundedSLI, Inc.

1985

1989

HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.

1991

TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.

1993

TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.

1995

TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.

1997

EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.

2004

TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.

2007

TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.

2010

TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.

2015

EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.

2020

EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.

2022

EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.

2023

TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.

§ 02

The companies

General Electric Company →

Active · founded 1892

The history of General Electric Company is a significant part of the history of technology in the United States.

SLI, Inc. →

Active · founded 1985

For the past 29 years, SLI, Inc.

Build It Today

Starting a electric lamp bulb and part manufacturing company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories with today's tools and capital.