1846

George Westinghouse born in Central Bridge, New York.

1865

George Westinghouse patents the rotary steam engine.

1869

Westinghouse patents the air brake, revolutionizing railroad safety.

1869

Westinghouse Air Brake Company is founded.

1871

Westinghouse Air Brake Company implements half-day Saturdays, a big step toward the five-day work week.

1873

Westinghouse invented the automatic air brake by utilizing a triple valve system that equipped each car with its own air cylinder.

1881

Westinghouse founds Union Switch and Signal Company to develop closed-track circuits and interlocking systems for railroads.

1886

Westinghouse Electric Company is founded.

1888

Nikola Tesla receives a patent for the first alternating current motor and comes to work for Westinghouse Electric Company.

1891

Westinghouse built the world’s first industrial AC system, Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant.

1893

Westinghouse beats Thomas Edison for the contract to light the Chicago World’s Fair with AC power and wins the “War of the Currents.”

1896

Installed hydropower AC generators at Adams Power Plant, Niagara Falls which supplied power to Buffalo, New York

1901

First commercial Westinghouse steam turbine driven generator, 1,500 kW unit nicknamed the Mary-Ann, Hartford Electric Light Co.

1905

Westinghouse’s first main- line AC powered locomotive produced for New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Mode:l NH EP1 Supplied voltage: 11 kV, 25 Hz AC, 600 V DC & 636 V AC.

1914

Westinghouse acquires Copeman Electric Stove Company and enters the home appliance market.

1914

George Westinghouse dies, leaving a legacy that includes 361 patents and the founding of 60 companies.

1920

Westinghouse makes history with the first commercial radio broadcast in the country. Radio station KDKA begins operations.

1921

Westinghouse introduces the first factory-built radio receiver.

1923

Westinghouse pioneers the first international shortwave radio broadcast.

1930

55,000 Westinghouse workers honor George Westinghouse by raising funds to build a memorial and garden in Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park.

1933

The world’s fastest elevators are built for New York’s Rockefeller Center.

1937

Westinghouse Electric constructs the first atom smasher to explore the potential of nuclear energy as a practical power source.

1939

Westinghouse makes an impression at the New York World’s Fair with its Hall of Power and Elektro, the walking, talking robot.

1940s

Westinghouse supports the war effort on many fronts, including the creation of the famous “We Can Do It” poster.

1941

Westinghouse begins producing power at Grand Coulee Dam.

1947

First all-weather airport approach lighting installed at Idlewild International Airport, New York.

1948

First industrial 2000 HP, W21 gas turbine installed at the Mississippi River Fuel Corp in Wilmar, Arkansas

1950s

Westinghouse markets its appliance line with the Freedom Fair advertising campaign.

1954

The USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear submarine, was launched with a reactor built by Westinghouse.

1960

Paul Rand designs the Westinghouse logo.

1969

Westinghouse cameras capture the first moonwalk for viewers back on earth.

1977

Westinghouse introduces the first airborne surveillance radar system.

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