Celebrating 125 Years of Custom Cable Solutions

We’ve come a long way!

In December of 1898, in Cherew, SC, New England Wire (then known as New England Electrical Works) was incorporated. Just a few months later, the business was moved to Lisbon, NH and the manufacture of single and double silk wrapped copper wire (an early form of today’s film insulated magnet wire) began in support of the manufacture of magnetic solenoid coils necessary to ring the bells in old-fashioned crank telephones.

Since those first, early days New England Wire has been proud to have developed some of the most innovative capabilities and wire and cable products in the industry. From Litz wire to superconductor cabling, and copper cables and braids to extruded micro-miniature multi-conductor cables, our place in the world of custom cable manufacturing has continued to grow and expand to support the latest technologies of every decade.

The 30 employees that started with us in 1898 have now grown to over 425! And the original 2-story building next to the railroad tracks is just part of our expansive campus where we now have over 385,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space – with plans to expand an additional 38,000 sq. feet in 2023. We remain happily located here in Lisbon, NH where we enjoy the beauty and peaceful lifestyle our little community offers while designing and manufacturing the most advanced wire and cable solutions in the industry.

Take a peek at some fun photos from our earliest days…

Employees of New England Electrical Works 1899
The original employee team of 1899 is shown in this photo. Look at all the female employees! Women were preferred to men as early machine operators due to their smaller hands and superior manually dexterity. In the early days, the average regular wage for these operators was $6/week.

 

The photo was taken in 1911 and shows the original building constructed in 1899. It was perfectly situated adjacent to the railroad bed for ease in loading and unloading of finished goods and raw materials. This building still stands today and is used mainly for office space and storage. A third floor was added in 1915.

 

New England Electrical Works employees circa 1900
Taken in the early 1900s, these machine operators are performing final inspection and rewind of our earliest textile wrapped copper products used in telephones and early small electrical appliances.

 

New England Electrical Works employees circa 1930
These machine operators from the early 1900s worked in the braiding department manufacturing copper braided products to support the growing electrical appliance and radio technology industries.

 

Ne England Electrical Works employees circa 1900
Inventory clerks from the early 1900s managing the materials and finished products that supported over 300 customers and sales of nearly $400,000 by then end of the decade.

Keep watching as we post more about our historic anniversary and discuss all the great things we have planned for the next 125 years!

 

No boundaries, just connections…

New England Wire manufactures custom cable in New Hampshire, USA.
We ship from coast to coast and around the globe.

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