Commitment, 1973 - AT&T Archives - Western Electric Manufacturing

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Commitment is, essentially, a case study that illuminates Western Electric's role as the manufacturing arm of AT&T in the 1970s. The 1973 film begins with an order from AT&T's Bell System for a new central office to be installed in Columbia City, Maryland—a brand new community being built from the ground up. The viewer is given a fascinating look at how "the sausage got made" inside Western Electric as this order weaves its way through the system.

The commitment between Western Electric and AT&T dates back to 1881 when AT&T's predecessor, American Bell, purchased an interest in the Western Electric Manufacturing Company in Chicago and renamed it, simply, Western Electric. At the time, Western Electric was the primary supplier of telegraph equipment to Western Union, and American Bell was in search of a manufacturer that could produce its very specialized equipment at a pace sufficient to keep up with expected demand. In 1882, Western Electric became the sole supplier of Bell telephones and telephone equipment to the Bell System. That relationship lasted more than a century—even as Western Electric's resources were tapped to supply equipment to the United States government during two World Wars, forcing AT&T to cope with shortages.

In 1984, Western Electric's corporate charter was assumed by "AT&T Technologies". It would later be renamed "Lucent Technologies" and spun off completely in 1996.

Footage Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ