Clevite

Clevite, Inc. was a Cleveland, Ohio manufacturing company whose origins lay in the Cleveland Graphite Bronze Company. It became an important American producer of Babbitt bearings, a class of sliding bearings used in engines and other machinery, and developed a substantial presence as a supplier to industrial and government customers. Its bearing business was also connected to the British market through licensing arrangements with Vandervell Products Ltd., giving Clevite technology and products a role in the development of British bearing manufacturing. The company expanded well beyond its original materials and bearing activities after the Second World War. In 1952, Cleveland Graphite Bronze absorbed Brush Development Company and Brush Labs. The transaction broadened the company’s technical base and helped establish the platform for a larger electronics business. In 1953, the company acquired a controlling 51 percent interest in Transistor Products Inc. It subsequently added other technology assets, including the German semiconductor company Intermetall in 1955. Intermetall had been founded in 1952 by physicist Herbert Mataré and was associated with early European transistor development. By 1959, electronics accounted for more than one-third of Clevite’s sales, according to the company’s Wikipedia account. Its electronics-related activities were organized across four principal units: Clevite Transistor Products, Brush Instruments, Clevite Electronic Components, and Clevite Ordnance. This portfolio illustrates the company’s transition from a specialist bearing manufacturer into a diversified industrial technology and defense contractor. Clevite’s government work included defense contracts, and the company opened a new ordnance plant in 1967. Clevite also pursued semiconductor research and production through the acquisition of Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in 1960. The laboratory was operated by Clevite for several years before being sold to ITT in 1968. This disposal followed a similar pattern involving Intermetall, which was later sold to ITT in 1965. These transactions indicate that Clevite’s semiconductor activities formed part of a changing technology portfolio rather than becoming a permanent standalone core of the company. The company’s independent existence ended in 1969, when it was acquired by Gould-National Batteries. The acquirer was described as substantially smaller than Clevite and adopted the Gould name in an effort to obtain stronger marketplace recognition. Clevite therefore survives primarily as a historical industrial brand and as a name associated with bearings, early semiconductor activity, electronic components, instrumentation, and defense manufacturing. The available reference material does not establish whether the Clevite name continued as an active product brand after the acquisition.

Clevite originated as the Cleveland Graphite Bronze Company in Cleveland, Ohio. Its initial industrial identity was built around Babbitt bearings, which are sliding bearing components made with a soft bearing alloy and used in machinery and engines. The business became a leading producer in this field and also served as a significant United States government defense contractor. Its bearing technology reached Britain through licensing to Vandervell Products Ltd. The available reference material does not provide a founding year or identify a founder. The company’s postwar development was marked by diversification. In 1952, Cleveland Graphite Bronze absorbed Brush Development Company and Brush Labs. These organizations added capabilities that supported the company’s later movement into instrumentation and electronics. In 1953, the company acquired 51 percent of Transistor Products Inc., establishing a direct position in transistor-related manufacturing. It continued this expansion with the acquisition of Intermetall in Germany in 1955. Intermetall had been founded in 1952 by Herbert Mataré and was associated with early European transistor work. By 1959, more than one-third of Clevite’s sales came from electronics. The company’s electronics activities were divided among Clevite Transistor Products, Brush Instruments, Clevite Electronic Components, and Clevite Ordnance. The portfolio combined components, measurement and instrumentation products, semiconductor activities, and defense manufacturing. Clevite obtained defense contracts for some products and opened a new ordnance plant in 1967, reinforcing its role as a government-facing industrial supplier. Clevite entered a particularly notable phase of semiconductor activity through its 1960 purchase of Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory. The laboratory remained under Clevite ownership until its sale to ITT in 1968. Clevite had also sold Intermetall to ITT in 1965. These divestitures show that the company actively reshaped its technology holdings while maintaining a broader industrial and defense portfolio. In 1969, Gould-National Batteries acquired Clevite. The available account describes Gould-National Batteries as a company roughly one-quarter Clevite’s size. Following the acquisition, the buyer adopted the Gould name in an effort to build greater marketplace recognition. This transaction ended Clevite as an independent company. The reference material does not establish the later fate of every Clevite product line or whether the name continued in selected bearing or industrial applications. Accordingly, Clevite is best documented as a historical corporate and industrial brand rather than as a confirmed active standalone company.

1. 1969Acquired by Gould-National Batteries

   Gould-National Batteries acquired Clevite and subsequently adopted the Gould name.

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2. 1968Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory sold to ITT

   The semiconductor laboratory was sold to ITT after several years under Clevite ownership.

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3. 1967New ordnance plant opened

   Clevite opened a new ordnance plant during a period of continued defense-sector activity.

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4. 1965Intermetall sold to ITT

   Clevite divested Intermetall to telecommunications company ITT.

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5. 1960Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory acquired

   Clevite purchased Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory and operated it until its later sale to ITT.

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6. 1959Electronics becomes a major part of the business

   More than one-third of reported sales came from electronics, organized across four operating units.

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7. 1955Intermetall acquired

   The company acquired German semiconductor business Intermetall.

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8. 1953Controlling interest acquired in Transistor Products

   Clevite acquired 51 percent of Transistor Products Inc., supporting its move into transistor and semiconductor activities.

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9. 1952Brush Development Company and Brush Labs absorbed

   Cleveland Graphite Bronze expanded its technical and electronics base by absorbing Brush Development Company and Brush Labs.

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Historically positioned as a diversified American industrial technology and defense supplier, with a foundational reputation in Babbitt bearings and later capabilities in electronics, semiconductors, instrumentation, and ordnance.

• Babbitt bearingsAutomotive and industrial components

  Clevite’s foundational product area was Babbitt bearing manufacture. These sliding bearings were used in engines and industrial machinery, and the company became a leading American producer. The bearing business provided the industrial base from which Clevite later diversified into electronics, instrumentation, and defense work.

• Clevite Transistor ProductsSemiconductors1953

  Clevite Transistor Products was one of the company’s principal electronics units by 1959. It reflected the company’s investment in transistor manufacturing following its controlling investment in Transistor Products Inc. in 1953 and its later semiconductor acquisitions.

• Brush InstrumentsInstrumentation1952

  Brush Instruments became part of Clevite’s electronics organization after the 1952 absorption of Brush Development Company and Brush Labs. It represented the company’s instrumentation and measurement capabilities within its diversified technology portfolio.

• Clevite Electronic ComponentsElectronic components

  Clevite Electronic Components was one of four electronics-related units identified in the company’s 1959 structure. It supplied the broader electronic-component activities that complemented Clevite’s transistor, instrumentation, and ordnance operations.

• Clevite OrdnanceDefense manufacturing

  Clevite Ordnance handled part of the company’s defense-oriented manufacturing. Clevite held government defense contracts and opened a new ordnance plant in 1967, although the available material does not specify individual weapons or systems.

• 1969Sale to Gould-National BatteriesM&A

  Clevite had become a diversified industrial, electronics, and defense manufacturer.

  What changed. Gould-National Batteries acquired Clevite.

  Aftermath. Clevite ceased to operate as an independent company, and the acquirer adopted the Gould name to improve marketplace recognition.

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• 1960Purchase of Shockley Semiconductor LaboratoryM&A

  Clevite was building a broader technology portfolio that included transistor and semiconductor operations.

  What changed. The company purchased Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory.

  Aftermath. Clevite operated the laboratory until selling it to ITT in 1968.

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• 1953Acquisition of 51 percent of Transistor Products Inc.M&A

  Clevite was expanding from bearing manufacture into electronics and semiconductor technology.

  What changed. Clevite acquired a 51 percent controlling interest in Transistor Products Inc.

  Aftermath. The investment helped establish a semiconductor division and supported the later Clevite Transistor Products unit.

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• 1952Absorption of Brush Development Company and Brush LabsM&A

  Cleveland Graphite Bronze sought to broaden its capabilities beyond bearings and strengthen its technical and electronics base.

  What changed. The company absorbed Brush Development Company and Brush Labs in a merger.

  Aftermath. The transaction contributed to the electronics and instrumentation activities later organized under the Clevite name.

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• 1969Gould-National Batteries acquires Clevite

  Gould-National Batteries acquired Clevite, ending Clevite’s independent corporate existence. The acquiring company subsequently adopted the Gould name.

  M&A
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• 1968Clevite sells Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory to ITT

  Clevite divested Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory to ITT after operating the laboratory for several years.

  M&A
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• 1967Clevite opens a new ordnance plant

  The company opened a new ordnance facility while expanding its defense-related manufacturing and government-contracting activities.

  Other
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• 1960Clevite purchases Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory

  Clevite acquired Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory and operated it until selling the business to ITT in 1968.

  M&A
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• 1955Clevite acquires Intermetall

  The company acquired the German semiconductor business Intermetall as part of its expansion into transistor technology and electronics.

  M&A
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• 1953Clevite acquires a controlling interest in Transistor Products

  Clevite acquired 51 percent of Transistor Products Inc., supporting the company’s move into semiconductor and electronic businesses.

  M&A
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• 1952Cleveland Graphite Bronze absorbs Brush Development Company and Brush Labs

  The company completed a merger with Brush Development Company and Brush Labs, expanding its technical and electronics capabilities.

  M&A
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1. Clevite