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Private company

Cornell Dubilier

American manufacturer of capacitors based in Seattle1

The Dubilier Condenser Company was the earliest commercial manufacturer of electronic capacitors (formerly known as condensers) which were widely used in early AM radio receivers (wireless sets). The company was founded in New York in 1920 by William Dubilier.2 It is part of KEMET Corporation.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1909Founded1
  • Industryelectrical industry1
  • HeadquartersNew York City1

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BBR 10-150, 10 MFD, 150 WVDC Cornell Dubilier 85C Capacitor, pic1
Photo: Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons4

The Dubilier Condenser Company was the earliest commercial manufacturer of electronic capacitors (formerly known as condensers) which were widely used in early AM radio receivers (wireless sets). The company was founded in New York in 1920 by William Dubilier.2

Corporate structure

Cornell Dubilier is part of a group headed by KEMET Corporation. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • KEMET Corporation Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
    • Cornell Dubilier New York City

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by William Dubilier in 1909.1

The company was founded in New York in 1920 by William Dubilier, who was responsible for many early developments in the field of electronics and radio, including the use of mica in capacitors. Dubilier was a name commonly found on capacitors in early wireless sets in Britain alongside TCC, Wima and others.

In 1923, Harry Houck joined Dubilier, later to become chief engineer.

Dubilier Condenser merged into Cornell-Dubilier in 1933.

In February, 1927, William Dubilier stepped down as president, naming Fred Williams as President and director of sales.

The former Cornell-Dubilier manufacturing site in South Plainfield, NJ became the subject of remediation under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund program. According to the EPA, manufacturing activities at the facility (1936–1962) resulted in releases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily trichloroethylene (TCE), contaminating soil, sediment, and groundwater. PCBs were used in capacitors manufactured at the site.

From Wikipedia’s article on Dubilier Condenser Company, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Leadership

Who has led Cornell Dubilier, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • capacitor

Listed on Wikidata.1

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 2012Acquired Acquired by KEMET Corporation1
  2. 1909Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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