About Joseph C. Belden
In 1902, Joe Belden founded the company that, to this day, bears his name. In his years of leadership that followed, he made a point to instill the practice of constantly searching for what's next into the fabric of the company.
Joseph Belden was always an innovator—even at the start of his career as a purchasing agent for a telephone equipment manufacturer.
In the early 1900s, silk-insulated magnet wire was incredibly difficult to source, making his job nearly impossible. After months of struggling to find what he needed, Joe wondered: Could he create more wire to meet demand?
Hatching a Plan to Meet Demand
A 26-year-old graduate of Yale University who studied calculus, physics, chemistry, mathematics and civil engineering, Joe was prepared to solve practical problems—but not to make wire. With his skillfulness and resolve, however, he was determined to find a way.
After meeting Albert Beutler, who knew wire-making inside and out thanks to his work at an electrical equipment manufacturer, the two sketched out a business plan to produce the coveted silk-insulated magnet wire.
A Focus on Customers and Quality from the Start
In 1902, Belden Manufacturing Company opened its doors: Joe focused on the business, while Albert focused on production.
From the start, Joe wanted to “sell on quality, not price”—a mantra the company has carried forward. This commitment to value led to quick growth.
As the company developed, it also expanded its product line. Joe wanted to sell products to solve his customers’ problems. The Belden Handypad was a pioneering example: This simple memo pad with a spring clip allowed users to attach the pad to their phone so they could write down important information while on a call.
For a short period of time, the company also manufactured hat wire for hat frameworks to fulfill an unmet need. After encountering a customer who noted that typical colors wouldn’t work, Belden manufactured hat wire in a special color—red—just for them.
The Start of an Industry Revolution
After a few years of booming business, the company began to lose customers as telephone equipment manufacturers surrendered to the economic recession. Discouraged but determined, Joe found new markets that needed his help: automobiles and electrical appliances.
While shifting production to support these new needs, he continued to put quality first—most notably investing in research and experiments to improve the durability of insulated wires.
During this time, the company perfected an enamel insulation and launched Beldenamel, a revolutionary insulated wire that allowed motors to be made much smaller. The company not only improved product durability, but also solved a customer problem while making small home appliances possible.
Continuing the Belden Legacy
From supporting wireless communication during World War I to enabling the safe operation of aircraft, Joe steered the company with consistent innovation through tough times—and times of unbelievable growth.
In 1939—37 years after the company moved from a napkin idea to reality—Belden became publicly traded. A few weeks later, Joe passed away at the age of 62. He will forever be remembered as playing a key role in bringing telecommunications to life.
Today, Belden is a leading, global provider of end-to-end networking, security and connectivity solutions that help customers build businesses of the future—the same goal that Joe himself held 120+ years ago.
