Litton Industries began in San Carlos, California, in 1932 when Charles Vincent Litton Sr. founded Litton Engineering Laboratories. Litton’s innovative glass-blowing lathe revolutionized the production of vacuum tubes, becoming crucial for communications and radar systems during World War II. His contributions earned the company significant recognition, including a Presidential Certificate of Merit. In 1954, Tex Thornton and his associates acquired the company, leveraging Litton’s technological advancements to expand into sectors like aerospace, shipbuilding, and electronics, transforming it into a diversified conglomerate.
Under Thornton’s leadership, the company diversified, acquiring various firms and expanding into sectors such as shipbuilding, aerospace, and electronic components. By the 1960s, Litton Industries had become one of the largest conglomerates in the United States, but diversification issues led to setbacks in the 1970s. The company subsequently refocused on defense and electronic manufacturing, maintaining its prominence until it was acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2001. Litton’s early contributions to manufacturing innovation and defense technologies left a lasting legacy, particularly in San Carlos, where its story began.
PHOTO: Cover of the Book “Legend of Litton Industries” by Jeffrey L. Rodengen