Shiffman, Joseph William, 1891-1967

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Cleveland electrical engineer and founder of the Bell Electric Co. (originally the Telephone Construction Co.). He chose not to enter the management of the company and instead drew wages as a laborer and joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He served as president of the union from 1927-1931. He petitioned the armed forces to admit him despite his age and was finally commissioned a lieutenant in the Navy in 1943, at the age of fifty-one.

From the description of Papers, 1923-1975. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 17426515

Joseph William Shiffman (1891-1967) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 18, 1891. He graduated from Central High School in 1909, and then worked for three years as a telephone line installer and trouble-shooter for the Ohio Bell Telephone company before entering the Case School of Applied Science in 1912. While a student at Case, Shiffman was employed by the Cleveland Telephone Company as an instructor in electricity and telephone engineering. After graduating in 1916 with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, he was appointed city electrician by Cleveland Mayor Harry Davis, a position he held for two and a half years.

In 1924 Shiffman established the Telephone Construction Company which became the Bell Electric Company several years later. Although he was a founder of the company, he chose to draw a wage and remain part of the company's labor force rather than become a management officer. In 1935 Shiffman purchased the outstanding interest in the company, becoming sole owner. Although the owner of this firm, Shiffman was an active member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). He joined the union in 1916 and served as its president from 1927-1931. Shiffman retired in 1956 and moved to Vista, California, where he had maintained a second home for several years.

Beginning in 1942, Shiffman petitioned each branch of the United States military in an attempt to enlist. In each case he was turned down because of his age. In 1943 he was sent to Hawaii as a civilian electrician with the Civil Service, and in May of that year he was unexpectedly commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Navy at the age of fifty-one. He served for two and a half years and was discharged in October 1945. Despite several physical problems stemming from an injury incurred while in the Navy, Shiffman remained an officer in the Naval Reserve. He died in Vista, California, on January 3, 1967.

From the guide to the Joseph William Shiffman Papers, 1923-1975, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Shiffman, Joseph William, 1891-1967. Papers, 1923-1975. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Joseph William Shiffman Papers, 1923-1975 Western Reserve Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bell Electric Company (Cleveland, Ohio) corporateBody
associatedWith International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. corporateBody
associatedWith Ohio Bell Telephone Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Telephone Construction Company (Cleveland, Ohio) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Ohio--Cleveland
Subject
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Electrical engineers
Electric engineers
Electric industry workers
Electric industry workers
Shiffman, Joseph William, 1891-1967
Occupation
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Person

Birth 1891

Death 1967

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