 The firm "incorporated under New Jersey laws January 16, 1899 as a consolidation of the following companies engaged in the manufacture of lighting carbons, carbon brushes for generators and motors, carbon batteries, carbon diaphragms and back plates for telephones, carbons for electrolytic purposes and kindred products.The company supplied approximately 75% of the US carbon market in the world.In 1906, National Carbon Company, which had been supplying Conrad Hubert's "American Electrical Novelty & Manufacturing Company" (maker of "Ever Ready" flashlights and batteries) with materials for batteries, bought half interest in the company for $200,000.