GE still does. To this day can sell you a kitchen appliance, 110v residential electrical outlet, light bulb, air conditioner, CT/MRI scan machine, nuclear reactor, military warship drive train, wind turbine, offshore oil rig, 30mm autocannon, gas turbine powerplant, 10 watt DC hobby electric motor, 10 megawatt three phase industrial electric motor... the list goes on.
Most US conglomerates just learned to make sure all their subsidiaries have distinct names and brands, so the public doesn't instantly associate them with the parent company.
GE was/is a good example. They make everything (or did, anyway).
GE still does. To this day can sell you a kitchen appliance, 110v residential electrical outlet, light bulb, air conditioner, CT/MRI scan machine, nuclear reactor, military warship drive train, wind turbine, offshore oil rig, 30mm autocannon, gas turbine powerplant, 10 watt DC hobby electric motor, 10 megawatt three phase industrial electric motor... the list goes on.
Most US conglomerates just learned to make sure all their subsidiaries have distinct names and brands, so the public doesn't instantly associate them with the parent company.