Allied Radio
Encyclopedia
Allied Radio was an American radio
manufacturer and retailer, which sold radio sets, tubes, capacitors (also known as electronic component
s), amateur radio
equipment, citizen's band (CB) radios, miscellaneous communications equipment, electronic kits, and consumer audio systems through retail stores and mail-order.
Through the 1960s both divisions would be headquartered in Chicago
. As it approached the 1970s, Allied found the consumer electronics business was changing with increased competition from such companies as Sony, Panasonic, and JVC. For a time in the late 60s, Allied sold Pioneer high-fidelity equipment re-branded with its name. This ended with the sale to Radio Shack who brought in their own line of components.
Allied Radio would change ownership in 1970 when Radio Shack's parent company (Tandy Corporation) bought both Allied Radio & Allied Electronics. The retail division was merged with Tandy's retail unit to become Allied Radio Shack, with the main office of both divisions moving to Fort Worth, Texas. But as a result of the merger, many major shopping centers would have two Allied Radio Shack stores competing for the same dollars. As a result, the former Allied Radio storefronts would fade away, with the former Radio Shack stores taking on both product lines (and the expense of the extra inventory.) This was in some ways a more difficult task as the original Radio Shack storefronts were typically smaller than the Allied Radio stores.
By 1973, due directly to federal court action, Tandy
was ordered to divest itself of Allied Radio, but by that time with the purging of duplicate stock and closing of low volume stores, there was very little left to sell off, and the Tandy stores would once again bear the Radio Shack
name.
Since Tandy did not have a commercial-industrial supply division, Allied Electronics would continue as a "Division of Tandy Corporation" that served the manufacturing sector until the mid-1980s when it began to change owners.
Allied's main competitors were Radio Shack
, Lafayette Radio
, Olson Electronics, Newark Electronics, Burstein-Applebee Co, and local independent dealers (such as WinterRadio). Their primary house brands included "Allied" and "Knight-Kit".
Allied Radio enthusiasts have collected both equipment and catalogs from the heyday of the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, often to be found displayed on numerous personal web pages and occasionally for sale on auction sites such as ebay. Allied Radio catalogs were also unique as they would identify their continued years in business on the cover, beginning with the 1957 catalog (36th Year). The 1971 catalog cover of the new combined Allied Radio Shack heralded their 50th Anniversary. The years in business were also mentioned on the 1972 cover. Though the current Allied web site states that Allied began in 1928, all the catalogs indicate the year to be 1921. Coincidentally, this is the same year that Radio Shack began in Boston, Massachusetts.
.
, the largest catalog distributor in the world.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
manufacturer and retailer, which sold radio sets, tubes, capacitors (also known as electronic component
Electronic component
An electronic component is a basic electronic element and may be available in a discrete form having two or more electrical terminals . These are intended to be connected together, usually by soldering to a printed circuit board, in order to create an electronic circuit with a particular function...
s), amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
equipment, citizen's band (CB) radios, miscellaneous communications equipment, electronic kits, and consumer audio systems through retail stores and mail-order.
History
Beginning in 1928 as a mail-order and parts distribution arm of Columbia Radio Corporation, it was welcomed by the amateur electronic hobbyist located in areas where such components were not available. The company was started by Simon "Sy" Wexler. He was father to Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, and grandfather to Jeffrey Simon Wexler, Oscar-nominated sound engineer. As the company grew, it would slowly add retail stores to meet the demand for both parts and consumer electronics to both eager hobbyist, and the radio & Hi-Fi consumer. In 1962, The first industrial catalog was released for its commercial supplier division under the name of Allied Electronics.Through the 1960s both divisions would be headquartered in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. As it approached the 1970s, Allied found the consumer electronics business was changing with increased competition from such companies as Sony, Panasonic, and JVC. For a time in the late 60s, Allied sold Pioneer high-fidelity equipment re-branded with its name. This ended with the sale to Radio Shack who brought in their own line of components.
Allied Radio would change ownership in 1970 when Radio Shack's parent company (Tandy Corporation) bought both Allied Radio & Allied Electronics. The retail division was merged with Tandy's retail unit to become Allied Radio Shack, with the main office of both divisions moving to Fort Worth, Texas. But as a result of the merger, many major shopping centers would have two Allied Radio Shack stores competing for the same dollars. As a result, the former Allied Radio storefronts would fade away, with the former Radio Shack stores taking on both product lines (and the expense of the extra inventory.) This was in some ways a more difficult task as the original Radio Shack storefronts were typically smaller than the Allied Radio stores.
By 1973, due directly to federal court action, Tandy
Tandy
Tandy is the title of a short story by Sherwood Anderson.Tandy is also a name which can refer to:-Tandy Corporation:* Tandy Corporation - a leather supply company which subsequently became the RadioShack Corporation...
was ordered to divest itself of Allied Radio, but by that time with the purging of duplicate stock and closing of low volume stores, there was very little left to sell off, and the Tandy stores would once again bear the Radio Shack
Radio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
name.
Since Tandy did not have a commercial-industrial supply division, Allied Electronics would continue as a "Division of Tandy Corporation" that served the manufacturing sector until the mid-1980s when it began to change owners.
Allied's main competitors were Radio Shack
Radio shack
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
, Lafayette Radio
LaFayette Radio
Lafayette Radio Electronics Corporation was a radio manufacturer and retailer based in Syosset, New York. The company sold radio sets, amateur radio equipment, citizen's band radios, and other communications equipment, as well as electronic components and tools through retail outlets as well as...
, Olson Electronics, Newark Electronics, Burstein-Applebee Co, and local independent dealers (such as WinterRadio). Their primary house brands included "Allied" and "Knight-Kit".
Allied Radio enthusiasts have collected both equipment and catalogs from the heyday of the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s, often to be found displayed on numerous personal web pages and occasionally for sale on auction sites such as ebay. Allied Radio catalogs were also unique as they would identify their continued years in business on the cover, beginning with the 1957 catalog (36th Year). The 1971 catalog cover of the new combined Allied Radio Shack heralded their 50th Anniversary. The years in business were also mentioned on the 1972 cover. Though the current Allied web site states that Allied began in 1928, all the catalogs indicate the year to be 1921. Coincidentally, this is the same year that Radio Shack began in Boston, Massachusetts.
Allied Electronics
The current incarnation of Allied Electronics has a web site and catalog that bears little resemblance to its original technology or target market. Their primary business focus today is the industrial components/equipment market, with no retail or mail-order consumer products. Although their product line targets industrial components and equipment, they have an extensive supply of parts, tools, and other items that any experimenter might be interested in. They welcome orders of any size from individuals, either from their online ordering facility, or from their 2,192 page catalog which is both online and available in print for the asking. Company headquarters are located in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
.
Current ownership
In 1999 the company was acquired by ElectrocomponentsElectrocomponents
Electrocomponents plc is a leading British-based distributor of electronic components. It is headquartered in Oxford, England and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. Electrocomponents is the world’s largest high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products serving 1.6 million...
, the largest catalog distributor in the world.
See also
- Radio ShackRadio shackRadio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio equipment.-History:In the early days of radio, equipment was experimental and home-built. The first radio transmitters used a noisy spark to generate radio waves and were often housed in a garage or shed. When radio was first...
External links
- Allied Electronics
- Nostalgic Kits Central Pictures, schematics, specifications and more of a large number of Knight-Kits
- Knight-Kit Information about the Knight-Kit Broadcaster kit, fan stories, parts information, schematic, discussion group