Radio shack
Encyclopedia
Radio shack is a slang term for a room or structure for housing radio
equipment.
and hobbyist alike to describe any form of radio room. Today, amateur radio
operators use the term to describe the space occupied by their radio gear, usually a room, but for some the entire "shack" may consist of a hand-held radio or two while others may operate mobile equipment in a vehicle.
In 1921, Theodore and Milton Deutschmann chose the name "Radio Shack," for their radio parts retail and mail-order business in Boston
, Massachusetts
in order to appeal to radio enthusiasts. The enterprise has since grown to the multi-billion dollar retail
chain RadioShack Corporation
.
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...
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 adopted by the U.S. Navy, a small, wooden structure placed on deck to house the ship's radio equipment became known as the "radio shack". The term was soon adopted by militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
and hobbyist alike to describe any form of radio room. Today, 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...
operators use the term to describe the space occupied by their radio gear, usually a room, but for some the entire "shack" may consist of a hand-held radio or two while others may operate mobile equipment in a vehicle.
In 1921, Theodore and Milton Deutschmann chose the name "Radio Shack," for their radio parts retail and mail-order business in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in order to appeal to radio enthusiasts. The enterprise has since grown to the multi-billion dollar retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
chain RadioShack Corporation
RadioShack
RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
.
See also
- RadioShack Catalog Archive (view ALL of the Radio Shack catalogs!)
- Amateur radioAmateur radioAmateur 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...