Difference between revisions 122059325 and 122059326 on dewiki

[[Image:Philco cathedral radio.jpg|right|thumb|A Philco 90 "cathedral" style radio from 1931.]]
'''Philco''', the '''Philadelphia Storage Battery Company''' (formerly known as the '''Spencer Company''' and later the '''Helios Electric Company'''), was a pioneer in early battery, radio, and television production as well as former employer of [[Philo Farnsworth]], inventor of [[cathode ray tube]] [[television]]. It is currently a brand of [[Philips]].

Philco's rise to the top of radio makers was an amazing feat.  While other makers like [[Atwater-Kent]], [[Zenith Electronics]], [[RCA]], and many now-forgotten others ([[Freshman Masterpiece]], [[FADA Radio]], [[AH Grebe]], etc.) sold many battery-powered radios in the early 1920's, Philco made only batteries, "socket power" units, and  battery chargers.  With the invention of the rectifier tube, which allowed radios to be operated from the wall socket, Philco knew their business was doomed, and decided in 1926 to get into the booming radio business.  By 1930 they would sell more radios than any other maker and hold that first place position for over 20 years.  

Philco built many iconic [[radio]]s and [[television|TV]] sets, including the classic [[cathedral]]-shaped wooden radio of the 1930s (aka the "Baby Grand"), and the very futuristic (in a 1950s sort of way) [[Predicta]] series of television receivers.  

==Early history==
Philco was founded in 1892 as Helios Electric Company.<ref>  Mahon, Morgan E. ''A Flick of the Switch 1930–1950'' (Antiques Electronics Supply, 1990), p.117.</ref> 
From its inception until 1904, the company manufactured carbon-arc lamps. As this line of business slowly foundered over the last decade of the 19th century, the firm experienced increasingly difficult times. As the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company, in 1906 it began making batteries for [[electric vehicle]]s. They later supplied home charging batteries to the infant radio ind(contracted; show full)

==Expansion into other products==
Philco began marketing car radios in 1930 and later expanded into other areas including air conditioners (1938), refrigerators (1939), home freezers (1946), consumer televisions (1947), electric ranges (1949), home laundry washers & dryers (1954), and home entertainment products. Their first consumer television set, the 1948 table Model 48-1000, had a 10
  &nbsp;inch screen and sold for $395 US, or just over $3600 in 2007 US dollars. 

By 1954, Philco had led the radio industry in volume sales for 24 straight years, selling over 30 million radios.<ref>Internal Philco Corp. book ''The Story Of The Philco Franchise'', 1954</ref>

The [[Philco Predicta]] TV set was introduced in 1957 for the 1958 model year.  It was a black and white television with the picture tube mounted in a unique steerable pod on a pedestal.  There were many versions: 17" or 21" picture tubes, wood or metal cabinets and table or floor standing versions,  some with rare UHF tuners.  It turned out to be a very unreliable design, and cost the company dearly in repairs and reputation.  Many of them were sold to motels and bars due to the convenience of the swivel tube arrangement.  It was discontinued in 1960; a great failure for Philco, like the Edsel automobile was for Ford, which ironically ran the exactly the same model years. Today the Predicta is a collector's favorite and restored examples can easily be found. 

In 1954, engineers at Philco Corporation invented the surface barrier transistor, the first transistor suitable for use in high-speed computers.

(contracted; show full)had been able to keep Philips from using its trademark legally because of the similarly sounding names.)  Philips continues to use the Philco name for promotional consumer electronics and has licensed the name for private brands and retro style consumer electronics.  Philips also licensed the Philco brand name to [[Funai]] for [[CECB|digital converter boxes]] for analog TVs in the USA.<ref>[http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205203693&printable=true EETimes]</ref>

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==Non-U.S. branding==
[[Image:Greekphilcographic drop2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|European logo]]

In [[Brazil]], Philco (then [[Hitachi, Ltd.|Philco-Hitachi]]) was acquired in 1989 by [[Itautec]], becoming [[Itautec-Philco]] and in August 2005 Itautec sold Philco to [[Gradiente]]. In August 2007, Gradiente sold the brand to a group of investors, who intended to license the brand to Brazilian appliance maker '''Britânia'''.<ref>[http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/mundo_virtual/200(contracted; show full)
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.philco.com.ar/ Philco Argentina Website] (in [[Spanish language|Spanish]])
* [http://www.philco.gr/ Philco Greek Website]
* [http://www.philco.com.br/ Philco Brazil Website]
  
* [http://www.oldradio.com/archives/hardware/philco.htm A brief history of Philco]
* [http://www.philcoradio.com/ The Internet's Leading PHILCO Resource with comprehensive History and Photo Gallery sections as well as on online forum devoted to Philco]
* [http://www.philcorepairbench.com/ Everything for the PHILCO Antique Radio Collector and Restorer]
* [http://www.ExReps.com/ Online Community of former Philco Tech Reps]

[[Category:Electronics companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Ford Motor Company]]
[[Category:Companies based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]

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