Allied Radio

Allied Radio was an American radio manufacturer and retailer, which sold radio sets, tubes, capacitors (also known as electronic components), amateur radio equipment, citizen's band (CB) radios, miscellaneous communications equipment, electronic kits, and consumer audio systems through retail stores and mail-order.

History

Beginning in 1921 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 . 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. 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, 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, Texas.

Current ownership

In 1999 the company was acquired by Electrocomponents plc. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_24_45/ai_55202436 Avnet Loses Allied, Gains Alliance - Company Business and Marketing] ]

References

ee also

*Radio Shack

External links

* [http://www.alliedelec.com Allied Electronics]
* [http://www.nostalgickitscentral.com Nostalgic Kits Central] Pictures, schematics, specifications and more of a large number of Knight-Kits