Eugene F. McDonald

Eugene F. McDonald (1886-1958) founded Zenith Radio in 1921, a major American radio and electronics concern.

He was born in 1886 in Syracuse, New York. His father was variously remembered as a storekeeper and insurance salesman. McDonald dropped out of high school at age 14 to help support the family.

In 1904, he began working for the Franklin Auto Company in Syracuse. He quickly rose in the sales and promotion areas and made a name for himself in that endeavour. In 1910, he moved to Chicago to join a speculative business of a friend of his who wished to manufacture an automobile self starter. The business did not succeed and McDonald lost his investment.

In 1911, he was in partnership in Detroit selling used cars, and by the end of 1912 had begun a credit finance company for the purchase of new and used cars - one commodity that had previously not been available on credit.

He served in the US Navy from 1917 to 1919 with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. His commission came about as he understood the operation a device used in the Navy for recording radio and telephone conversations - the 'telegraphone' - and the manufacturer was no longer in business.

He became interested in the radio business in 1920 upon learning that there was money to be made in it. However, it was necessary to hold a manufacturing license from Edwin Armstrong - and issuance of these had been suspended indefinitely. However, in 1921 he entered into a partnership with the founders of the Chicago Radio Laboratory, Karl Hassel and Ralph Mathews. Under the tradename 'Z-nith', this company held a valuable Armstrong license but lacked funds for expansion to meet the demands of their order book.

McDonald was appointed General Manager and the partnership was formally incorporated in 1923 as the Zenith Radio Corporation. By 1927, the company was large enough to secure its own RCA manufacturing license.

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