National Radio Company

The National Radio Company, headquartered in Malden, Massachusetts, USA was an American manufacturer of radio equipment from 1914 to 1991.

History

The company was incorporated, in 1914, as the "National Toy Company", but by 1916 had included household appliances in their product range. This expansion led to the name change to the "National Company, Inc.". By 1923 the product line included toys, food mixers, and radio components. Radio components were to play an important part in the company's growth in the mid 1920s as they moved in to the large scale manufacture of capacitors. It was at this time that two engineers from Harvard University, Fred H. Drake and Glen Browning, approached National to manufacture components to their specifications for a radio receiver of their own design. This relationship led to the production and sale of the "National Regenaformer" kit for home construction of the Browning-Drake design. The set was capable of tuning the standard AM broadcast band only and could not achieve shortwave reception. By the early 1930s National had established a reputation with the amateur radio community based upon their line of regenerative receivers, including the SW-3 and SW-5.

National HRO receiver, circa 1938

In 1935 National introduced their top-of-the-line HRO receiver. This radio included two RF stages and a crystal filter. The distinctive dial allowed KC (kHz) resetability and was a National trademark into the 1960s. With few changes other than to keep up with changing tube technology, this same basic design survived for over 20 years.

In 1939, National became a key supplier to the US and Allied governments when war broke out in Europe. Military representatives from branches such as the Royal Navy visited National and ordered large numbers of receivers, particularly HRO's. When the United States entered the war some two years later, the word was, "Start building HROs; we'll tell you when to stop." National began producing for the war effort, and the number of employees went from approximately 200 to about 2500 during the war. The war effort brought increased recognition and profits to National and after the war, in the late 40s, National went public.^[1]

In 1947, a National model NC-173 receiver went along with Thor Heyerdahl on the Kon-Tiki expedition.

During the period in the 50s and 60s, National produced a wide range of amateur radio equipment which was advertised extensively in the Amateur Radio ARRL publication QST. Usually new equipment was first shown in this publication in order to initiate marketing of a new item. The company would mainly opt for the inside back cover which they believed would gain prominence for their new wares. In addition, around Christmas time each year National would produce tempting advertisements festooned with holly leaves. In 1965, National introduced the solid state HRO 500, which did not incorporate the famed HRO dial system, but instead relied on a direct readout rather than a conversion scale or chart. At the time, Popular Electronics magazine reviewed the HRO 500 as 'possibly the best amateur receiver ever'. Today, many National radios are collected, restored and operated by vintage amateur radio enthusiasts.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, National survived as a government contractor and ceased development and production of civilian equipment. However, by 1991, after continuing difficulties, the company ceased trading.

See also

• Atomichron
• Collins Radio
• E.F. Johnson
• Hallicrafters
• Hammarlund
• R.L. Drake
• Vintage amateur radio

References

1. ^ http://www.qsl.net/jms/bio_rem/bhnc.html The AWA Review, Vol. 1

External links

• Radio Bay History and products of National Radio Company
• Atomichron: The Atomic Clock from Concept to Commercial Product, with some history of the National Company, inc
• A Brief History of the National Company, Inc
• National rigs