Zenith Electronics facts for kids
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Formerly
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Chicago Radio Labs (1918–1923) Zenith Radio Company (1923–1984) Zenith Electronics Corporation (1984–1999) |
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| Industry |
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| Founded | 1918 (as Chicago Radio Labs) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Headquarters |
Lincolnshire, Illinois
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U.S.
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Key people
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David Penski (CEO) |
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| Revenue |  US$444.7 million (1999) |
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Number of employees
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976 |
| Parent | LG Electronics (1999–present) |
Zenith Electronics, LLC is an American company that focuses on research and development. They create new technologies like ATSC standards for digital TV and digital rights management (DRM). This company is owned by LG Electronics, a big company from South Korea.
Zenith used to be a famous American brand that made electronics for homes. They were known for their radios and televisions. Their main office was in Glenview, Illinois, but later moved to Lincolnshire, Illinois. For many years, Zenith's famous slogan was "The quality goes in before the name goes on." LG Electronics bought most of Zenith in 1995, and then fully owned it by 1999.
Zenith was a pioneer in many areas. They invented subscription television and the modern remote control. They were also the first to develop high-definition television (HDTV) in North America. Zenith products were sold in many countries, including North America, Germany, India, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Zenith's Journey: A History of Innovation
Starting Small: Chicago Radio Labs
Zenith began in 1918 in Chicago, Illinois. It was first called Chicago Radio Labs. The company was started by Ralph Matthews and Karl Hassel. They made equipment for amateur radio (also known as "ham radio"). The name "Zenith" came from their ham radio call sign, 9ZN. In 1921, Eugene F. McDonald joined them. In 1923, the company officially became the Zenith Radio Company.
Early Innovations in Radio and TV
Zenith quickly became known for its high-quality radios and new ideas. In 1924, they introduced the first portable radio. They made the first mass-produced AC radio in 1926. In 1927, they added push-button tuning to radios.
In the 1930s, Zenith started making radios for cars. Their Model 460 car radio was special because it did not need a separate power source. The first Zenith television set came out in 1939. Commercial TV sets were sold to the public starting in 1948. Zenith also invented the wireless remote control and FM multiplex stereo.
Broadcasting and Picture Quality
Zenith opened one of the first FM radio stations in the U.S. in 1940. It was called WWZR in Chicago. This station was also one of the first to broadcast in stereo in 1961.
Zenith also improved TV picture quality. They developed high-contrast and flat-face picture tubes. They also created the multichannel television sound (MTS) stereo system. This system was used for analog TV broadcasts in the United States and Canada. Zenith was also one of the first to introduce a digital HDTV system. Parts of their system were used in the ATSC standard for digital TV.
Growth and Challenges
By 1962, Zenith Radio Corporation had many employees. Thousands of people worked in their Chicago plants. They made radios, televisions, and other electronic parts. Zenith also had a company called Rauland Corporation. Rauland made TV picture tubes and special tubes for military use.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Zenith faced tough competition. Many Japanese companies were selling electronics at lower prices. Zenith and other American companies filed lawsuits against them. However, the Supreme Court of the United States eventually ruled against Zenith in 1986.
New Directions and Ownership Changes
In 1979, Zenith entered the computer market. They bought Heath Company and formed Zenith Data Systems (ZDS). In 1984, the company changed its name to Zenith Electronics Corporation. This showed their focus on computers and CATV (cable TV).
By the late 1980s, Zenith Data Systems was making money, but Zenith's TV business was losing money. To get funds for HDTV research, Zenith sold ZDS in 1989. In 1990, the Korean company GoldStar (now LG Electronics) bought a small part of Zenith. This was part of a deal to share technology.
In 1995, LG increased its ownership to 55 percent, taking control of Zenith. Zenith was struggling to compete globally. In 1999, Zenith filed for bankruptcy. LG then bought the rest of the company. This made Zenith a fully owned part of LG Electronics.
After this, some Zenith products were sold under other names like Admiral and Allegro. Zenith's profitable Network Systems division, which made set-top boxes for cable and satellite TV, was sold to Motorola in 2000.
Cool Products Zenith Made
Shortwave Radio: The Trans-Oceanic
Zenith made famous portable radios. One popular series was the "Royal" transistor radios. Another was the "Trans-Oceanic" series of shortwave portable radios. These were made from 1942 to 1981. Shortwave radios could pick up broadcasts from very far away, even other countries.
Subscription Television: Phonevision
Zenith was the first company to try out subscription television. This system was called Phonevision. It used a special box connected to the TV and a phone line. Viewers would call an operator to "unscramble" a movie broadcast. This allowed people to watch movies at home for a fee. Even though the movies were old, most people liked watching them at home.
Remote Controls: The "Clicker"
Zenith is very famous for inventing the first practical wireless TV remote control. It was called the Space Command and came out in 1956.
The very first TV remote, from 1950, had a wire. People didn't like the wire, so Zenith's president, Eugene F. McDonald, asked his engineers to make a wireless one. The first wireless remote, the Flash-Matic (1955), used light. But sunlight could accidentally change the channels!
Then, engineer Robert Adler suggested using sound waves. The remote would make high-pitched sounds by hitting small aluminum rods. The TV would hear these sounds and change channels. People started calling remotes "clickers" because of the sound they made. This sound-based system was used until the 1980s when infrared light remotes became common.
The Space Command 600 remote, introduced in 1965, was for color TVs. It could even adjust the color!
Space Phone: TV Calls
Some Zenith System 3 TVs from the late 1970s to early 1990s had a "Space Phone" feature. This was like a hands-free speakerphone built into the TV. You could plug the TV into a phone jack. Then, you could use the TV's remote to dial numbers and talk through the TV's speaker and a built-in microphone.
The Porthole Television: Unique Design
In the late 1940s, Zenith started making TVs with round screens. These were called "porthole" TVs because the whole round screen was visible. They came in different sizes. Later models even had a switch to show the picture in a normal rectangular shape or use the whole round screen. These TVs are now popular with collectors.
Hand-Wired Chassis: Built to Last
In the 1950s, many electronics companies started using printed circuit boards. These boards save time in making products. But they don't work well with vacuum tubes, which get very hot. Zenith, however, kept using hand-wired metal frames (chassis) for their vacuum tube equipment. This made their TVs and radios very durable. Even today, many old Zenith TVs and radios still work well because of this strong construction and high-quality parts.
See also
In Spanish: Zenith Electronics para niños
- Zenith (disambiguation)
