National Radio Company
Encyclopedia
The National Radio Company, headquartered in Malden, Massachusetts
, USA was an American manufacturer of radio equipment from 1914 to 1991.
, 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.
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.
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.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, 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 UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, 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
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
band only and could not achieve shortwave
Shortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
reception. By the early 1930s National had established a reputation with the amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
community based upon their line of regenerative receivers, including the SW-3 and SW-5.
In 1935 National introduced their top-of-the-line HRO
National HRO
The original National HRO was a 9-tube shortwave general coverage communications receiver manufactured by the National Radio Company of Malden, Massachusetts, USA.-History:...
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
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
representatives from branches such as the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
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.
In 1947, a National model NC-173 receiver went along with Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl was a Norwegian ethnographer and adventurer with a background in zoology and geography. He became notable for his Kon-Tiki expedition, in which he sailed by raft from South America to the Tuamotu Islands...
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
QST
QST is a magazine for amateur radio enthusiasts, published by the American Radio Relay League . It is a membership journal that is included in membership with the ARRL. The publisher claims that circulation of QST in the United States is higher than all amateur radio-related publications in the...
. 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
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
time each year National would produce tempting advertisements festooned with holly leaves. In 1965, National introduced the solid state
Solid state (electronics)
Solid-state electronics are those circuits or devices built entirely from solid materials and in which the electrons, or other charge carriers, are confined entirely within the solid material...
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
Popular Electronics
Popular Electronics was an American magazine started by Ziff-Davis Publishing in October 1954 for electronics hobbyists and experimenters. It soon became the "World's Largest-Selling Electronics Magazine". The circulation was 240,151 in April 1957 and 400,000 by 1963. Ziff-Davis published Popular...
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
Vintage amateur radio
Vintage amateur radio is a subset of the amateur radio hobby, considered a form of nostalgia much like antique car collecting, where enthusiasts collect, restore, preserve, build, and operate amateur radio equipment from bygone years, most notably those using vacuum tube technology.Popular modes of...
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
- AtomichronAtomichronThe Atomichron was the world's first commercial atomic clock, built by the National Company, Inc of Malden, Massachusetts. It was also the first self-contained portable atomic clock and was a caesium standard clock. More than 50 clocks with the trademarked Atomichron name were produced.- External...
- Collins Radio
- E.F. Johnson
- HallicraftersHallicraftersThe Hallicrafters Company manufactured, marketed, and sold radio equipment beginning in 1932. The company was based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.-History:William J. Halligan founded his own radio manufacturing company in Chicago in late 1932...
- HammarlundHammarlundThe Hammarlund Manufacturing Company, founded by Oscar Hammarlund in New York City, New York, USA in 1910, initially designed and produced short wave radio equipment.-History:...
- R.L. DrakeR. L. Drake CompanyThe R. L. Drake Company is a manufacturer of electronic communications equipment located in Franklin, Ohio. It is also known for its line of equipment for amateur radio and shortwave listening, built in the 1950s through the 1980s.-History:...
- Vintage amateur radioVintage amateur radioVintage amateur radio is a subset of the amateur radio hobby, considered a form of nostalgia much like antique car collecting, where enthusiasts collect, restore, preserve, build, and operate amateur radio equipment from bygone years, most notably those using vacuum tube technology.Popular modes of...
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