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Yeah, from what I have read the Chinese bought Thomson which owned RCA. I have a hard time thinking of any major American consumer electronics makers still kicking, aside from those mentioned. Of course, GE doesn't make electronics anymore and will seemingly license its name to anyone for a buck. There are some minor players still around. Wells-Gardner is still going-there was another smaller company which makes some sort of beacons for the military-Sentinel? Or maybe Sparton-I know they were still making car horns last I checked, a few years ago. (they made the horn in my 96 Dakota, for one)
I sure don't pay too much attention to brands on electronics these days. The only thing that might get a second look from me would be Panasonic/Toshiba/Hitachi. Everything else is just a little bit of ink sprayed on a plastic case.
As oldtvman points out, there sure WAS a difference at one time. Looking around the room I see 4 black & white portables from the mid-60s. GE, Philco, Setchell-Carlson, Zenith. The Philco makes everything else look like fine craftsmanship. The GE, as is typical, is built as cheap as they could figure out how. The other two, in comparison, could have been made on a different planet. Back when they were new I guess a lot of people didn't know the difference, or based their opinions on older gear those companies made. (you can get into a lot of debate over who built the better radio in the late 30s, Philco or Zenith-they certainly were close in quality back then) The only thing different now is that everything is junk. Brands do still sell sets which is why my father recently bought a new Sylvania (based on my experience with a "real" American made Sylvania built 17 years ago) and why my in-laws have replaced their RCA with a Magnavox, though they would have done just as well to have bought a ChangChong.
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Bryan
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