MuntzTV Roundie ad from 1969...

[Don Lindsly]

Based on the ’64 annual report, Muntz was in business at 1020 Noel Ave, Wheeling, IL. 1964 reports $11.7 million in sales with a net income of $482K, (4.1%). 1959 is the poorest year shown with $6.7 million in sales, but $420K net (6.2%). The best year shown is ’62 with $11.3 million sales and $1.1 net (9.2%) Revenue grew gradually from ‘’59 to ’62 and flat from ’62 to ’64. There is no mention of bankruptcy, although, if true, was probably well in the past by 1964. Muntz TV shows no long term debt after 1961.

I recall Earl Muntz was maneuvered out of the company around 1958 by trading out of his stock. He bought control of Sonora and took his Chief Engineer with him. A short lived portable TV was sold under the Earl W Muntz brand. The design was early Muntz. His name is not mentioned in the ’64 report, either as an officer or director.

Muntz Stereo was a deal with Bill Lear and Earl Muntz and had nothing to do with Muntz TV of Illinois. Muntz saw selling the recorded tapes as the route to retailer’s success.

The ’64 report shows the product line up with eight black and white TVs including two portables, and seven color TVs. The color sets are obviously RCA chassis with round 21” CRTs, Muntz control cluster, and Standard tuner. Sams index lists Muntz color models as late as the 1972 model year, a 22” rectangular screen console. A B&W portable is listed for ’71, but it is clearly a Japanese import. I don’t see a totally Muntz-built TV after 1966, a B&W console using GE Compactrons and printed circuits. By the 60s, B&W portables were in demand. Muntz could not attain the volumes to reduce manufacturing costs significantly below consoles so it had to focus on higher priced TVs to support its dwindling retail network.

By the late 60s, Muntz had become little more than a private brand distributor supplying a few retailers in major cities. When RCA stopped supplying color chassis, Muntz elected to discontinue operations rather than make the substantial investment necessary to continue. The few surviving distributors pursued other options.