Olson
electronics, inc.
|
|
Based
in Akron, Ohio, the mail order company was founded by brothers
Irving, Sidney, and Philip Olson in 1927 as Olson Radio. The
company had also a network of small retail stores scattered
throughout the United States, and their offer was often cheaper
than competitors because, for example, catalogs were printed on
newsprint to be cheaper (unfortunately, this means that they
survived even though the circulation reached a million copies).
In addition to developing its own line of sets that were largely
related to radio and audio, the company sold audio and other
electronic products under its own name, including turntables,
amplifiers, tuners, etc. Olson Electronics was acquired in the
second half of the 1960s by Teledyne . Unfortunately, interest in
Olson's products has declined with the miniaturization of
electronics, and increasing consumer purchasing power has meant
that the sets have fallen out of favor. The computer boom of the
late '70s and early' 80s became the nail in the company's coffin
as people who were enthusiasts of electronics and amateur radio a
few years earlier began to spend their time and money on
computers. The company withdrew from activity in the early / mid
1980's. Existing companies with the name "Olson" have no
relationship whatsoever with that of the Olson brothers. |
Main
page Previous
page Contact