COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 5064

Electrical Appliances--Television & Radio.

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1876–1980founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedWhite Consolidated Industries Inc.FoundedWhite Consolidated Industries Inc.
1876
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedWelbilt Corp.FoundedWelbilt Corp.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedRecoton Corp.FoundedRecoton Corp.
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)FoundedKesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy)
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedSony CorporationFoundedSony Corporation
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedAnam GroupFoundedAnam Group
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedK-tel International, Inc.FoundedK-tel International, Inc.
1968
FoundedTops Appliance City, Inc.FoundedTops Appliance City, Inc.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedHarman International Industries Inc.FoundedHarman International Industries Inc.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

White Consolidated Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1876
White Consolidated Industries Inc.
White Consolidated Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1876
White Consolidated Industries Inc.
Welbilt Corp. →
Active · founded 1929
Welbilt Corp., through its subsidiaries, is the largest manufacturer of cooking and warming equipment in North America.
Welbilt Corp. →
Active · founded 1929
Welbilt Corp., through its subsidiaries, is the largest manufacturer of cooking and warming equipment in North America.
Recoton Corp. →
Active · founded 1936
Recoton Corp.
Recoton Corp. →
Active · founded 1936
Recoton Corp.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Kesko Ltd. (Kesko Oy) →
Active · founded 1940 · Finland
The largest trading company in Finland, Kesko Ltd.
Sony Corporation →
Active · founded 1946 · Japan
The Sony Corporation is one of the best-known names in consumer electronics.
Sony Corporation →
Active · founded 1946 · Japan
The Sony Corporation is one of the best-known names in consumer electronics.
Anam Group →
Active · founded 1956
With an estimated one-third of the global semiconductor assembly market, the Anam Group ranks among South Korea's…
Anam Group →
Active · founded 1956
With an estimated one-third of the global semiconductor assembly market, the Anam Group ranks among South Korea's…
K-tel International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
An international marketing and distribution company, K-tel International, Inc.
K-tel International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
An international marketing and distribution company, K-tel International, Inc.
Tops Appliance City, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Starting with a tiny store in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Leslie S.
Tops Appliance City, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
Starting with a tiny store in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Leslie S.
Harman International Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Harman International Industries, Inc.
Harman International Industries Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Harman International Industries, Inc.
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