The Rest of the RCA Story
by Mary Klaebel
RCA created RCA Radiotron to make and sell radio tubes. Westinghouse manufactured the tubes in their Indianapolis plant, which was already producing more than 20,000 tubes daily. In 1931, fearing a monopoly, the U.S Government stepped in, so GE and Westinghouse broke ties with RCA in 1932.
Still, RCA became a primary tube manufacturer with their Radiotron brand radio tubes. The company’s innovations included the octal base metal tubes and the Nuvistor for television sets. Later, RCA even teamed with Tung-Sol to produce the hi-fi KT88/6550 vacuum tube.
With the Tung-Sol partnership, RCA so completely dominated the tube market that they were able to control the prices in the United States. Only the rise of solid state components in television and radio broke their hold on the market.
In addition to vacuum tubes, RCA began developing technology for television and computers. However, they were taken over by General Electric in 1986.
Today, the original RCA trademark is owned by a French company. Known as the “Meatball,” it is used by companies such as Sony BMG Entertainment and Audiovox.
Authentic RCA Radiotron tubes are still in circulation and in demand. But with no new RCA tubes being manufactured, the prices of certain new old stock tube types are quickly rising.
Tags: General Electric, RCA, Vacuum Tubes
April 11th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Hi,
Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
Thank you
Charlie