radiomuseum.org
Please click your language flag. Bitte Sprachflagge klicken.

History of the manufacturer  

Fairbanks, Morse & Co.; Chicago (IL)

As a member you can upload pictures (but not single models please) and add text.
Both will display your name after an officer has activated your content, and will be displayed under «Further details ...» plus the text also in the forum.
Name: Fairbanks, Morse & Co.; Chicago (IL)    (USA)  
alternative name:
FMC
Brand: Welco
Abbreviation: fairbanks
Products: Model types
Summary:

Fairbanks, Morse & Co., 430 South Green Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Trade name: Fairbanks-Morse

Radios were sold under a subsidiary of Fairbanks, Morse & Co. by the name of Fairbanks-Morse Home Appliance, Inc., located at 430 Green Street, Chicago, Illinois.

History:

In early 1934, Fairbanks Morse entered the radio business by acquiring the Audiola Radio Co., which was at that time, located at 430 Green Street, Chicago. The acquisition was announced in the April 1934 edition of the Radio Retailing periodical on page 22.

Radios and other electric home appliances continued to be manufactured at the 430 Green Street location after the acquisition. In 1936, Fairbanks Morse moved home appliance manufacturing to 2060 Northwestern Ave, Indianapolis, Ind. The facility at 430 Green Street was shut down, and a notice about the former Audiola factory in Chicago being rented to the Arlab Mfg. Co. was announced in the Jan 1937 edition of the Radio Today periodical on page 67.

In the 1930s it was expected that companies could produce a full line of electric appliances to provide year-round customer traffic for their dealers. F-M commenced the production of refrigerators and washing machines alongside the radios. The business was affected by the US recession of 1937-38. It was late introducing its 1939 radios. The 1939 line did not include any popular-priced sets and was not extensively marketed.

In December 1938, F-M sold the refrigerator business to Philco amid reports that it would be shutting down its home appliance operation. In March 1939 Fairbanks-Morse was listed as a defunct manufacturer of radios in the United States. 

There is no documented evidence of a fire causing the failure of Fairbanks-Morse Home Appliances in the United States. That was based only from a possibly incorrect recollection. The original factory buildings in Indianapolis are still in place in the 21st century. No contemporary news source has been found that mentions a fire at the plant during the era in question. 

Fairbanks Morse also built radios in Canada, but details are not fully known. Radios continued to be manufactured in Canada for many years after discontinuing production the US, even entering the TV business in Canada after the war. 


Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
USA  35 100 6D6   
USA  35/36 110 [Chassis Only] 6K7  The Fairbanks Morse 110 is an AC operated, 11 tube BC, LW, Police and SW band chassis used... 
USA  37/38 12A [Chassis Only] 6K7G  The Fairbanks Morse 12A is an AC operated, 12 tube BC and SW band chassis. Has dual drive ... 
USA  38/39 12B [Chassis Only] 6K7  The Fairbanks Morse 12B is an AC operated, 12 tube BC, Police and SW band chassis used in ... 
USA  36/37 12-C-6 Ch= 120 6K7   
USA  34 32Volt 39  Farm radio. Vibrator for +B. 
USA  34 346 6D6  Farm radio. Vibrator for +B. 
USA  34 347 6D6  Farm radio. Vibrator for +B. 
USA  35 40 6C6   
USA  35 41 1C6   
USA  36 42CIB Ch= 42 1C6   
USA  36 42TOB Ch= 42 1C6   

[rmxhdet-en]

Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):

Scanned from the Radio Retailing August 1937.tbn_fairbanks_prom_p36_aug37.jpg
Source: The Saturday Evening Posttbn_saturdayeveningpost.jpeg.jpg
Fairbanks-Morse Home Appliance, Inc._1935 (Page 1 of 4)tbn_fairbanksmorsehomeapplianceinc._1935_001.jpg
Fairbanks-Morse Home Appliance, Inc._1935 (Page 2 of 4)tbn_fairbanksmorsehomeapplianceinc._1935_002.jpg
Fairbanks-Morse Home Appliance, Inc._1935 (Page 3 of 4)tbn_fairbanksmorsehomeapplianceinc._1935_003.jpg
Fairbanks-Morse Home Appliance, Inc._1935 (Page 4 of 4)tbn_fairbanksmorsehomeapplianceinc._1935_004.jpg
Scanned from the Fairbanks-Morse Folder RA 309 for 1937.tbn_fairbanksmorse_ra309_p1_part1.jpg
Scanned from the Fairbanks-Morse Folder RA 309 for 1937.tbn_fairbanksmorse_ra309_p1_part2.jpg
Scanned from the Fairbanks-Morse Folder RA 309 for 1937.tbn_fairbanksmorse_ra309_p2.jpg
tbn_usa_fairbanks_morse_advertise1938_b.jpg
tbn_usa_fairbanks_brochure1938.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 1 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg1.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 2 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg2.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 3 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg3.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 4 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg4.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 5 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg5.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 7 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg7.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 8 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg8.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 9 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg9.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 10 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg10.jpg
1938 Fairbanks Morse Catalog Page 11 of 11tbn_fairbanksmorse_1938catalog1_pg11.jpg

  

Data Compliance More Information