The Crosley Manufacturing Corp. , founded by Powel Crosley Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio, began selling low cost “Harko” crystal receivers (for $9.00) and audion receivers (for $16.00) in 1922. In early 1923, Crosley bought another Cincinnati radio company, the Precision Equipment Co., which had been incorporated in 1919 and selling regenerative receivers under the “Ace” brand under license from Armstrong. Once in control of an Armstrong license, Crosley renamed the combined company the Crosley Radio Corp. in 1924 and purchased a large manufacturing plant which he equipped to produce 5000 radios per day, including on-site manufacture of many of the basic components as well as the cabinets. Crosley borrowed low-cost high-volume manufacturing concepts from the automotive industry, which earned him the title of “The Henry Ford of Radio.”

Crosley bought two more radio manufacturers, the DeForest Radio Corp. Ltd. of Canada in 1924 and Amrad in 1925. With the acquisition of Amrad, Crosley got a Neutrodyne license, allowing Crosley to begin production of more advanced recievers at a time when regenerative receivers were no longer state of the art. In 1927, Crosley began an association with the DeForest Radio Co. of Jersey City, New Jersey, which was in financial difficulty. Although it appeared that Crosley might purchase DeForest, this did not happen, and it seems that Crosley used its association with DeForest, which controlled a large patent pool, merely to gain more favorable terms in its purchase of a license to the RCA patent pool.

Notable models from Crosley included the two-tube regenerative model 51 for $18.50 in 1924 and the “Pup” in 1925, a one-tube regenerative set that sold for $9.75. In 1927, Crosley brought out a line of AC single-dial sets in metal boxes, similar to Atwater Kent’s successful line at that time.

Crosley’s sales and profits peaked in 1928. Although Crosley had been successful in the 1920s with low cost radios and high volume manufacturing, by the early 1930s, Philco replaced Crosley as the low cost leader. Crosley survived as an independent manufacturer until 1945, when it was purchased by Aviation Corp. (Avco). Crosley radio and TV products were produced by Avco until 1956.

Crosley owned radio station WLW in Cincinnati (still active today on 700 kHz) which for a time was the most powerful radio station in the U.S., operating at 500,000 watts from 1934-39. This station could be heard throughout much of the U.S. and even overseas. Many Crosley radios from the 1930s and 40s have “WLW” explicitly marked on the dial (the only station specifically named on dials which otherwise show only a frequency scale).

Crosley produced a number of other products. In 1926, the company introduced its “Icyball” refrigerator, a kerosene powered refrigerator that could be used in homes without electricity. This was the first in a long line of home appliances that was made until 1956. Crosley also produced automobiles briefly in the late 1930s and again just after WWII. Crosley specialized in very compact fuel-efficient cars, which were not popular with Americans in the post-war period. During WWII, Crosley was a major producer of the “proximity fuze,” an important weapon component used to great advantage by the Allies during the war.

Sources: 1. Alan Douglas, "Radio Manufacturers of the 1920s," Vol. 1, The Vestal Press Ltd., Vestal, NY (1988). 2. Crosley radio history at www.crosleyradio.com

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