Philips SAECO, 970 Moreno, Buenos Aires

Philips Argentina Sociedad Anónima de Lámparas Eléctricas y Radio
527 Herrera, later 3892 Vedia, Buenos Aires

Fabrica Argentina de Productos Electronicos S.A. (FAPESA)
527 Herrera, later 3892 Vedia, Buenos Aires

FAPESA l.y.C., 2550 Av. Crovara, Tablada, Buenos Aires

Initially founded in 1923 as "Philips SAECO" (Philips South America Export Company) as a subsidiary of N.V. Philips, with an employee count of 350, the company commercialized electrical and electronic products that were imported from the Netherlands. In 1930 they began to import and market radio receivers. [1]

A factory for tubes (see below) went to operation in 1934 at the address of 527 Herrera, Bueno Aires. The same year they commenced with the construction of radio receivers. Later that year, high-power broacast tubes were imported and the radio station LS8, Radio Sténtor, was built entirely by Philips. [1]

Effective June 19, 1935, Philips SAECO became "Philips Argentina Sociedad Anónima de Lámparas Eléctricas y Radio" with director Cornelio G.H. van Luyt. [1]

Around 1938, Philips continued expansion towards the interior of Argentina. In addition to the earliest productions in Federal Capitol and Greater Buenos Aires, branch operations were created in Rosario, Tucumán, Córdoba, Mendoza, Bahia Blanca, Concordia, Commodore Ribadavia and in Paraguay. [2]

In 1941 Philips Argentina employed ca. 1,100 employees. [1]

In 1944 a new property at the address of 3892 Vedia was aquired and a foundation stone with a time capsule in the form of an electric lamp was laid, and by September 1945 the factory concluded the move to the new address. At this point, Philips created the Franklin brand for the lower price market segment. [1]

In 1946 (in the wake of the consequences of the Péron regime on national industries [MH]), Philips Argentina lost all contacts to the headquarters in the Netherlands. First they resorted to the import of material and soon it was necessary to improvise and e.g. recover sockets to continue making radio tubes. This led to the creation of the department of "Artículos Adicionales" (additional products) for the commercialization of refrigerators, ventilators, stoves, antennas, amplifiiers etc. They participated actively in the development of the ball-point pen or "Ball Point". [2]

In 1951 Philips imported 4,000 television sets from the Netherlands, and the successful sales lead to their own TV production in the mid-50s. [1]

By 1959 Philips Argentina had 8 head offices across the country, with 15,000 sale locations for lamps, 2,500 sales offices for radio receivers, 2,000 locations for radio recivers, 1,800 stores for music records and 500 authorized service shops. [1]

"Phonogram" and later "Poly Gram" label records were sold starting from the 1970s. [1]

Electronic components were produced by F.A.P.E. S.A. (Fabrica Argentina de Productos Electronicos), founded by Philips in 1938, and operating on the premises of Philips on Herrera St. [1]

Philips took control of the company SAIRA from Mr. Teodoro Prieto in 1939/1940 and FAPESA commenced with radio tube production under the Philips brand that same year.

In 1961, FAPESA became independent and moved to a new plot of 36,000 sqm in the La Tablada county, enabling them to also produce the rest of the components needed by Philips. [1], [2]

FAPESA changed its name to "Fabrica Austral de Productos Electronicos S.A" in March 1982 and production of TVs, VCRs and home appliances moved to Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego). In 1990 the domestic appliance division was sold to Whirlpool. [1], [2]

FAPESA remains a Phillips subsidiary at the location of 3892 Vedia, Buenos Aires, to date (2011). [3]

Brands used were "Philips Miniwatt", "Fapesa", and "Fapesa Miniwatt", or simply "Miniwatt". The production of tubes included "Red Series", "Gold Series", miniature, noval and rimlock (called "Técnica A") types as well as CRTs with 90° and 110° deflection Transmitter tubes for broadcasting, the Navy, and for export were also built (e.g. TA18/100, PP05/25 and TA12/20). [1]

The "Argenta" line of tubes was introduced in 1940 for the Argentine market. It was divided in two series, "U" for AC or DC sets (e.g. 13BC1U) and a "D" battery set line (e.g. 25AC1D). [1]

Some of the Argenta tubes were labeled "Made in Holland", but received a type designation from  those series.

Sources:

• [1] Abel Santoro: A History of Philips in Argentina, Tube Collector Vol. 11, No 4, 2009
• [2] philips.com.ar History web page
• [3] Tax reports for Philips / FAPESA, 2011