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History of the manufacturer  

Norelco, North American Philips Co. Inc.; Dobbs Ferry and New York, NY

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Name: Norelco, North American Philips Co. Inc.; Dobbs Ferry and New York, NY    (USA)  
Brand:
Norelco
Abbreviation: norelco
Products: Model types Tube manufacturer
Summary:

North American Philips Company, Inc.
Main office and factory: Dobbs Ferry, NY (1943)
Industrial Electronics Division: 419 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY (1943)
High Fidelity Products Division: 230 Duffy Avenue, Hicksville, Long Island, New York (1960)
100 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 (1968)

Brand name: Norelco

The brand was created by Philips because they were not able to use "Philips" in the US. It was used for personal care products and consumer electronics until ca. 1974 when Philips acquired Magnavox.

The Norelco brand was used for personal care products after this, while consumer electronics were marketed as Magnavox.

Many models sold under the Norelco brand were actually made in the Netherlands and carry similar (sometimes even identical) type numbers as domestic Philips models.

Radio tubes of American designs and certain automotive and film projector lamps were made with the Philips brand by General Electric, for export during World War Two. Some tubes have also been located showing the North American Philips Co brand. 

Founded: 1942
History:

On January 9, 1942, the North American Philips Company (NAPC) was founded and incorporated in Delaware. NAPC shares were held and voted by the Hartford trust. They embarked on war production and supplemented their small Mount Vernon plant with the purchase of a factory building in Dobbs Ferry in January 1942.

In June the same year they acquired the American Electro Metal Corp. in Lewiston, Maine, a maker of molybdenium and tungsten rods.

In 1943, the North American Philips introduced the brand Norelco because they could not use the Philips brand due to name similarities with Philco.

Products under the Norelco trademark included electronic temperature indicators, direct reading frequency meters, industrial and research X-ray and other electronic applications. It also covered cathode-ray tubes; transmitter, amplifier and rectifier tubes, fine wire, dies and other products made in the Dobbs Ferry plant.

In 1944, NAPC bought Amperex, then a supplier of valves to the US Navy Signal Corps, and got security clearance to continue as a supplier of the military.

The Dobbs Ferry plant was closed down in 1949, reasons given by Philips were devaluation and permitting of cheaper imports.

Broadcast Engineering, December 1980, writes:
"North American Philips Corp. has agreed in principle to acquire GTE's U.S. consumer electronics business, subject to approval by the firms' directors. No purchase price was announced for the deal, which is expected to be finalized sometime this month. Included in the agreement are GTE's Sylvania and Philco brands of TV receivers, picture tubes, and other components, plus a component manufacturing operation in Juarez, Mexico and sales, service, and distribution facilities in the U.S. and Canada. The Sylvania and Philco brand names will be maintained, according to Frank L. Randall Jr., vice chairman of North American Philips."

This manufacturer was suggested by Konrad Birkner † 12.08.2014.


Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
USA  61 Norelco L3W17T/00S   Norelco 3 Band Radio Model L3W17T/00S. Color: red. Most probably manufacture... 
USA  59 Norelco L2X97T OC44  Probably identically constructed with Philips Jeanette L2X97T. Built-in table stand. 
USA  59/60 B5X98A ECC85  Made by Philips Holland for Norelco (North American Philips). Export model (typical US dia... 
USA  59 L3X88T OC170  Built by Philips in Holland for Norelco(North American Philips). See also Philips model L3... 
USA  60 B5X04A ECC85  Made by Philips Holland for Norelco (North American Philips). 800 Ohm speakers. See also P... 
USA  56/57 Norelco B5X68A ECC85  The Norelco B5X68A from North American Philips Inc. has the following wave bands: FM: 1... 
USA  58 Norelco L3X78T /01 2N247  The Norelco L3X78T from North American Philips Inc. features MW (Broadcast) and SW recepti... 
USA  75 Norelco Mini-Cassette Recorder LFH 00 88/54   Norelco LFH 00 88/54, Mini-Cassette Recorder, 8935 008 85401; For use as dictaphone, made ... 
USA  67 Norelco Carry-Corder 150 EL3302   Norelco Tape Cassette Carry-Corder 150, EL3302; suitable leather case, AC with external ad... 
USA  50 Projection TV 160-B-1   Norelco Protelgram 160-B-1 Projection TV; Supplied with imported Philips Netherlands (CP 9... 
USA  62 Norelco Continental 100 EL3585 /54   Norelco Continental 100, EL3585 /54, All Transistor Portable transistorized reel to ree... 
USA  65 Norelco 22RH697/44Z   Norelco 22RH697/44Z; AFC, separate AM/FM dials, tuning meter, stereo indicator, DIN antenn... 

[rmxhdet-en]

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

tbn_norelco.jpg
Norelco logo from 1957tbn_us_norelco_1957_logo_1.jpg
Norelco script logo from 1957tbn_us_norelco_1957_logo_2.jpg

Forum contributions about this manufacturer/brand
Norelco, North American Philips Co. Inc.; Dobbs Ferry and New York, NY
Threads: 1 | Posts: 1
Hits: 2598     Replies: 0
HIFI Loudspeaker Ad
Joe Sousa
09.Jul.10
  1

Fellow radiophiles,

I just came across this very humorous bit of adverstising for Norelco HIFI loudspeakers in the  March 1958 issue of "Radio and TV News" magazine. (Click the picture to enlarge)

Interesting to note the audiophile craze has not abated in 50 years.

Enjoy,

-Joe

 
Norelco, North American Philips Co. Inc.; Dobbs Ferry and New York, NY
End of forum contributions about this manufacturer/brand

  

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