Rebuilt Telephone Equipment Co.
5235-5237 Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago (1919)
4021-27 W. Kinzie Street, Chicago (1919-1921)

Joy-Kelsey Corporation
4021-27 W. Kinzie Street, Chicago (1922)
542 N. Parkside Ave., Chicago (1929)
 

See also Oxford Radio Corporation.

The Joy-Kelsey Corporation was a relatively small radio company, in business from about 1922 to 1929. Its primary founders were James Cezanne Kelsey III and Guy Albert Joy. Both were recognized authorities on telephony, having worked for a variety of telephone companies and had published various works. They both had degrees in Electrical Engineering.

In 1919, The Rebuilt Telephone Equipment Co. moved from 5235-5237 Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, Ill (the same address as the Swedish-American Telephone Mfg. Co.) to a new building at 4021-27 W. Kinzie Street, Chicago, Ill. They were still at that address in 1921. Geo. H. Crandall was president of the company, Guy A. Joy, vice-president, and C. E. Shaw secretary and treasurer. James C. Kelsey was also associated with the company. In early 1922, the Rebuilt Telephone Equipment Co. changed its name to Joy-Kelsey Corporation. Its capital changed from $2,500 to $50,000. Guy A. Joy was president, W. P. Brown vice-president, James C. Kelsey secretary-treasurer, and Roy W. Augustine was sales manager.

The earliest record that I found of the Joy-Kelsey Corporation was their 9FR amateur radio call sign listed in Amateur Radio Stations of the United States, June 30, 1921, at their 4021 West Kinzie Street address, with 450 Watts of power. They were still listed in Citizen's Callbook Magazine, May 1923.

By May, 1922 they were building five hundred radio sets a day, initially crystal sets. They sold crystal detectors; transmitters; radio parts; a complete line of speakers; dynamic cones, both A.C. and D.C.; and radio chassis of seven and eight tubes. There was a “J-K” Amplifier and Control Panel. Perhaps the most interesting radio they made was a "Skeezix Radio Toy," a tin litho crystal radio in a metal can made by the American Can Company, marketed by Live Long Toys. It featured Skeezix and other characters of the Gasoline Alley comic strip by Frank King. The radio is marked “©1924 by Frank O. King.” Another more common crystal set was built in a wooden box with only one dial, marked with “J.K. Corp” on the black front panel. This radio also appeared under the names of Jewel, Serenädo and Victor. These were marked “J.K. Corp.” The Jewel version of this radio was offered free with a Radio Map, for "20" New Six-Month Chronicle subscriptions in the Spokane Daily Chronicle June 21, 1922. There were other papers that had similar offers.

On December 8, 1922, co-founder James Kelsey died of pneumonia at the age of 50.

The company went on to achieve some recognition. Several radio-related patents were granted to the Joy-Kelsey Corporation for their innovations such as “Inductance coil for high-frequency circuits,” “Radio Receiving sets,” and “Tuning coupler.” In 1927, Roy W. Augustine of Joy-Kelsey along with Harry G. Sparks of Sparks-Withington (Sparton) and Fred S. Armstrong of Vesta Battery, were added to the permanent board of directors of the Radio Protective Association, which was formed for the purpose of battling against "radio monopoly," primarily targeting RCA, the General Electric Co., the Westinghouse Co., and AT&T. Also, Frank Reichmann, a pioneer of the radio industry, joined Joy-Kelsey In 1928. Later, they had an exhibit at the Third Radio Manufacturers' Association Trade Show, June, 3-7, 1929, listing their address as 542 N. Parkside Ave., Chicago, Ill. with Roy W. Augustine as their Delegate.

Chilton Catalog and Directory, April 1929 listed Joy-Kelsey Corp., 542 N. Parkside Ave., Chicago, Ill. "Speedy" as a supplier of painting equipment.

Joy-Kelsey Corporation reorganized and changed its name to Oxford Radio Corp. in early 1929, with Guy A. Joy as President. Located at 3200 W. Carroll Ave. Chicago, their main product was loudspeakers.

Guy Albert Joy died of heart failure at the Veterans' Hospital in Martinez, California on January 20, 1978, at the age of nearly 102.

By Steven R. Sostrom
With editorial guidance of Kenneth W. Krueger

History of the Joy Kelsey Corporation with references and biographies.