Philips del Uruguay S.A.
Montevideo
Avendia Uruguay 1136 (1930-1937)
Avda. Uruguay 1287, piso 1-6 (1937-1999)
Camino Ariel 4626 (1958-1991)
Philips Sayago Factory (intially called FAMESA)(until about 1960)
Munoz/ Constituyente (May 1999 - August 1999)
World Trade Centre, Montevideo (August 1999 - 2004)
Rambla O'Higgins 5303 (2004 - 2012/13)

It appears, from Philips advertisements of the time, that in 1930 (or possibly a couple of years earlier) Philips Uruguay started business in Avendia Uruguay 1136, Montevideo. They appear to have moved to much larger premises in 1937, a short distance away, to Avenida Uruguay 1287 where they occupied all 6 floors of said building. It's not certain where they assembled the first tube radios, those registered between 1949 and 1958, but it appears not to have been in the Uruguay 1287, which were administrative and service related activities were carried out.

It is therefore most likely that those first Philips tube radios, named after Uruguayan birds from "El Picaflor" to "Rey del Bosque", were assembled at the Uruguay 1136 address until 1958 when Philips opened a factory in Camino Ariel 4226, Sayago, Montevideo. It is quite likely the tube radios were assembled at the Avenida Uruguay 1136 address, mainly from components brought from Europe, Brazil and Argentina and given model codes ending in the letter “U”. Avenida Uruguay is in what was, and still is, the main area of electrical supply and equipment businesses in Uruguay. It’s proximity to the main railway station (which unfortunately closed many years ago) made it easily accessible to travellers from the “interior” of the country. It is known other radio brands were assembled in the area, so it is likely Philips did the same.

The central office of Philips Uruguay was opened in 1937 in Avenida Uruguay 1287 where administrative and service activities were carried out until its closure in May 1999. The 6 floors of the building were: ground floor – services, 1^st floor – sales and customer information, 2^nd floor – services office, 3^rd floor – administration, 4^th floor management and professional support, 5^th floor – lighting, 6^th floor – canteen and dining hall. Access to the ground floor services was via a side entrance.

In 1962 Philips Uruguay issued an LP to celebrate 25 years in main central offices of Uruguay 1287 and three parties were held inviting government officials to the Parque Hotel of Parque Rodo (now MERCOSUR headquarters), and also for clients and Philips workers.

In 1958 Philips built a factory in Sayago, Montevideo. There was a vineyard on the site prior to the factory construction. Initially the factory operated under the name of "FAMESA –Fabrica Americana de Materiales Electricos SA until for a few years after 1960. It was however a Philips factory. The factory produced light bulbs in one building (the one closest to Cno Ariel) and assembled apparatus in another. There was also a third building, a storage warehouse. This building was later taken over by BASF for a few years after the factory closed. Apparatus assembled at Sayago included valve radios and later transistor radios, black and white 12 inch model TXs and hybrids of the 20 inch TVs and later colour TVs, electric savers, irons and starters. Capacitors, variable capacitors and tubes for black and white TVs were manufactured at the site. Medical equipment was serviced at the site, housed within the storage warehouse, this sector later being taken over by Siemens. In unusually arrangements, Philips Uruguay manufactured light bulbs for General Electric and it is believed GE manufactured mercury lighting for Philips. Philips starters were also made for GE. There was a Philips sports and social club including basketball, volleyball courts and a canteen facility with games and billiards located in the front of the storage building of the factory. Annual “Philipiado” sports days were celebrated around the 12^th of October together with a party.

At its height in 1978 Philips Uruguay employed 600-700 people between the central offices in Uruguay 1287 and the factory in Sayago. One of Philips Uruguay’s greatest achievements was the design and construction of a light bulb manufacturing machine which could produce up to 2000 units per hour, many of which were exported to Argentina. Upon closure of the Sayago factory in 1979 the machine was moved to and installed in FAPESA - Philips Argentina facilities.

Information regarding the Philips factory at Sayago was kindly provide by ex Philips employee Ruben Rojas would worked at the factory from 10^th August 1979 to its closure in 1991.