Viscount = a mystery?

Hello new world,

it's amazing that old radio manufacturers are better researched than the new ones.

Many "Viscount" models are to find all over the world wide web, but not their manufacturer?

The model  1880



leads a trace to

Consolidated Merchandising Corp.
157 7th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone : (415) 831-6722
It would be very nice if one of our American members could try to contact them to verify a connection.

Thank you very much in advance.

Kind Regards
Georg

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Hi Georg and All,

It may be that someone at Consolidated Merchandising remembers the Japanese exporter, but the Company is and was were general importers and exporters.  I remember them from way back!

Even the Japanese exporters were probably not the manufacturer but another export agent.

The real hope would be that a Japanese person remembers making the Viscount badged range.  

Are there any identical models with different badging? That could possibly give a lead. 

Best regards,

Roy

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Hi

Look at this ......



Doesn't that look familiar?

It's in a Koyo. I have three different models and all have similar tags in them.

Kind regards, Walter Haring

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That is interesting Walter,

When I used to repair quite a few radios as a side-line, I remember many almost identical ones with different names and diferent cases.

I believe that some small companies bought in a complete radio board and put it in their own case. 

Also I know that some major companies such as Panasonic manufactured lower specification equipment which they sold under different names.  Presumably so that the good name of the company was maintained whilst enabling them to manufacture in bulk and obtain best prices for common components.

It will be quite difficult to find the history of such cheap, bottom of the market, radios.  However RMorg is probably the best place to start!  Eventually ALL radios will be listed and comparison of circuits and photographs will yield the answer!   If only !

Best regards,

Roy

 

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Hello Roy

Thank you for your intersting answer.

Now it will be interesting, to see pictures of that Viscount 1880 to compare with the Koyo's (that were also marketed under other / different brand names).

Kind regards, Walter

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Indeed,

it seems we look for a needle in a haystack ;-)

The German Kompass B2B register offers

Koyo Denki Kogyo K.K.

5-2-22, Fukushima, Fukushima-Ku
Osaka 553-0003 Osaka
Japan
Tel : +81 6 64521341 
Fax : +81 6 64536852
Employees: 21 to 50

as for manufacturing of electronic counters.

I think we will wait for the result of an American member calling the "Consolidated", and for other radios with similar "copy&paste" tag design.

The provisional result of our thread: Viscount is more a brand than a manufacturer.

Much obliged,
Georg

PS:
The 1880 is to be seen here: http://www.universal-radio.com/used/used2.html

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Hello All

Bingo!



For shure the same origin - wooden case, plastic/chrome front. Differences are one resp. two antennas and the side panels which integrate the handle in my model. But have a look at the pictures here in RM under Koyo - the same (poor) electronics in different cabinets.

Kind regards, Walter

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Thanks Walter, Roy and Georg,
I remember seeing this kind of sets (as on the picture at Universal Radio) from time to time in online auctions or flea markets,
a short glimpse at our Koyo entries revealed:

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/koy_ktr_1661ktr166.html

It's very good to have this picture gallery feature included. I think, it took a minute, as our Koyo entry has no picture of the complete set.
Hope that helps
Martin

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Dear all,

another Koyo named "Polyrad".

Please keep us updated which Koyo Denki is the manufacturer of Koyo radios ;-)

Kind Regards,
Georg

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Dear All,

Try the link below, it lists a large number of BRANDS and related MANUFACTURERS.

Includes Polyrad.

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/1031/trans/MasterIndex/1nmfr.html#top

Best regards,

Roy

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Roy,

thanks a lot for clicking backwards ... I was totally fixed on Koyo.

The most interesting part of this site is the Also known as department where some other virtual "brands" are figured out.

If some of our members became curious ... here is the main page.

Not that bad result for my very basic question ;-)

Kind Regards
Georg

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Hmmm. Just found a box formerly containing ball bearings branded Koyo Denki Kogyo.... Came from a car parts wholesale company.

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