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History of the manufacturer  

Climax Radio & Television Co, Inc.; Chicago, IL

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Name: Climax Radio & Television Co, Inc.; Chicago, IL    (USA)  
alternative name:
Amplitron
Brand: Audiotron || Cunningham
Abbreviation: climax
Products: Model types
Summary:

Climax Radio & Television Co, Inc.
1325 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL (1934)
511-513 South Sangamon Street, Chicago, IL (1935-1939)

Trade names: Climax, Cunningham, General, General Television. 

One of many radio manufacturers in 1930's Chicago.  They initially sold radios under the Climax and Cunningham brands, and under the General and General Television brands after their merger in 1934 with General Television, Inc. and others.  They also supplied radios for others, including Lafayette Radio Corp. [1]

Founded: 1930
Closed: 1940
History:

Climax Radio Corp. was founded in 1930, with attorney of record A.P. Waker, Jr., 300 Madison Ave., New York, NY [2].  Note the NY address is the attorney's address, not Climax's, since that address also shows up in 1935 as another attorney's address during a bankruptcy of a different company [3].  There is no address known for Climax during 1930-1934, although it's assumed to be in Chicago.

A new corporation was formed when Climax Radio Corp.General Television, Inc., and M.N. Hutton Television Radio Corp. merged and became Climax Radio & Television Co., Inc. (1934) [4].  They later changed their name to (or was acquired by) General Television & Radio Corp. (1939-1940) [5, 6].

The officers for this new corporation were: President, J.L. Gaber; Vice-President, M.N. Hutton; Secretary and Treasurer. J. Wolf.

This name change or acquisition occurred in the 1939-1940 time period.  The Climax Radio & Television Co. (Chicago) name appeared in Radio Today, March 1939, along with the separate corporation, General Television & Radio Corp. (NYC) [5].  But General Television & Radio Corp. appears in Radio Today, March 1940 and is now located at 511 S. Sangamon St., Chicago, which was the same address of the Climax Radio & Television Co. [6]  Ghirardi [7] also stated that Climax is now operated as General Telev. & Radio Corp. 

Some Climax manufactured chassis have a plate with a CX mark, that is thought to identify it as Climax.

 

The following reference clips are uploaded, except for [1]:
[1]  Manufactured in Plant A, C, F, and P, CHICAGO, USA, 2014, 2021, Joseph M. Rossi (Clinton Manufacturing Plants.pdf).
[2]  Radio World, Nov. 1 1930, page 20.
[3]  Radio World, Jan. 12 1935, page 21.
[4]  Radio Retailing, Aug. 1934, page 33.
[5]  Radio Today, March 1939, page 45.
[6]  Radio Today, March 1940, page 60.
[7]  Radio Troubleshooter's Handbook, Third Edition, 1939, 1941, 1943, Ghirardi.
 


Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
USA  36/37 35 6A7  Tuning eye; ballast tube "L55-S2". There is also for the following season the 35 "Teardrop... 
USA  36 4 Tube AC-DC 6D6  175 Ohm resistance line cord. 
USA  36 4 Tube Batt. 34   
USA  34 424 24   
USA  36 457 58   
USA  36 30 6D6  Ballast tube "L55-S2" 
USA  36 50 6A7  Ballast tube "L55-S2" 
USA  36 557 58   
USA  36 6 Tube Batt. 1C5   
USA  36 66 6A7  Vibrator for +B. 
USA  36 7 6D6  Resistance line cord. 
USA  36 7-B 6D6   

[rmxhdet-en]

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

Radio World, Nov. 1, 1930, page 20.tbn_usa_climax_1930_inc.jpg
Radio World, Jan. 12, 1935, page 21.tbn_usa_climax_1935_atty_addr.jpg
Radio Retailing, Aug. 1934, page 33.tbn_usa_climax_1934_rename.jpg
Radio Today, March 1939, page 45.tbn_usa_climax_1939_listing.jpg
Radio Today, March 1940, page 60.tbn_usa_climax_general_tv_radio_1940_addr.jpg
Radio Troubleshooter's Handbook, Third Edition, 1939, 1941, 1943, Alfred A. Ghirardi.tbn_usa_climax_general_tv_radio_1939_1943_ghirardi.jpg
Plate "CX" (manufactured by Climax). From Climax model M Revised, courtesy of guest Joseph Koester.tbn_usa_climax_cx_plate.jpg

  

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