Note: This is a very brief thumbnail sketch of Philco’s later history.

After the Second World War, RCA was first to bring out a line of television sets while Philco concentrated on radios and home appliances. RCA became the leader in consumer electronics. Philco invested a lot of time, money and effort into expanding its product line, adding such things as ranges and freezers. In addition, they not only pursued military electronics, they also did a lot of research work on transistors and computers.

All of this activity was a drain on Philco’s profits, causing the company to go into a downward spiral in the fifties, culminating in their being purchased by Ford Motor Company in 1961.

The Philco name survived for a time as Philco-Ford, but Ford sold Philco to GTE-Sylvania in 1974. Ironically, when Philco began to market radio tubes under the Philco brand name, the tubes were made for Philco by Sylvania. Both Sylvania and Philco eventually became part of Philips Consumer Electronics Corporation, known today for their Philips Magnavox line of consumer electronics products.

For a few years, the name “Philco” could be found in Kmart stores on a line of value-priced televisions, boom boxes, and clock radios. In recent years, the Philco trademark has appeared on a line of nostalgia-themed record players, some of which also have radio and CD capabilities, marketed by Polyconcept USA under license from Philips. But these, too, have disappeared from the market. Meanwhile, Philco International Corporation, which had since become a producer of home appliances for the export market, continues today as part of the Nordyne Corporation.