[Arran]

We note that Brand Z was the "last man standing" in American consumer electronics; their "diversification" went as far as a (temporary) agreement with Wincharger to help them sell farm radios...and, later, buying Heathkit. Zenith never went into the "white goods" business. All of the other U.S.-based electronics companies that diversified into white goods ultimately failed. Zenith stayed around until the Lucky Goldstar buyout.

 
Ron;
  Brand Z was also fairly on the ball with developing new products, at least after the used car salesman left as head of the company. They were late in entering the TV business but made up for it by improving their products over time rather then making them cheaper and nastier, which was what most of their competitors did, except maybe RCA. Philco seems to have been less consistent with this, they hit a low with the Predicta TVs of 1959-61, but seemed to clean up their act for a while in the mid 1960s then went downhill again, then by the end they were having their stereo equipment and radios made in Taiwan.
Regards
Arran