RADIO DAYS

Argus before it was Argus…

Arborphone, CAVAC & International Radio Corporation

- Presented by -

James M. Surprenant

NB1R@live.com

Argus Collectors Group

Third Annual Gathering

Martinsville, Virginia

May 14 & 15, 2004

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Years before Argus revolutionized amateur photography in America with its popular and inexpensive line of 35mm cameras, the firm’s predecessors produced and marketed inexpensive and innovative radio receivers called Kadettes and Arborphones as well as cutting-edge accessories. Just as Argus was a pioneer in the world of consumer photography, International Radio Corporation, Cavac and their affiliates were pioneers in consumer radio products.

In describing the origins of Argus in Glass, Brass, & Chrome, Kalton Lahue and Joseph Bailey write that prior to manufacturing cameras, Argus had its origins in 1931 when a group of Ann Arbor, Michigan businessmen led by Charles A. Verschoor pooled their talents to give an economic boost to the Depression ravaged local economy.

Their idea was to create new jobs in a growth industry which would step up employment in Ann Arbor. Radio seemed to be the perfect answer; it was enjoying a firm hold on the American public. Verschoor formed the International Radio Corporation to manufacture inexpensive radios, using a molded-plastic case to keep costs low. The International Radio Corporation was successful from the beginning. Its initial product was the Kadette, the first five-tube ac-dc mantel radio on the market, and its patents were held exclusively by IRC. Business was so good that Verschoor soon added the International model and even ventured into the private-label radio business with gratifying financial results.¹

While Lahue and Bailey are correct that the International Radio Corporation was founded by Verschoor and others in 1931, they do overlook the fact that IRC was actually at least the second incarnation of Verschoor’s radio manufacturing enterprise. Further, Lahue and Bailey are incorrect in reporting that the Kadette was the initial product of IRC followed by the International model. The first product marketed by IRC was the International Duo radio, but it was the Kadette that followed that established IRC as a successful firm.

Since Glass Brass & Chrome is primarily concerned with the evolution of the 35mm camera and not the radio manufacturing industry, the authors can be excused for confusing the facts in the brief mention given to International radios. Building on the work of Lahue and Bailey, it is possible to detail the history of Verschoor’s radio enterprise from which emerged the Argus camera empire.

T H E      E N T R E P R E N E U R

Charles A. Verschoor was born in 1888 in Dundee, Michigan, about 25 miles south of Ann Arbor² where Argus, IRC, Cavac, and other Vershoor corporations were founded. Verschoor studied at both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan and as a young man, he worked in the drafting department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company³

During World War I, Verschoor worked as a civilian in the War Department where he organized Army motor pools and trained drivers and mechanics. At the conclusion of the war he wrote automobile manuals and sold auto parts.⁴

In a January 1945 article about Argus, Fortune magazine described Verschoor as a “colorful old-time promoter who had an unassailable self-confidence and flair for coming up with technical gimmicks and catchy names.”⁵

Like many other young men of creative mind and inventive spirit, Charlie Verschoor turned his attention to the rapidly growing world of broadcast radio in the 1920s. His first product, the Arborphone, was a simple battery-operated tuned radio frequency receiver resembling an early Atwater-Kent. It was a serviceable radio marketed as a lower-cost alternative to the big-name radio brands of its day.⁶

B U T    W H O    B U I L T    T H E    A R B O R P H O N E ?

Conflicting information exists as to which Verschoor firm or firms actually manufactured the Arborphone, and for many, the mystery continues to this day.

According to a 1975 article in the Ann Arbor Observer, Charles Verschoor founded a radio manufacturing firm in 1925 named Cavac (for his initials, CAV) which produced a line of simple radio sets called Arborphones⁷ named for the town in which they were manufactured.

Yet other articles offer different accounts. According to an article by Brian Belanger appearing in the October 2002 edition of the Mid-Atlantic Antique Radio Club newsletter, the name of Verschoor’s Arborphone firm is inconsistent in the literature and depends on which source you consult. Belanger wrote:

Don Patterson’s 1986 Radio Age article on the history of Arborphone is the starting point. Patterson’s article describes how ... Verschoor ... started making Arborphone radios in the early 1920s. An Antique Radio Classified article by Wally Worth says Arborphone began in 1923. A Radio Age article by Hardy Trolander says that Precision Products ... was the maker of Arborphone radios. Yet ... Gernsback’s Official Radio Service Manual, lists Peerless as the maker of Arborphone. Trolander says that Arborphone made chassis for radios produced by United Reproducers Corporation, which had absorbed Peerless. ... further ... Verschoor had left Arborphone prior to its bankruptcy and founded the Cavac Corporation in Ann Arbor late in 1929 or early 1930. Trolander states that Verschoor became an officer of United Reproducers when Arborphone merged with it. ⁸

My research for this article brought me to Ken Nevins, one of the leading enthusiasts of Arborphone and Kadette radios today. According to Nevins, the sections that Hardy Trolander contributed were basically correct; however the reference to Peerless making Arborphones is completely backwards.

“Arborphone/Precision Products was one of the United Reproducers, a brief union of four or possibly five companies partnered for the purpose of making radios together. Arborphone/Precision’s contribution was making chassis for the radio.

Two entirely different speakers were used in the radios. United Radio of Rochester, New York, made the conventional dynamic speakers used in the basic model. The deluxe units used a special Kylectron electrostatic speaker units made by Cordonic Manufacturing of Holland, Michigan. Apparently Newcombe-Hawley of St. Charles, Illinois took over the manufacture of the Kylectron speakers at some point.

According to Nevins, “All the components were sent to Buckeye Incubator, of Springfield, Ohio, who made the cabinets and also assembled the components into "Peerless" as well as "Courier" radios and tested them. Unfortunately there were problems almost right away, as the very unique electrostatic-type speakers failed at an alarming rate and pretty much doomed the venture to failure as the word got out. The United Reproducers was only in existence for a couple of years before

Vershoor bailed and initiated the equally short lived Cavac.” ⁹

According to Nevins, the initial name of the firm that produced the Arborphone was called Machine Specialty Company. Ken is certain of this fact, citing an article by Roy T. Reynolds (Ann Arbor) News staff reporter who reported this in a retrospective article titled, "High-tech radio specialty factory comes to Ann Arbor in 1925."

In an email exchange with me on the topic, Nevins writes, “I believe within the year their name was changed to Precision Products Co.” and “that name is on most Arborphones and all the instruction books and literature. Of course part of the confusion stemmed from one of the original products which was a machining operation, making piston pins.”¹⁰

T H E    F I R E

On the evening of Monday, January 5, 1931 tragedy struck Cavac and Verschoor’s role as a radio industry leader nearly came to an abrupt end when the Wildt Street factory was destroyed by fire.

The Ann Arbor Daily News reported that the fire started when a “slow” explosion in the lacquer spraying room rocked the plant shortly after 7:00 pm. Cavac radio engineer J.L. Glerum reported that he had just completed spraying a cabinet and shut off the lacquer compressor and was leaving the spraying room when he heard a “queer sucking sort of a sound” and then saw that flames “seemed to roar out all around” traveling “rapidly along the ceiling.”¹¹

Fortunately, there was no loss of life and the three occupants of the plant at the time escaped only with minor burns. However, the plant was a total loss.

Verschoor, who learned of the loss by telegram while en route to New York by train, estimated the total loss to have been about $60,000. Of the $60,000, $40,000 was in inventory and the remaining $20,000 the value of the building owned by Michael J. Fritz and L & Hoover Estates. Of the $40,000 loss in stock, approximately one half was covered by insurance.¹²

U P    F R O M    T H E    A S H E S

It took Charles Verschoor only seven months to get back on his feet after the fire destroyed Cavac. The International Radio Corporation was founded in August 1931 by a group of area businessmen assembled by future Ann Arbor mayor, William E. Brown, Jr.

Seeking to ease the impact of the Great Depression on the city, Brown’s group had assembled with the intention of staring a local company that would get people back to work. ... they proceeded to found the International Radio Corporation. With Verschoor as president, the new company set up shop in an old furniture factory at the corner of William and Fourth Streets. ¹³

Brown’s group of investors scraped together $10,000 – a shoestring sum even in those days – and started the new radio firm. International’s effect on the Ann Arbor economy can not be understated.¹⁴ Within two years of its founding, International Radio was the only Ann Arbor corporation that was still paying dividends to its shareholders.¹⁵ By 1936 IRC employed 150, and in 1937 sales had climbed to $2,700,000.¹⁶

I R C    P R O D U C T S    &    I N N O V A T I O N S

According to an article that appeared in Fortune magazine in the 1930s, International was a “small young radio corporation organized ... to make radios for the Emerson Radio & Phonograph Corp. of New York City.” While IRC was experimenting with an AC-DC set, the Emerson Company, with whom IRC had an agreement to design receivers for, saw little merit in the tiny two-current radio, broke off relations with International.¹⁷

Contrary to Lahue and Bailey’s brief account in Glass, Brass & Chrome, the first International product was a midget AM/shortwave receiver called the “International Duo.” Midget radios were becoming quickly popular, and the duo only measured 16” high by 14” wide, significantly smaller than other sets of its day.¹⁸ At this time “midget” was an industry referring to table top sets, such as the popular cathedral designs, in comparison to significantly larger floor based console radios.

The Duo’s wood cabinet design was rather traditional for the day, having a strong Gothic look with arches on the front of the case.¹⁹ It was unique as it had two separate tuning dials, one for domestic AM broadcast band reception and another dial for international shortwave reception.

Following the Duo, an even smaller and vastly more innovative radio led to IRC’s early success. As Argus would incorporate plastics into camera bodies in order to make consumer cameras smaller and less expensive, IRC did the same with radios. IRC’s plastic cases were manufactured by the Chicago Molded Products Co. and marked the beginning of a new era in cabinet design by being the first set housed in plastic.

Introduced in 1932, the plastic-bodied Kadette could use either household current or low-voltage direct current. ²⁰ In 1933 the two-tube Kadette Model F “Junior” is believed to be the first true pocket-sized radio (although you would need a large coat pocket to carry it).

“Every efficiency apartment in New York City had one, because it was the only small radio around for some time,” recollected Eck Stanger, a long-time Ann Arbor News photographer and observer of the Ann Arbor scene.²¹

In my correspondence with Nevins, he said of Verschoor that old Charlie could sell anything as long as it was the “next big thing.” IRC quickly followed up on the innovative AC/DC design of its small plastic-bodied radio sets by introducing a kit that could attach the Kadette to a storage battery so it could be used in Pullman cars or automobiles. In all likelihood, the IRC Kadette was the first mass-produced car radio.²²

Later IRC innovations included the “Tunemaster,” a portable remote-control device which could turn on and tune a radio from any part of the house and the Kadette ‘Autime,’ which many regard as the first mass-produced clock radio.²³

C L E V E R    M A R K E T I N G

As previously stated, Charles Verschoor was as much of shrewd salesman as a clever inventor. He had a knack for product design, product naming, and appealing to customer sensibilities. In 1937 however, he came up with what can only be described as a clever deception under the guise of giving the customer what they wanted.

It was a common consumer belief of the day that the more tubes a radio receiver had, the higher the quality of the set - the typical “bigger is better” belief. Playing to this sentiment, Verschoor has been quoted as saying “If they want to buy tubes, we’ll sell them tubes.” ²⁴

Under Verschoor’s direction, IRC developed a 10-tube set which would sell for the price of an inexpensive 5 tube model. At the time other manufactures were marketing true 10-tube receivers with price tags starting at around $100, but Verschoor’s 10-tube Kadette would sell for a mere $19.95.

The 10-tube Kadette was in reality a five-tube radio with five additional tubes wired in series like a string of Christmas lights. The superfluous tubes had absolutely no effect on the performance of the radio, except for the fact that if one of them were to be removed, the radio would not operate as current would not be passed on to the "working” tubes.

As Verschoor planned, the 10-tube Kadettes were perceived as higher end radios, and were very popular with consumers as they were sold in the price range of typical 5-tube sets. The 10-tube Kadettes had a high turnover rate but they had a profit margin of less than 15%. Radio dealers had to move about a dozen of the Kadettes to equal the profit they could get selling one premium radio.²⁵

Unlike many other radio manufacturers of the time, IRC did not use middle-men or jobbers and instead sold their products direct to retail dealers. In order to get the popular 10-tube sets, IRC began to require that the dealers take additional slower selling Kadette models. To move the less popular Kadette models, dealers had to offer under-the-counter discounts and their aggregate profit on Kadette radios could drop as low as 5%. Over time the narrow margin led dealers to drop the Kadette line in favor of competitor’s sets.  International scrambled to rectify the problem, but was too late to repair much of the damage they had done.²⁶

T H E    E N D    O F    T H E    R A D I O    E R A

As radio sales picked up in the winter months but dropped off in the summer months, Charles Verschoor began looking for a complementary product to even out IRC’s revenue stream. While abroad in Europe in the mid-1930s, Verschoor was captivated by the small, but pricey Leica 35mm camera. The revolutionary candid camera used fast lenses and shutter speeds allowing photographers to make good photographs in available light.²⁷

Verschoor persuaded the IRC board of directors that a unique opportunity existed in the compact camera market. In May 1936, the simple to use and inexpensive Argus A was introduced and IRC sold 30,000 units in the first week and launched the most popular and longest running film format in the history of amateur photography. The instant popularity and success of their camera offering helped speed along the end of the radio era at IRC.²⁸

In July of 1939, the entire IRC division including all patents was sold to W. Keene Jackson, former general sales manager and director of International Industries, Inc, IRC’s parent company. The new firm, Kadette Radio Corporation was incorporated on July 8, 1939 with executive offices at 310 First National Building with a manufacturing plant at 208 South First Street. KRC had expected to employ 100 men and women.²⁹

With a television cathode ray tube at his side in his office, Jackson declared that the new Kadette firm was definitely entering the television field and intended to be a major player. “The Kadette Radio Corp. is going to employ every technical resource to bring the price of efficient television reception to the point where every American home can enjoy this new art as quickly as possible,’ Mr. Jackson said.”³⁰

Unfortunately, the problems that plagued Kadette radio sales for IRC continued to hinder the new company as well, and in about a year KRC ceased operation.³¹

Verschoor went on to revolutionize 35mm photography with Argus which was a major player as a leading producer of American made cameras for nearly thirty years.

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

This article would not have been possible without the expertise and generosity of Ken Nevins of Ann Arbor, MI.

Ken was born and raised in Ann Arbor where it all started and in his own words, his parents Carlton R. and Carol Nevins were both radio people and hams (W8EKI). Ken’s dad was also an Ann Arbor fireman and helped put out the fire at the Cavac plant in January 1931. At the time Carlton was studying radio theory to qualify himself to later become the first Radio Engineer for the Ann Arbor Police.

Ken has founded the C.R. Nevins Museum of Radio in honor of his dad. Among the 500+ radios on display, over 100 were manufactured by IRC. Some radios carry the Kadette or St. Regis name, and others employ IRC chassis supplied to other manufacturers. Ken hopes to move the museum, which is currently located in his home, to a separate location someday to house his ever-growing collection.

In addition to the various articles and documents he has collected over the years, Nevins has the resource of Wystan Stevens who is not only his friend, but also Ann Arbor’s unofficial historian and was interviewed for the old 1970's Observer article which is considered authoritative.

Thanks also to Ron Norwood and Bob Kelly of the Argus Collectors Group who also provided articles and background material and special thanks to my wife, Lynn C. Coulombe, for serving as my copy editor.

A partial listing of CAVAC & IRC radio products

Key:

Power: Xfmr = AC w. Transformer, AC-DC: No AC Transformer, AC or DC

Bands: BC=AM Broadcast, MW= Medium Wave, SW=International Shortwave

Circuit: TRF=Tuned Radio Frequency, regen=Regenerative, supht=Super Heterodyne

Arborphone 27 (1927)

Model Year: 1927  No. of Tubes: 5

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Tuned Radio Frequency  Power source: Battery

Style: Wide Lift Top  Cabinet: Wood

Distinctive features/innovation:

Simple Tuned Radio Frequency Circuit five tube battery set was economically priced for wide distribution among consumers who could not afford a higher-end set.

Controversy exists who produced the Arborphone. Several sources state it was made by CAVAC while others, Precision Products. The serial number plate of this unit clearly states Precision Products Co.

Arborphone 45 (1928)

Model Year: 1927  No. of Tubes: 7

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Tuned Radio Frequency  Power source: Transformer

Style: Wide Lift Top  Cabinet: Wood

Kadette Model H

Model Year: 1932  No. of Tubes: 5

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superheterodyne  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Gothic Mantel  Cabinet: Bakelite/Plaskon

Distinctive features/innovation: The first Kadette radio, operated on AC or DC power, compact size, truly portable. Unique gothic design, accessory kit produced to make this the first “car” radio. Beedle finish Model H radios are highly desirable to collectors.

Kadette Junior - Model F

Model Year: 1933  No. of Tubes: 2

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superheterodyne  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Miniature  Cabinet: Bakelite or Plakston

Distinctive Features/Innovation: The first true “pocket” radio. Unique 2 tube design and speaker constructed into chassis helped make this tiny marvel years ahead of it’s time.

Kadette “New” or Model B

Model Year: 1933  No. of Tubes: 5

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Regen  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Deco Mantel  Cabinet: Wood

Kadette Model No. 90

Model Year: 1935  No. of Tubes: 4

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superhet  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Gothic  Cabinet: Bakelite/Plaskon

Kadette Jewel - Model Nos. 40 - 48

Model Year: 1935  No. of Tubes: 3

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Regen  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Compact Gothic  Cabinet: Bakelite/Plaskon

Kadette Model 52

Model Year: 1935  No. of Tubes: 5

Bands: AM Broadcast, Shortwave  Circuit: Regen  Power source: AC/transformer

Style: Tombstone  Finish: 2 tone wood

Kadette Classic - Model Nos. K11 – K16

Model Year: 1937  No. of Tubes: 5

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superheterodyne  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Tombstone  Cabinet: 3 tone Plaskon

Distinctive Features/Innovations: The classic featured a 3 tone art-deco Plaskon cabinet which was designed to look identical from the front or the back. Seven different color combinations offered as different model numbers.

K10 White and Blue Plaskon

K11 White and Yellow Plaskon (depicted)

K12 White and Green Plaskon

K13 White and Rose Plaskon

K14 Brown and Tan Marbled

K15 Three Tone Green

K16 Black, Vermillion and Green

These are difficult to find in good condition today as the thin plastic cabinets were easily cracked.

Kadette Clockette – Models K25 – K28

Model Year: 1937  No. of Tubes: 6

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superheterodyne  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Clock-like Mantel  Cabinet: Catalin, Wood

Destinctive Features/Innovations: Innovative clock-like design featuring speaker built into large 360 degree tuning dial. Available in plastic and wood finishes with subtle cabinet design changes.

K25 = Major

K26 = Colonel

K27 = General

K28 = Admiral

Kadette Model No. 1019

Model Year: 1937  No. of Tubes: 10

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superhet  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Table Radio  Cabinet: Wood

Distinctive features/innovations: One of the infamous 10 tube radios designed to appeal to customer’s impression that more tubes indicate higher quality. Charles Verschoor, appealing to this sentiment said, “If they want to buy tubes, we’ll sell them tubes.” Five of the ten tubes serve no practical purpose on the set and IRC sold these for $19.95 per set, about $80.00 less than the competitor’s “real” 10 tube radios. The narrow margin on these sets led to the downfall of IRC’s radio business.

Kadette Autime - Model No. L40

Model Year: 1939  No. of Tubes: 6

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superheterodyne  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Clock Radio  Cabinet: Wood

Distinctive features/innovations: The world’s first “clock” radio? Radio dial is located in the lower right corner of clock face.

Kadette Topper - Model No. L-25

Model Year: 1939  No. of Tubes: 5

Bands: AM Broadcast  Circuit: Superhet  Power source: AC/DC

Style: Table Radio, Speaker on top  Cabinet: Plastic

Distinctive features/innovations: Unique design with speaker located at the top of the cabinet (hence the name).

Kadette Tunemaster

Revolutionary wireless remote control

Could be used with any radio.