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Raytheon is another
of the stalwart early American electronics and technology manufacturing company.
It began operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1922 under the name of the American
Appliance Company. The name was changed to Raytheon in 1925 to reflect its growing
vacuum tube business. Did you know the name Raytheon means "light from the gods?"
In this case, the light refers to the orange glow from the tube heater filament.
If you have ever had the privilege of seeing in a darkened room vacuum tubes glowing
inside a vintage radio, you will understand the relationship to a godly sight. Not
too many years ago, there were still a few companies like
Tesslor manufacturing new tube radios, but now you'll have to go to
eBay or similar venues to find used radios. The prices are not too bad. ...but
I digress. This 2-page advertisement in a 1955 issue of Radio & Television
News magazine pitched a division of the company called Raytheon Manufacturing
that was - you guessed it - their manufacturing branch. Raytheon played a huge role
in developing and building electronics equipment and components for troops during
World War II, including vacuum tubes, magnetrons, klystrons, picture tubes,
and eventually semiconductors.
Raytheon Manufacturing Company Ad
Raytheon's Receiving Tube Plant No. 1 -
Newton, Mass.
Raytheon's Microwave and Power Tube Plant No. 1 Waltham, Mass.
Raytheon's Research Center Waltham, Mass.
Raytheon's Semiconductor Plant No. 2 and Raytheon's Special Tube Plant No. 2
Boston, Mass.
Raytheon's Cathode Ray Tube Plant Quincy, Mass.
Raytheon
Leads the Way
in tubes and Semiconductors ...
Here are a few reasons why:
Raytheon employs 18,000 people. Approximately 10,000 of them work in Raytheon's
modern tube and semiconductor manufacturing plants.
Raytheon has more than 1,000,000 square feet devoted exclusively to the manufacture
of Raytheon quality tubes and semiconductors.
Raytheon employs over 500 engineers and scientists who work exclusively in the
electron tube and semiconductor fields.
Raytheon has had 33 years' experience in the manufacture of electron tubes.
Raytheon has made tubes of every type of construction - Standard Glass, "G",
GT, Bantal, Lock In, Metal, Miniature and Subminiature Tubes.
Raytheon Receiving and Cathode Ray Tube Operations have produced more than a
third of a billion tubes and semiconductors.
Raytheon perfected the first practical rectifier tube types (BA and BH) to eliminate
the need for "B" batteries to operate home radios. This revolutionized the design
of home radio sets. Raytheon later developed the cold cathode rectifier tube for
auto radios and has produced more of these tubes than all other companies combined.
Raytheon developed the famous 4-pillar construction that strengthened internal
structure resulting in sturdier tube design.
Raytheon developed and was first to mass-produce the octal button stem receiving
tube - today's most imitated construction for premium TV performance. Raytheon was
first to make millions of these tubes as far back as 1946. These tubes featured
a planar button stem and 8 straight leads (8-pillar) which go directly into a standard
octal base. Raytheon's Patent Numbers 2310237, 2321600 and 2340879 apply to this
invention.
Raytheon developed and first mass-produced subminiature tubes for the hearing
aid industry - the forerunners of the fuse tubes which made possible the famous
proximity fuses of World War II. There are more commercial Raytheon subminiature
tubes in use today than all other makes combined.
Raytheon developed a method of mass producing magnetrons (the power tube that
is the heart of radar) early in World War II, that broke a serious bottleneck, and
continues to produce more magnetrons than all other manufacturers combined.
Raytheon is the largest producer of klystrons and has manufactured more than
all other companies combined.
Raytheon was the first commercial producer of Transistors - the "mighty mite"
- a Raytheon achievement that revolutionized the hearing aid industry.
Raytheon first commercially produced fusion-alloy RF Transistors, expected to
revolutionize the portable radio, auto radio and computer industries.
Raytheon has produced many more transistors than all other manufacturers combined
- nearly 2,000,000 in use.
Today, Raytheon makes Receiving and Picture Tubes, Reliable Miniature and Subminiature
Tubes, Semiconductor Diodes and Transistors, Nucleonic Tubes and Microwave Tubes.
These facts and figures show why you can use Raytheon Television and Radio Tubes
with complete confidence that they are Right ... for Sound and Sight - Right for
you and your customers, too.
A Company second to none in Excellence in Electronics
Raytheon Manufacturing Company
Receiving and Cathode Ray Tube Operations
Newton, Mass • Chicago, Ill • Atlanta, Ga. • Los Angeles, Calif.
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