Radio Craftsmen, USA
“The Radio Craftsmen” seems to be founded in 1947 by John Cashman who before worked at Hallicrafters Radio Company. The first product (perhaps even before the official foundation of the company) is the very special designed kitchen radio “Kitchenaire”. Shown by SAMS Photofact in October 1946, this date is for sure. But the aim was to develop and produce home audio and television sets. Ed Miller and Sid Smith were two major engineers to work for Radio Craftsman during early 40’s – mid 50’s. Actually, Ed Miller is the founder of Sherwood and who leave Radio Craftsman before 1953 (This year he founded Sherwood and mainly focused on integrate amp and receiver). Sid Smith later left Radio Craftsman and joined Marantz as chief engineer in 1954.
Probably the famoust products are the Audio Amplifiers series 500: The first two generations of C500 were mostly engineered by Sid Smith and licensed by Western Electric. The first generation C500 was introduced in 1951. In 1952 the smooth corner version was replaced by the sharp corner version output. Radio Craftsman C500 is based on Williamson design which operates with 2 x KT66 output tube in triode but pure class A operation with 10 watt output. It has very natural, sweet, clear, realistic and transparent tone than many vintage and modern hi-fi amp.
Via www.radiomuseum.org
Radio Craftsmen: the short history
The original page draws on Radiomuseum, and it contains a connection worth highlighting: Sidney Smith, who engineered the first Radio Craftsmen C500 amplifiers, later joined Marantz, where he contributed to the circuits of the Model 7 era, and Ed Miller left to co-found Sherwood in 1953. Two of the best-known American hi-fi lines of the 1950s therefore have roots in this small company.
We have not found an independent encyclopaedia entry for Radio Craftsmen, so the founding date ("seems to be" 1947, by John Cashman) and the C500 details remain as the original page gives them. The C500, it says, followed the Williamson design with two KT66 output tubes in triode.
| Founded | About 1947 (original page) |
|---|---|
| Founder | John Cashman (original page) |
| Engineers | Sidney Smith; Ed Miller |
| Best-known amplifier | C500 series (from 1951, per original page) |
| C500 output | 2 × KT66, triode, Williamson type (original page) |
Questions collectors ask
How is Radio Craftsmen connected to Marantz and Sherwood?
According to the original page, engineer Sidney Smith later joined Marantz, and Ed Miller left to found Sherwood in 1953.
What was the Radio Craftsmen C500?
A Williamson-type amplifier with two KT66 output tubes in triode connection, introduced in 1951, according to the original page.
Sources: Wikipedia: Williamson amplifier; Sound & Vision: Marantz Model 7.
