Magnavox
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founded | 1917 |
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Key people
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Edwin Pridham, Peter L. Jensen |
| Products | Odyssey (video game console), TVs, speakers, Blu-ray and DVD players, dehumidifiers, heaters, air conditioners, headphones, batteries |
| Parent | Philips |
| Website | www |
Magnavox (Latin for "great voice") is an American electronics company founded in the United States. Today it is a subsidiary of electronics corporation Philips.
Magnavox was founded in 1917 by Edwin Pridham and Peter L. Jensen, inventor of the moving-coil loudspeaker two years earlier at their lab in Napa, California. Magnavox later produced the Odyssey, the world's first home video game console.
Magnavox is the brand name worn by a line of products made by Funai under license from trademark owner Philips.
Shortly after its launch, Magnavox became a major consumer electronics and defense company. It manufactured radios, TVs, and record players. In the 1960s Magnavox manufactured the first plasma panels for the military and for computer applications.
In 1972, Magnavox introduced the Odyssey, which was the world's first home video game console. The introduction of it triggered the beginning of the home video game console market. In 1974, the Magnavox Company was acquired by Philips, and all Philips consumer electronics in the US under the Norelco name began rebranding them under the Magnavox name; Philips acquired the similar-sounding company Philco in 1981, and Philips was able to freely use the Philips name, alternating with the Magnavox name for some electronics, with the personal care business continuing to use the Norelco name.
In the late 1970s, Philips developed LaserDisc technology, producing an optically read, 12 inch disc that would contain recorded video material. In the early 1980s, Philips worked with Sony to invent a standard for optical audio discs (CDs), using the technology developed for the LaserDisc.
Teamed with Sony, Philips used the Magnavox brand name to introduce the CD-DA standard and equipment for consumer audio with the Magnavox player sold in department stores while the Sony CDP-101 went to high-end audio stores.
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Wikipedia