[bgadow]

Here is what I know (I would like to know more)

Emerson took over DuMont in about 57 or so. I think this was still the independent Emerson but I don't know that for sure. In the 1960s, I think in the early 60s, National Union Electronics (the old tube company) bought them. Towards the end of that decade they were having serious trouble competing with the influx of Japanese brands; Emerson (and, increasingly DuMont) had staked out the lower end of the market, which was just where the Japanese were targeting. NUE sued, in Federal Court, what could be called "Japan, Inc." stating that the big companies over there were dumping sets here-in other words, selling them below cost to gain market share. Eventually the lawsuit was won, but too late. In 1970 they closed their factory(s) though they did not leave the business. By studying chassis photos in Sams from before and after 1970 I determined that later sets were rebadged Admirals.

An interesting point: I own a 1970 DuMont color set (built by NUE) and most of the original tubes were made in Japan. The company was pushing its DuMont line of tubes in the 60s, but apparently the old National Union line had been discontinued by then.

I lose track of the company in the mid-70s. Since they weren't making TV sets anymore it didn't matter much, I guess, where they were made. I think there was a change of hands at some point but it is my understanding that the company remained American owned. There was a good overview of this on the Emerson website, under "company history", but I haven't looked at it for years. I think the DuMont name got seperated along the way but I don't know for sure. (it seems to have ended up lumped with Capehart as a name on cheap stereos and such, and still shows up from time to time) Emerson also made Quiet Kool air conditioners, and continued to until fairly recently. They have since sold that line. It is possible that Emerson is still an "American" company today; the last I looked they referred to themselves as a sales company, since they didn't actually make anything.

Emerson seems to have come on strong in the 80s with those imported, Orion built TV sets. They were a big seller at discount department stores. They were also huge in the VCR business.

Well, I guess that is about all I "know". I hope it helps...I hope any mistakes get corrected. I really enjoy reading the later history of the old companies; often it gets ignored. Neat to know what happened to them, I think.