Zenith's Decline

[AUdubon5425]

I threw together some notes on Zenith's plant closings here in the U.S. while reading through old news stories, and I thought some of you may be interested:

c. April 1978 - Watsontown, Penna. plant cuts manufacture of TV & stereo cabinets and suffers large layoff. Most work shifted to Evansville, Ind.

c. July 1978 - Sioux City, Ia. plant closed - mfd. stereo and TV compnents.

These two plant closings ended Zenith's domestic audio production. It also marked the end of the all-American TV. Zenith estimated their sets henceforth would contain 1/3 foreign-supplied parts.

As of 1978 the Trans-Oceanic 7000, made in Chicago, was the last American-made radio in production.

Mar 1982 - Watsontown, Penna. audio products plant closed. Made speakers and cabinets. Production shifted to Taiwan & Mexico.

1983 - Paris, Ill. plant closed - Agua Prieta, Mexico plant expands workforce.

Jan 1987 - Lynch Road cabinet plant in Evansville, Ind. closes; replaced bt plant in Juarez, Mexico.

March 1992 - TV production ends in Springfield, Mo. Plant molds plastic cabinets until 1994, when operation consolidated with Reynosa, Mexico plant.

July 17, 1995 - Zenith Electronics Corporation, the last American-owned TV
manufacturer, agrees to sell controlling interest to LG Electronics.

1998? - Melrose Park, Ill. picture tube plant closed.