Trio Corporation — Manufacturer Profile and History
See also Kenwood and Trio-Kenwood
Overview
Trio Corporation was a Japanese electronics manufacturer best known for producing amateur radio equipment and high-fidelity audio components. The company operated under the Trio name from 1963 until its rebranding as Kenwood Corporation in 1986. Trio products were widely exported and often appeared under Trio, Trio-Kenwood, and later Kenwood branding.
Technical Specifications
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Trio Corporation |
| Original Name | Kasuga Radio Co., Ltd. |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Renamed | 1963 (to Trio Corporation) |
| Country | Japan |
| Industry | Communications equipment, consumer electronics |
| Key Products | Amateur radios, CB radios, HF/VHF/UHF transceivers, audio equipment |
| Successor | Kenwood Corporation (1986) |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
Description
Trio Corporation established a strong reputation in both amateur radio and consumer audio markets. The company’s equipment was known for reliability, stable operation, and practical design.
Brand usage during this period included:
- Trio for domestic Japanese and some export markets
- Trio-Kenwood for transitional export branding
- Kenwood for international branding, especially in North America
Many well-known amateur radio transceivers from the 1960s and 1970s were originally branded Trio before the Kenwood name became dominant.
History
- 1946: Founded as Kasuga Radio Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan
- 1950s: Began manufacturing communications equipment and exporting internationally
- 1960: Introduction of the Kenwood name for export markets
- 1963: Company officially renamed to Trio Corporation
- 1960s–1970s:
- Expansion into amateur radio equipment and hi-fi audio systems
- Export products labeled as Trio and Trio-Kenwood
- Growth in North American and European markets
- 1970s–early 1980s: Increasing use of the Kenwood brand internationally
- 1986: Company renamed to Kenwood Corporation, retiring the Trio name
Historical Addresses
- Trio-Kenwood Corporation
Shinogi Shibuya Building 17-5
2-chome Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150, Japan - Trio-Kenwood Communications
111 West Walnut Street
Compton, California 90220, USA
Notable Product Lines
- TS Series — HF transceivers (early models branded Trio)
- TR Series — VHF/UHF transceivers
- Audio components — receivers, amplifiers, tuners