Trio-Kenwood

Overview

Trio-Kenwood was the international branding and corporate identity used by the Japanese electronics manufacturer Trio Corporation during the transition from the Trio brand name to Kenwood branding in export markets. The company became widely known for amateur radio transceivers, communications receivers, stereo equipment, and consumer electronics.

In Japan, many products continued to use the Trio name, while export products, especially in the United States and Europe, increasingly carried the Kenwood name beginning in the late 1960s and 1970s. The company officially became Kenwood Corporation in 1986.

History

Historical Timeline

  • 1946 – Founded as Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. in Japan
  • 1960 – Company renamed Trio Corporation
  • Early 1960s – Began large-scale export of communications and audio equipment
  • 1963 – Opened operations in Los Angeles, California
  • Mid-1960s – Kenwood brand introduced for export markets
  • Late 1960s – Trio-Kenwood branding appeared on amateur radio and audio products
  • 1970s – Trio-Kenwood became one of the leading amateur radio manufacturers worldwide
  • 1970s – Popular models included the TS-520, TS-700, and TS-820 series
  • 1980s – Expanded into digital communications and automotive electronics
  • 1986 – Corporate name officially changed to Kenwood Corporation
  • 2008 – Kenwood merged with JVC to form JVCKENWOOD Corporation

Description

Trio-Kenwood equipment was known for:

  • Durable construction
  • High receiver sensitivity
  • User-friendly operating layouts
  • Hybrid tube/solid-state radio designs
  • Strong amateur radio support network

Major product categories included:

  • HF amateur radio transceivers
  • VHF/UHF amateur radios
  • Communications receivers
  • Stereo receivers and amplifiers
  • Car audio systems
  • Commercial communications equipment

Well-known Trio-Kenwood amateur radio products included:

  • TS-510
  • TS-520
  • TS-700
  • TS-820
  • TS-830
  • R-599 receiver
  • TR-series VHF radios

Historical Address

Trio Corporation

Tokyo, Japan

Trio-Kenwood Inc.

Los Angeles, California USA

References

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