Mattel, Inc. was founded in 1945 by Harold "Matt" Matson and Elliot Handler. It
initially sold picture frames then dollhouse furniture. Mattel ranked #413 on the
Fortune 500 in 2008.The products and brands it produces include Fisher-Price,
Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys.The company is headquartered in
El Segundo, California.
The first custom concept store opened in the company’s hometown
of Fort Worth, Texas.
Radio Shack Corporation (formerly Tandy Corporation) is a franchise of
electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe,
South America and Africa. The company was started as Radio Shack in
1921 by two brothers,Theodore and Milton Deutschmann, who wanted
to provide equipment for the fans of amateur, or ham, radio.
Radio Shack was purchased by the Tandy Corporation in 1962. It was
originally a leather goods corporation, and renamed Tandy Radio Shack
& Leather. Tandy eventually divested itself of its non-electronic product
lines.
The company issued its first catalog in 1939. as it entered the high-fidelity
music market. In 1954, Radio Shack began selling its own private-label
products under the brand name Realist, but was subsequently sued and
consequently changed the brand name to Realistic.
Radio Shack was created in Boston by brothers, Theodore and
Milton Deutschmann who had emigrated from London.
Allied Radio began in 1928 as a mail-order and parts distribution arm
of Columbia Radio Corporation, selling radio sets, tubes, electronic
components, CB radios and other miscellaneous radio communications
equipment and electronic kits. In 1970 the retailer changed ownership
when Radio Shack’s parent Company, Tandy Corporation, bought both
Allied Radio & Allied Electronics. By 1973, due to legal action, the Tandy
stores were renamed Radio Shack.
