Gemini Industries

Gemini Industries, Inc.

Company type	Private (before acquisition)
Industry	Consumer electronics
Founded	1964 (1964) in Clifton, New Jersey, United States
Founder	Sandor "Sandy" Garfinkle
Defunct	2004 (2004)
Fate	Acquired by Philips
Successor	Philips Accessories and Computer Peripherals North America
Headquarters	Clifton , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Sandor "Sandy" Garfinkle (founder and president), Michael O'Neal (CEO from 2000)
Products	Consumer television antenna rotators, VCR accessories, cellular phone accessories, personal computer peripherals
Number of employees	500 (2003)

Gemini Industries, Inc. was a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in consumer electronics, headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey, and operating from 1964 until 2004. The company began as a modest metal fabrication business primarily producing consumer television antenna rotators. During the 1980s, Gemini diversified into a broader range of electronic products, growing into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. In 1994, the acquisition of PC Accessories, Inc. located in Dallas, Texas marked Gemini’s entry into the personal computer peripherals sector. Philips acquired Gemini in 2004 and reorganized it under the name Philips Accessories and Computer Peripherals North America.

History

Established in 1964 by Sandor "Sandy" Garfinkle (circa 1937–2004) in Clifton, New Jersey, Gemini initially concentrated on producing consumer antenna rotators and residential mailboxes. The company underwent a leveraged buyout by Wesray Capital in 1985, followed by a sale to a Merrill Lynch division in 1988, with Garfinkle maintaining his role as president throughout these ownership changes.

In the late 1980s, Gemini introduced the VideoCaster, a consumer television transmitter designed to enable households to broadcast VCR output to multiple televisions without requiring additional VCR units. The acquisition of Rabbit Systems, Inc. in 1990—known for its Rabbit VCR Multiplying System that wirelessly retransmitted infrared remote signals—enhanced Gemini’s expertise in VCR accessory technologies.

By December 1993, Gemini had launched a telecommunications division dedicated to producing cellular phone accessories under its own Gemini brand and the Axiom label. This product line included antennas, protective cases, chargers, and mounting devices. The subsequent purchase of PC Accessories in 1994 broadened Gemini’s offerings to include computer peripherals such as trackballs, ergonomic keyboards, headphones, floppy disks, and CD-ROM storage cases.

In 1995, Gemini secured the distinction of becoming the inaugural licensee of the Magnavox brand for consumer electronics within the United States through agreements with Philips and Southwestern Bell.

York Management Services acquired Gemini in 2000, appointing Michael O’Neal as CEO to succeed Garfinkle. Under O’Neal’s direction, Gemini obtained assets from Zenith Accessories in 2001 and pursued but ultimately failed to acquire the bankrupt Recoton Audio Corporation, losing out to Thomson SARL in 2003.

By 2003, Gemini reported annual revenues of $200 million and employed approximately 500 staff members. Philips completed its acquisition of Gemini in July 2004 for roughly $67 million in cash plus the assumption of debt.