Jerrold Electronics
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cable television hardware |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Milton Shapp |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Fate | Acquired by Arris Group (via General Instrument and Motorola Connected Home Solutions) |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia , United States |
| Products | Subscriber converter units, distribution network components, headend devices |
Jerrold Electronics was a U.S.-based producer specializing in cable television hardware, such as subscriber converter units, distribution network components (including amplifiers and multitap outlets), and headend devices. It emerged as one of the pioneering MSO entities before divesting its cable assets due to a U.S. government Anti-Trust lawsuit.
History
Established in 1948 by Milton Shapp, who later served as Pennsylvania's governor (the company’s name originated from his middle name), Jerrold was among the forerunners in community antenna television (CATV) systems. Its main office was located at 401 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.
During the 1950s, Jerrold grew beyond equipment manufacturing to offering complete turnkey CATV installations along with service contracts. By 1953, it had implemented 132 systems across the country, with revenues in 1954 approaching $4.5 million.
In 1960, Jerrold merged with Harman Kardon, appointing Sidney Harman as president while Shapp retained the role of chairman. Conflicts between them led Shapp to repurchase Harman’s shares; subsequently, Harman reacquired Harman-Kardon in 1967.
The company changed ownership when Shapp sold Jerrold to General Instrument in 1967. John C. Malone was named Jerrold’s president from 1970 until 1973 under General Instrument’s leadership. The firm was rebranded as Jerrold Communications before merging with VideoCipher in 1984, forming GI Communications. The Jerrold brand continued to appear on equipment into the early 1990s.
By the end of the 1990s, the Jerrold name was phased out following General Instrument’s merger with Motorola, resulting in Motorola Connected Home Solutions. This division was later acquired by Arris Group in 2012. Although once widely used by cable pirates, most cable providers had transitioned away from Jerrold devices by 2005 in favor of digital cable technology.
See also
Further reading
Key references regarding Jerrold and the cable sector include:
- Parsons, P. Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television Temple University Press, 2008
- Comprehensive industry background
- Stubbs, G. From workhorse to icon. The 704 Jerrold Field Strength Meter CED Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004, p. 42
- Significant product history
- Taylor, A.S. History Between Their Ears: Recollections of Pioneer CATV Engineers The Cable Center, 2000
- Biographies of prominent engineering figures
External links
- [1] NCTA (National Cable & Telecommunications Association) History of Cable Television, Washington, DC 2001
- Brief industry summary
- [2] United States: Cable Television, The Museum of Broadcast Communications 2001
- Extensive historical records
- [3] Young, C. RFMD. CATV Hybrid Amplifier Modules: Past, Present, Future’’ (RFMD Greensboro 2009)
- Evolution of CATV amplifier technology
- Articles with short description
- 1950 establishments in Pennsylvania
- 2012 establishments in Pennsylvania
- American companies established in 1950
- Electronics companies established in 1950
- Companies disestablished in 2012
- Cable television in the United States
- Defunct companies based in Pennsylvania
- Manufacturing companies based in Philadelphia
- Defunct electronics companies of the United States
- General Instrument