RCA Corporation

RCA Corporation
Company type	Corporation
Industry	Electronics, Communications, Broadcasting
Founded	November 20, 1919; 106 years ago
Founder	General Electric, Westinghouse, AT&T, United Fruit Company (joint founders)
Defunct	1987
Fate	Acquired by General Electric; most divisions divested or shut down except NBC and some government services
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Key people	David Sarnoff (General Manager, President 1930–1965, Chairman until 1969), Owen D. Young (Chairman), E. J. Nally (First President), Major General James G. Harbord (President 1922–1930, Chairman after 1930), Jack Welch (CEO at acquisition in 1986)
Products	Radio receivers (first superheterodyne receiver), broadcasting services (NBC), television technology (black-and-white and color systems), mainframe computers, CED videodisc format
Owner	Originally jointly owned by GE, Westinghouse, AT&T, United Fruit Company; later independent; trademarks now owned by Sony Music Entertainment and Vantiva; brand licensed to various companies
Parent	General Electric (after 1986 acquisition)

RCA Corporation, originally known as the Radio Corporation of America, was a prominent American electronics firm operating from 1919 until 1987. Initially established as a patent holding entity jointly owned by General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T, and United Fruit Company, RCA gained independence in 1932 following the divestiture of these partners to resolve an antitrust lawsuit.

For more than fifty years, RCA held a dominant position in the United States electronics and communications sectors. During the 1920s, it emerged as a leading radio manufacturer, notably introducing the first superheterodyne receiver. In 1926, RCA launched the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), marking the creation of the first nationwide radio network. The company also spearheaded developments in broadcast television technology, including both black-and-white and color systems. David Sarnoff played a pivotal role, initially serving as general manager at RCA’s inception, later as president from 1930 to 1965, and chairman until 1969.

RCA was closely associated with innovation and leadership in home entertainment through the 1970s. Nevertheless, its transformation into a diversified global conglomerate led to diminished focus and weakened performance. Increasing competition from international corporations such as Sony, Philips, Matsushita (Panasonic), and Mitsubishi further challenged RCA. The company suffered significant financial setbacks in ventures like the mainframe computer market and the CED videodisc format.

Although RCA exhibited signs of improvement by the mid-1980s, it never fully restored its previous prominence. In 1986, under CEO Jack Welch, GE reacquired RCA and proceeded to divest or shut down most divisions except for NBC and certain government service operations. Presently, RCA exists primarily as a brand; its trademarks are owned by Sony Music Entertainment and Vantiva. These entities license the RCA name to various companies including Voxx International, Curtis International, AVC Multimedia, TCL Corporation, and Express LUCK International.

Establishment by General Electric

RCA originated through the reorganization of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America, commonly referred to as "American Marconi." Founded in London in 1897 to promote Guglielmo Marconi’s wireless telegraphy innovations, American Marconi was established as a U.S. subsidiary in 1899 and held Marconi patents within the United States and Cuba. By 1912, it had secured dominance in U.S. radio communications following acquisition of assets from the bankrupt United Wireless Telegraph Company.

During World War I, civilian radio stations were commandeered by the U.S. government for military purposes. After the war ended, Congress rejected Navy proposals to retain control and ordered stations returned to their original owners. However, concerns arose regarding national security due to American Marconi’s foreign ownership and Britain’s control over undersea cables—especially after the 1918 creation of Pan-American Wireless Telegraph and Telephone Company, a joint venture between American Marconi and Federal Telegraph Company aimed at connecting North and South America.

The Navy had installed a powerful Alexanderson alternator, manufactured by General Electric (GE), at American Marconi’s New Jersey facility. This equipment surpassed traditional spark-gap transmitters in performance, leading Marconi companies to plan substantial purchases of GE alternators. The Navy opposed these transactions due to fears of British dominance over international radio communications.

With backing from President Woodrow Wilson, naval officials pursued an exclusively American-controlled alternative. In April 1919, they met with GE president Owen D. Young to halt alternator sales to Marconi and proposed that GE acquire American Marconi’s assets to establish a new radio company. This initiative took effect on November 20, 1919, resulting in the creation of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). Corporate leadership was required to be composed of U.S. citizens with majority domestic ownership—a measure promoted as an act of patriotism.

At its inception, RCA became the largest radio communications enterprise in the United States and retained most former American Marconi employees. Owen Young served as chairman; E. J. Nally was appointed as RCA’s inaugural president before Major General James G. Harbord took over from 1922 to 1930 and then assumed chairmanship when David Sarnoff became president in 1930. RCA worked closely with federal authorities to secure its leading role within U.S. radio broadcasting.

To stay competitive amid rapid advancements in vacuum tube technology, RCA established cross-licensing agreements with key industry players including American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T), which acquired shares in 1920 but divested by 1923; United Fruit Company; and competitor Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Corporation. Westinghouse possessed essential patents and negotiated a cross-licensing deal with RCA in 1921 that included an agreement for RCA to purchase 40% of its equipment from Westinghouse suppliers. Following these arrangements, ownership stakes were distributed as follows: GE held 30.1%, Westinghouse owned 20.6%, AT&T controlled 10.3%, United Fruit had 4.1%, while individual investors accounted for 34.9%.

In 1930, RCA committed to leasing space within the iconic skyscraper at Rockefeller Center, occupying what became known as the RCA Building (later renamed GE Building and currently Comcast Building). This lease was crucial for ensuring Rockefeller Center’s commercial success; David Rockefeller later credited RCA’s involvement with "the salvation of the project."

International and marine communication

RCA’s initial corporate objectives centered on supplying equipment and services tailored for maritime vessels and global wireless communication, positioning itself against international undersea telegraph cable competitors. To facilitate worldwide connectivity, RCA commenced construction of a "Radio Central" communications hub at Rocky Point, Long Island, New York, in 1920. Completed in 1921 with two of twelve planned antenna spokes and two 200-kilowatt alternators installed, the facility enabled transmissions to be received by stations across 17 countries.

Nevertheless, the comprehensive development of Radio Central was discontinued following a pivotal insight into radio wave propagation. Westinghouse engineer Frank Conrad discovered that certain transmitter harmonics—unwanted higher-frequency emissions—could travel farther than the main signals, challenging earlier beliefs about shortwave transmission distances. In 1924, Conrad demonstrated to Sarnoff that a low-powered shortwave station located in East Pittsburgh could be picked up in London using a simple antenna setup, at a fraction of the cost compared to large alternator transmitters. By 1926, Harold H. Beverage confirmed that shortwave transmissions often surpassed high-power alternators for some long-distance reception cases.

As a result, Alexanderson alternators were rendered obsolete, and international radio communications transitioned to vacuum tube transmitters operating on shortwave frequencies. RCA continued delivering global telecommunications through its subsidiary RCA Communications, Inc., later renamed RCA Global Communications Company. In 1975, it founded RCA American Communications, which managed the Satcom series of geostationary communication satellites. Over time, satellite technology largely supplanted international shortwave links for distributing network radio and television programming.

At RCA’s inception in 1919, all radio and telegraph communications between the United States and China were routed via German or British connections. The U.S. Navy encouraged RCA to obtain a concession for a direct radio link to China; despite initial hesitation due to financial losses from other agreements, RCA launched this direct connection in 1928. The Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company secured a comparable concession in 1932, leading to an arbitration dispute over exclusivity rights. The 1935 decision in Radio Corporation of America v China upheld Mackay’s concession as valid because RCA’s earlier contract did not grant exclusive privileges.

Broadcasting

The rise of organized radio broadcasting during the early 1920s considerably broadened RCA’s business activities. Improvements in vacuum tube transmitters made practical audio broadcasts feasible, moving beyond earlier Morse code transmissions. Since at least 1916, David Sarnoff had promoted the idea of broadcasting stations to boost sales of a "Radio Music Box," though this vision was initially overlooked.

In the summer of 1921, Julius Hopp of Madison Square Garden arranged an innovative broadcast of the July 2 Dempsey-Carpentier heavyweight boxing match from ringside to raise funds for charity. Collaborating with RCA’s J. Andrew White and David Sarnoff, RCA established a temporary longwave station, WJY, near the event location. Live commentary was transmitted via telephone lines and broadcast directly to an estimated audience of 300,000 across the Northeast—demonstrating substantial commercial potential.

Capitalizing on this achievement, RCA inaugurated its first full-time broadcasting station, WDY, at its Roselle Park facility in late 1921. By 1923, RCA operated three stations: WJZ (now WABC) and WJY in New York City, along with WRC (now WTEM) in Washington, D.C. Due to patent cross-licensing arrangements with AT&T, these stations did not air commercials and were financially supported through profits generated by RCA’s radio equipment sales.

National Broadcasting Company

Starting in 1922, AT&T emerged as a significant force in radio broadcasting by funding stations through commercial sponsorships and establishing the inaugural radio network centered around its New York station WEAF (currently WFAN). The use of long-distance telephone lines to connect various stations enabled cost savings by allowing shared programming.

Due to escalating expenses related to programming, AT&T divested its broadcasting holdings in 1926, including WEAF and WCAP (Washington, D.C.), forming the Broadcasting Company of America (BCA). Shortly thereafter, AT&T withdrew from the radio business entirely, selling BCA to RCA for $1 million. This purchase laid the groundwork for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), initially co-owned by RCA (50%), General Electric (30%), and Westinghouse (20%), with RCA acquiring full ownership by 1930. NBC introduced two nationwide networks: NBC-Red (WEAF) and NBC-Blue (WJZ). Although initially projected to break even, NBC rapidly became highly lucrative, helping RCA navigate through the Great Depression.

In 1941, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) challenged NBC's control over two national networks. Following a Supreme Court ruling, NBC was compelled to divest one network. In 1943, candy entrepreneur Edward J. Noble purchased NBC-Blue for $8 million; it was rebranded as the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1946. The NBC-Red network maintained the NBC name under RCA’s ownership until 1986.

For twenty years, NBC’s radio personalities consistently outperformed those of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). However, in 1948, CBS president William S. Paley leveraged tax benefits by encouraging artists to establish corporations that reduced income tax rates from 77% to 25%. NBC’s refusal to adopt this approach led several leading talents—such as Amos and Andy, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, and Frank Sinatra—to switch allegiance to CBS. By 1949, CBS controlled sixteen out of the twenty highest-rated shows, securing dominance that extended into television. Sarnoff regarded these defections as temporary setbacks, emphasizing that NBC’s enduring leadership was founded on service rather than individual stars.

Radio receivers

Following its establishment, RCA served as a sales agent for a limited range of Westinghouse and GE branded receivers and components, initially targeting amateur radio operators. By 1922, the expansion of broadcasting created broader consumer demand, reflected in RCA’s June 1, 1922 catalog titled "Radio Enters the Home". RCA marketed receivers under the "Radiola" brand name, manufactured by GE and Westinghouse under a production split of 60%–40%. Despite patent cross-licensing agreements intended to control the market, intense competition arose; by 1925 RCA lagged behind Atwater Kent in receiver sales. Difficulties coordinating production quotas between GE and Westinghouse impeded RCA’s ability to quickly adapt to industry developments. A significant breakthrough occurred in early 1924 with the introduction of the first superheterodyne receivers, enhancing brand prestige and sales; RCA retained exclusive manufacturing rights until 1930. All RCA receivers operated on batteries until late 1927 when plug-in AC models were launched, further boosting sales.

Vacuum tubes

RCA assumed the position of a leading vacuum tube manufacturer in the United States after acquiring American Marconi’s operations, marketing these products under the Radiotron brand domestically. This segment became highly profitable for RCA, as its robust patent portfolio allowed the company to command higher prices than European competitors, where crucial patents had expired.

In September 1942, RCA initiated work on the clandestine U.S. Navy initiative Madame X at its Bloomington, Indiana facility—one of five sites producing proximity fuse vacuum tubes. These tubes enabled electronic detonation of warheads near targets without requiring direct impact, a technological breakthrough that significantly advanced naval warfare capabilities during World War II.

Among RCA’s vacuum tube advancements were the octal base metal tubes, developed in collaboration with General Electric before World War II, and the compact Nuvistor tubes incorporated into New Vista television tuners. The Nuvistors stood as one of the final major vacuum tube innovations alongside GE’s Compactron tubes, both engineered to rival emerging transistor technology. By 1975, RCA had fully transitioned to solid-state technology in television manufacturing, except for retaining cathode-ray tube (CRT) picture tubes.

Phonographs and records

The emergence of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s posed a significant challenge to the American phonograph record industry. The Victor Talking Machine Company, based in Camden, New Jersey and then the world’s largest producer of records and phonograph devices—including its renowned "Victrola" line—was acquired by RCA in January 1929. This acquisition led to the creation of the RCA Victor Division within the Radio Corporation of America, encompassing Victor’s Japanese subsidiary Victor Company of Japan (JVC) and a controlling stake in England’s The Gramophone Company Ltd. (later known as EMI Records).

RCA’s acquisition included North American rights to the iconic Nipper/"His Master's Voice" trademark. RCA Victor popularized combined radio-phonograph units and developed RCA Photophone, a sound-on-film system competing against Movietone and Vitaphone. Although initially presented as an equal partnership, RCA concentrated more on leveraging Victor’s sales channels and manufacturing operations in Camden rather than focusing on the phonograph record business itself. Post-acquisition, Camden’s production emphasis shifted toward radios while output of Victrola models and records diminished.

Following the 1929 stock market crash and ensuing Great Depression, the U.S. phonograph record industry nearly collapsed, with production nearly halting by the early 1930s. In 1930, RCA Victor introduced the first all-electric Victrola and followed in 1931 with 33 rpm long-playing records; however, these failed commercially due to high costs, inferior sound quality, and rapid wear caused by vinyl-based "Victrolac" discs under heavy tonearms.

In 1934, RCA Victor launched the Duo Jr., an affordable electric turntable designed to be connected to radios. Often sold at cost or bundled with records, this product helped stimulate sales during economic recovery. Around 1935, RCA unveiled the RCA Victor M Special portable record player featuring modernist design by John Vassos, now celebrated as an exemplar of 1930s American industrial design. In 1949, RCA Victor introduced 45 rpm singles to compete with Columbia Records’ successful microgroove 33 rpm LP format launched in 1948. By 1950, RCA had adopted Columbia’s LP format while Columbia subsequently embraced RCA Victor’s 45 rpm single records.

Motion pictures

RCA ventured into the film industry but experienced only modest achievements. In April 1928, RCA Photophone, Inc. was founded by RCA and its partners to advance sound technology for movies. After acquiring shares in Film Booking Office (FBO) in 1927, RCA facilitated the creation of the Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corporation (RKO) in 1928 by merging FBO with Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation (KAO), which owned a chain of movie theaters. These venues served as a platform for RCA Photophone's sound systems. RCA's ownership in RKO increased from roughly 25% in 1930 to 61% by 1932. Nevertheless, due to financial struggles, RKO entered receivership from 1933 until 1940, leading RCA to divest its interests to concentrate on its primary business.

Separation from General Electric

In May 1930, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated legal action against cross-licensing arrangements involving RCA, General Electric (GE), and Westinghouse following antitrust allegations. By 1932, a consent decree resolved these issues, resulting in RCA becoming entirely autonomous. GE and Westinghouse relinquished their ownership stakes, while RCA maintained control over its manufacturing facilities. To aid RCA's market position, GE and Westinghouse agreed to refrain from competing in the radio sector for two and a half years.

Television

The development of television at RCA commenced in early 1929 after Vladimir K. Zworykin persuaded David Sarnoff that a commercial system could be realized with an investment of $100,000. Despite extensive research and considerable funding over several years, RCA showcased an all-electronic black-and-white television system at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Experimental broadcasts began on April 30, 1939, through station W2XBS (later WNBC), transmitting from the Empire State Building. Early television sets such as the TRK-5 and TRK-9 were introduced in New York retail outlets; however, commercial operations awaited FCC approval amid unresolved technical standards.

Following the adoption of National Television System Committee (NTSC) standards, the FCC authorized commercial broadcasts starting July 1, 1941. Although World War II temporarily slowed deployment, television resumed rapid growth afterward. In 1950, the FCC initially approved a CBS color television standard that ultimately failed due to incompatibility with existing black-and-white sets. Subsequently, RCA developed a compatible color broadcasting system employing interlaced scanning technology that allowed simultaneous color and monochrome reception. This system was adopted as the U.S. standard in 1953. Despite Sarnoff’s prediction of sales reaching 1.78 million color TVs annually by 1956, high prices and limited programming resulted in only about 120,000 units sold that year. Leveraging its ownership of NBC, RCA promoted color programming extensively; by 1968, color television sales surpassed those of black-and-white sets.

While Sarnoff commended the technical accomplishments of RCA’s engineers, he showed minimal enthusiasm for popular television content—a stance differing from CBS president William Paley.

RCA's professional broadcast cameras and studio equipment—particularly the TK-40/41 models—became industry standards among many U.S. network affiliates. The CT-100 ("RCA Merrill") color television set played a key role in introducing color TV to consumers.

Diversification

In 1941, RCA founded RCA Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey, under the leadership of Elmer Engstrom. This research center was instrumental in pioneering advancements such as color television, electron microscope technology, CMOS semiconductors, heterojunction physics, optoelectronics, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), videocassette recorders, direct broadcast satellite systems, and high-definition television.

During World War II, RCA shifted focus toward military production with an emphasis on radar and radio equipment. It ranked 43rd among American companies based on military contract volume during the war period. Notably, RCA equipped the battleship USS Texas with a pulse radar operating at 400 megahertz developed by scientist Irving Wolff. After the war ended, RCA expanded into defense and aerospace sectors and staffed installations such as the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line. The company earned five Army–Navy "E" Awards recognizing excellence in production efforts. Additionally, wartime developments led to the independence of Japan's Victor Company (JVC), which retained rights to the 'Victor' name and "His Master's Voice" trademarks within Japan.

In 1955, RCA sold its Estate appliance brand to Whirlpool Corporation, granting Whirlpool rights to market appliances under the "RCA Whirlpool" label through the mid-1960s.

RCA manufactured various devices including oscilloscopes used for radio maintenance. Its Graphic Systems Division provided electronic solutions for printing and publishing industries by marketing adaptations of the Digiset photocomposition system as Videocomp along with a Laser Color Scanner. Supported by Spectra computer systems running Page-1, Page-II, and FileComp software suites, Videocomp’s rights were eventually transferred to Information International Inc.

In 1965, RCA Victor introduced the 8-track tape cartridge, initially achieving strong consumer adoption. However, sales declined during the late 1970s as consumers increasingly favored the Philips-developed 4-track compact cassette tape format instead.

Computers

During the 1960s, RCA ventured into the mainframe computer sector to challenge the dominant force, International Business Machines (IBM). In 1964, Robert Sarnoff envisioned computers as pivotal nodes within a worldwide communications framework that integrated voice, data, and facsimile across multiple platforms. RCA introduced the Spectra 70 series, which was hardware-compatible with IBM's System/360, and later developed the RCA Series to rival IBM's System/370. This technology was licensed to English Electric for use in their System 4 lineup. The RCA TSOS operating system was groundbreaking as the first mainframe OS to implement demand paging alongside virtual memory. Despite substantial capital input, RCA secured only a 4% share of the market by 1971 and faced projected expenditures nearing $500 million over five years to maintain competitiveness. On September 17, 1971, RCA terminated its computer division operations, incurring a loss of $490 million. Shortly thereafter, in January 1972, the UNIVAC division of Sperry Rand acquired this computer segment primarily for its established clientele rather than its product offerings.

Later years

On January 1, 1965, Robert Sarnoff assumed the role of RCA president while his father continued as chairman. He spearheaded a modernization effort that included unveiling a new corporate logo in 1968 and retiring the Victor and Nipper/"His Master's Voice" trademarks from consumer electronics products; however, 'Victor' branding remained on record labels. By 1969, RCA rebranded itself as "RCA Corporation" to better represent its expanding scope and global reach. Due to health reasons, David Sarnoff stepped down as chairman and passed away in 1971.

RCA’s withdrawal from the mainframe computer market marked a strategic pivot toward diversification under Robert Sarnoff’s leadership, aiming to transform RCA into a multinational conglomerate. The company expanded by acquiring various businesses such as The Hertz Corporation (car rentals), Banquet Foods (frozen meals), Coronet (carpeting), Random House (publishing), and Gibson (greeting cards). Nonetheless, this broad diversification resulted in financial difficulties and critiques regarding a lack of clear focus.

Although RCA maintained technological leadership in broadcast and satellite equipment engineering, NBC network profits declined during this period. Under Robert Sarnoff’s presidency, earnings decreased, culminating in his removal through a boardroom coup in 1975 led by Anthony Conrad; Conrad resigned within a year due to tax complications. Edgar H. Griffiths succeeded him but retired in 1981, with Thornton Bradshaw becoming RCA’s final president.

In 1976, Griffiths reinstated Nipper as RCA’s corporate symbol after its prior discontinuation. This trademark reappeared prominently on products, advertisements, and promotional materials throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.

RCA’s ventures into new consumer electronics met with limited success: the RCA Studio II game console (introduced in 1977) was discontinued within two years due to poor market performance. The SelectaVision capacitance electronic disc (CED) system was launched in 1981 after prolonged development delays but failed commercially against the rising popularity of videotape technology, resulting in losses estimated at $650 million before production ended in 1986.

By 1980, RCA began shifting television manufacturing operations to Mexico. In 1981, Columbia Pictures divested its stake in its home video division to RCA; this unit was renamed "RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video" outside North America and "RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video" domestically. In 1983, Bertelsmann purchased half of Arista Records from RCA Records; by 1985 they established the joint venture RCA/Ariola International. After General Electric acquired RCA in 1986, Bertelsmann took full ownership of RCA Records.

RCA remained profitable through 1983 when it transitioned VHS VCR manufacturing from Panasonic to Hitachi. The Broadcast Systems Division moved from Camden to Gibbsboro, New Jersey in 1984 but ceased operations by October 1985. Following this closure, broadcast product lines were either discontinued or sold off; most Camden facilities were demolished except for historic Victor buildings. The Nipper Building has since been repurposed for retail space and luxury apartments.

In 1985, RCA sold The Hertz Corporation car rental business to UAL, Inc. for $587 million.

Re-acquisition and Dissolution by General Electric

In December 1985, General Electric declared its intention to repurchase its former subsidiary for $6.28 billion in cash, equating to $66.50 per share. This transaction, finalized on June 9, 1986, marked the largest merger outside the oil industry at that time. Although GE initially assured that RCA would maintain operational independence, it rapidly divested most of RCA's assets. GE's main objective was to acquire the NBC Television Network along with RCA’s defense divisions.

In 1987, GE divested its 50% ownership in RCA Records to its German collaborator Bertelsmann, integrating it into the Bertelsmann Music Group. RCA Global Communications Inc. was sold to MCI Communications Corporation, while Westwood One took over the NBC Radio Network.

By 1988, Thomson Consumer Electronics secured manufacturing rights for consumer electronics under both RCA and GE brands, in exchange for certain medical business units with GE. The semiconductor segment, including the former RCA Solid State division and Intersil, was sold to Harris Corporation. That same year, the famous RCA Building—commonly known as "30 Rock"—was renamed the GE Building.

In 1991, GE sold its stake in RCA/Columbia to Sony Pictures, which rebranded this division as Columbia TriStar Home Video (currently Sony Pictures Home Entertainment).

The Sarnoff Laboratories transitioned toward an industrial contract research focus under a five-year plan financed by GE before being transferred in 1988 to SRI International as the David Sarnoff Research Center. It was later renamed Sarnoff Corporation and fully assimilated into SRI by 2011.

GE divested its controlling interest in NBC, then part of the multimedia conglomerate NBCUniversal, to Comcast in 2011; Comcast acquired the remaining shares in 2013. Following this transaction, GE retained only its Government Services unit formerly associated with RCA.

In 2022, Thomson’s successor company, Technicolor SA, sold the RCA trademarks to licensing entity Talisman Brands, Inc., operating under Established Incorporated (established.).

Legacy

RCA’s vintage radios and early color television sets such as the RCA Merrill/CT-100 are prized collectibles due to their significance during the golden age of radio, technological advancements, and superior craftsmanship. Pre-war RCA television models from 1939—including the TRK-5, TRK-9, and TRK-12—are especially valued by collectors.

The RCA Heritage Museum was inaugurated at Rowan University in 2012.

The historic RCA Victor Building 17, known as the "Nipper Building" located in Camden, New Jersey, was transformed into upscale residential apartments in 2003.

The RCA connector remains a widely used standard plug and jack format for audio and video cables.

Currently, the RCA brand continues to offer a range of consumer electronics such as 2-in-1 tablets, televisions, telephones, household appliances, and more.

Environmental Concerns

Several former RCA manufacturing locations have been contaminated by industrial pollutants:

A former RCA facility in northern Taoyuan City, Taiwan polluted groundwater with hazardous chemicals, resulting in elevated cancer rates among ex-employees. Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Agency declared the site toxic. Both GE and Thomson funded extensive remediation efforts including soil excavation and water treatment systems. Initially denying liability, RCA’s current owners were ordered by Taipei District Court in 2015 to pay NT$560 million (approximately US$18.1 million) in damages.
An RCA plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, active from the late 1940s until 1986, discharged over 250,000 pounds annually of 1,1,1-trichloroethane. EPA assessments revealed groundwater contamination with trichloroethylene and 1,2-dichloroethylene. Cleanup responsibilities were assigned to General Electric.
Elevated volatile organic compounds were detected beneath the former RCA-operated Intersil Facility in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania during a 1999 investigation.
The site in Burlington, Massachusetts, utilized from 1958 through 1994 for military electronics production and testing by RCA, generated hazardous waste including VOCs such as TCE, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes.
An RCA plant located in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico produced waste containing chromium, selenium, and iron compounds. Chemical waste lagoons drained into a local limestone aquifer. Process water underwent onsite treatment prior to discharge; treatment sludge was stored onsite within drying beds and containment impoundments.

Presidents

Edward Julian Nally, 1919–1923
James Guthrie Harbord, 1923–1930
David Sarnoff, 1930–1949
Frank Marion Folsom, 1949–1957
John Lawrence Burns, 1957–1961
Elmer William Engstrom, 1961–1965
Robert William Sarnoff, 1966–1971
Anthony Lee Conrad, 1971–1976
Edgar Herbert Griffiths Jr., 1976–1980
Maurice Remo Valente, 1980
Robert Rice Frederick, 1982–1987

Board Chairmen

Owen D. Young, 1919–1930
James Guthrie Harbord, 1930–1947
David Sarnoff, 1947–1970
Robert William Sarnoff, 1970–1980
Edgar Herbert Griffiths Jr., 1980–1981
Thornton Frederick Bradshaw Jr., 1981–1987

External links