Quasar (brand)

Quasar is a North American brand of electronics, first used by Motorola in 1967 for a model line of transistorized color televisions.^{[citation needed]} These televisions were well-known for containing all serviceable parts in a drawer beneath the television's cabinet.^{[citation needed]} Soon, it was established as its own brand, with all Motorola-manufactured televisions being sold as Quasar by Motorola.

Quasar Electronics, Inc.

On May 29, 1974, Motorola, Inc., sold its television manufacturing division — including its plants in Pontiac, Illinois; Franklin Park, Illinois; and Markham, Ontario — to Matsushita, who continued production of home television receivers under a newly incorporated entity, Quasar Electronics, Inc., an American managed subsidiary of Matsushita Electronic Corporation of America (MECA). Motorola continued to operate its plant in Quincy, Illinois for two years (until 1976) at which time ownership of the plant passed to the new company. Later, Quasar Company, the sales company, was split off from Matsushita Industrial Company, the manufacturing entity.

Corporate names

• Quasar Electronics Corporation — incorporated January 12, 1976, in Delaware
• Quasar Electronics Corporation — incorporated January 22, 1976, in Illinois
• Panasonic Corporation of North America; incorporated January 14, 1974, in Delaware

CEOs of Quasar

Bob Greenberg

• Alex Stone
• F. Jack Pluckhan

In the media

A 1990 episode of Frontline, the PBS news program, claims that the Matsushita acquisition of Motorola's Consumer Division was the beginning of the downfall of the US television industry. The program claimed that Matsushita's acquisition was nothing more than a ruse designed for Japanese-made sets, and sets assembled of Japanese parts, to avoid tariffs, with sets under the Quasar brand still being considered "domestically made", although Quasar's engineering and manufacturing division was being scaled-down.

In the late 70s Quasar Company was established as a sales operation, with Matsushita Electric doing the manufacturing, in Franklin Park, IL. The latter manufactured both television receivers and microwave ovens.

In 1989, Richard Kraft, former President of Matsushita Electric, became the first American President of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, Quasar's parent company.

As of 2005, the Quasar name has limited use in North America, either being affixed to discontinued products from the Panasonic line or more value-oriented products than Matsushita's Panasonic brand, being sold in such places such as drug stores and supermarkets.^{[citation needed]} It was rumored that Matsushita planned to discontinue the Quasar brand. Quasar Company ceased to exist in 2004.

See also

• Electronics

External links

• A transcript of the 1990 Frontline episode (transcribed and left-wing editorialized by Tom Mathes and Louis LeClerc)