Fisher Electronics

Fisher Electronics was a United States company specialising in the field of hi-fi electronics. The company and the name was bought by Japanese electronics conglomerate Sanyo in 1975.

Fisher Electronics
Sanyo Fisher
TypeCorporation
IndustryElectronics
FateMerged with Panasonic Corporation of North America
Founded1945 in New York City
Defunct2012 in New York City
ProductsAudio-Visual and communication equipment, Hi-fi equipment, Home appliances
Websitewww.fisherav.com
A Fisher Electronics record player and tape deck, without speakers

History

Fisher Electronics was an American audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945 by Avery Fisher in New York City, New York. Originally named the Fisher Radio Corporation, the company is considered a pioneer in high fidelity audio equipment. Fisher initially developed, manufactured and marketed high-performance audio products under the trade name "The Fisher".[1]

In February 1969, Emerson Electric announced plans to purchase Fisher Radio.[2][3] To purchase Fisher, Emerson initially agreed to exchange 736,000 shares in a transaction worth approximately $75 million.[4] Emerson later agreed to pay approximately $37 million in stock to acquire Fisher.[5] The purchase was completed later that year.[6] Emerson subsequently sold Fisher to Sanyo Electric of Japan in 1975, where it remained until 2010 when Sanyo was purchased by Panasonic.[7] But the Fisher brand was phased out owing to the termination of Sanyo by Panasonic in 2012. Fisher's product lineup was eventually re-branded as Panasonic.[8] Avery Fisher remained as a consultant for Emerson and Sanyo.

Fisher is generally known to be the first company to introduce separate audio components. Originally, hi-fi systems were integrated all into one chassis.

The Fisher

The Fisher was the brand name for high-end, high quality hi-fi electronic equipment manufactured in New York by The Fisher Radio Corp. during the "golden age" of the vacuum tube, which was named after the company founder, Avery Fisher.[9][10][11]

During this period, similar brands were H.H. Scott, Marantz, Harman Kardon, and McIntosh. Some of the early 1960s models were also available as kits. Fisher tube equipment is considered quite collectible today.

Fisher's first receiver was the model 500, a mono AM/FM receiver using two EL37 output tubes. It had a brass-plated face panel and an optional mahogany or "blonde" wooden case. This early mono receiver should not be confused with the later stereo tube receiver models, the 500B and 500C.[9] These later receivers made in the early 1960s were stereo using push-pull 7591 output tubes. They were also sold with optional wood cabinets and had aluminum faceplates instead of the brass on the earlier 500 receiver.

Well-known models include (but are not limited to):

  • FM-1000/FMR-1 Broadcast Monitor Tuner, considered one of the best tube tuners, collectible[12]
  • FM-200-B Tuner - VERY similar to FM-1000 above but for home use
  • FM-100-B Tuner
  • 800 Series Receiver A,B,C, AM/FM, 7591A outputs
  • 500 Series Receiver A,B,C, FM only, 7591A outputs
  • 400 Series Receiver, FM only, 7868 outputs, similar to model 500, but with fewer features
  • X-1000 Series Integrated Amplifier
  • X-200 Series Integrated Amplifier
  • X-100 Series Integrated Amplifier

The Fisher was also used on Fisher's early US made solid-state equipment, such as the model 210 receiver.

Fisher FM tuners and receivers often used similar designs and components thus allowing parts to be swapped between various models. A good example is the FM stereo multiplex decoder module.[9]

Fisher was the first to introduce stereo receivers with four channels. These innovations were brief and occurred in the mid-1970s which some consider The Second Golden Age of High Fidelity. Like many new concepts of the time such as Beta Format and VHS, there were two competing four channel formats. One was CD-4 and the other was SQ. Neither was successful as the purist found separation from highly defined loudspeakers and low distortion receivers and amplifiers.

At the time the concept of a sub-woofer was in its infancy. Now, it is common to see 5+1 systems which had their heritage in the "confrontation" of four-channel and stereo high fidelity coupled with a sub woofer.

Other consumer products

Under Sanyo ownership, Fisher also commercialized a range of consumer products[13] including

  • television sets, projectors and DVD players, digicams and surveillance equipment
  • audio systems and dictation machines, mobile devices and phones
  • household machinery and air conditioners

In particular, the air conditioning business of Sanyo and Fisher brands was unified in 2000 under the Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning Co. Ltd. scheme,[14] to end up eventually in 2011 with the buyout from Panasonic.

  • Fairly rare Fisher Allegro Model X19 Tube 20 watt stereo amplifier and matching FM Multiplex Tuner, circa 1962
  • Fisher Allegro A19 Tube Tuner and Model X19 Amplifier as removed from "portable console"
  • Circa 1962 Fisher Model 800B AM/FM Tube Stereo Receiver 32 watts per channel - $429.00 list price
  • Fisher 800B Tube Stereo Receiver
  • Fisher often used the Tuning Eye or "Stereo Beam" and "Stereo Beacon" as shown on the Model 800B
  • Typical Fisher marketing brochure from this period - circa 1964
  • Extremely rare Model 214 FM Multiplex Tube Tuner made by Fisher and sold with Realistic badging through RadioShack stores circa 1962
  • Fisher MC-3010 Integrated Component System (Receiver and 8-Track Player/Recorder Combo circa 1975)
  • Fisher PC-367WS television set, manufactured 1987

References
  1. Fisher, Avery. "Avery Fisher". Created by N. Brewer 2008-08-13. IEEE Global History Network. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  2. "Emerson Buys Fisher Radio". The Miami News. February 5, 1969. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  3. "Emerson-Fisher Radio Merger Approved". Democrat and Chronicle. February 6, 1969. Retrieved March 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "News". Detroit Free Press. February 22, 1969. Retrieved March 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Emerson To Pay $37 Million For Radio Firm". The Pittsburgh Press. February 25, 1969. Retrieved March 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Emerson Will Stress New Product Search". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 11, 1970. Retrieved March 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Panasonic Announces that it Makes Sanyo its Wholly-owned Subsidiary through Share Exchange" (PDF). December 21, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  8. Milligan, Paul (November 29, 2011). "Sanyo name to cease by April 1, 2012, Panasonic tells partners". AV Interactive.
  9. Breuninger, Peter (June 2005). "Fisher 500-C vintage stereo receiver". Stereophile Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  10. Ad for The Fisher Statesman. Life Magazine. 24 February 1967. p. R1. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  11. Hoffmann, Frank W.; Ferstler, Howard (2004). Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound, Volume 1. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-93835-8.
  12. Salvatore, Arthur. (December 2009). Vintage Components: Recommended Components. high-endaudio.com; High-End Audio Ltd. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  13. Harris, Michael R. (November 22, 2004). "SANYO FISHER LOWERS PRICE OF FVD-C1 CAMERACORDER TO $699". SANYO Fisher Company. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  14. Sprague, Gary (July 20, 2015). "Sanyo Heat Pumps and Air Conditioning". furnacecompare.com. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
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