VEF

VEF, Latvian acronym for Valsts elektrotehniskā fabrika (State Electrotechnical Factory), is a manufacturer of electrical and electronic products in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1919. Before World War II it manufactured large variety of goods, including Minox - then the world's smallest camera. After the war it was the leading communication technology producer in the Soviet Union and the largest factory in Latvian SSR.[1]

For the Venezuelan bolívar fuerte, whose currency code is VEF, see Venezuelan bolívar.
For the aviation speed VEF, see V speeds.
For sports clubs, see VEF Rīga.
Valsts elektrotehniskā fabrika (VEF)
Industryelectronics
Founded1919
Defunct1999
HeadquartersRiga, Latvia

History
Street view of VEF's oldest buildings.

VEF was established in April 1919 as Postal and Telegraph Department's repair workshops. It was named (Latvian: Pasta un telegrāfa virsvaldes galvenā darbnīca) (PTVGD). In 1924 the factory was moved for the first time, and in 1928 moved again to its VEF's current location. The factory buildings were built in late 19th and early 20th century and span a city block. Before World War I the buildings were owned by 1887-established factory UNION.[1] The company was renamed to VEF in 1932.[2]

In 1922 PTVGD started to manufacture phones. In 1924 it started producing crystal-detector radios.[1] In 1928 it began producing automatic telephone exchanges. They bought the license from Mix & Genest to produce small volume (for 100, 200, 300 numbers) and large volume (1000, 2000 numbers) switchboards. Telephone exchange in Riga and Latvia's populated places were upgraded with equipment manufactured by PTVGD until 1940.[2] During the 1930s the monthly production of PTVGD included 500 phones and 400 exchanges.[1] By the 1930s the factory produced all electronics that had any market demand - communication devices, phones, light bulbs, cameras, irons, radios, flashlights, as well as photo paper, work-tables, and even airplanes.[1][3] They also repaired cars.

VEF entered the world market in 1936 with the development of the Minox subminiature camera, designed by Walter Zapp (Latvian: Valters Caps). It was the world's smallest camera at the time.[1]

Between 1928 and 1933 VEF also produced a small, inexpensive car.

During World War II the factory was looted and several buildings were blown up. The factory was repaired after the war and it quickly recovered. During the 1960s VEF produced seven radios receivers and five phones every minute and two out of three phones in Soviet Union were produced by VEF. It also manufactured highly demanded transistor-based radios "Spīdola" and in the 1970s — "VEF".[1]

During the Soviet period, VEF specialized in electronics and was a part of Latvia's electronic industry, which supplied the former Soviet Union with telecommunications equipment and electronics for the military. The five largest state companies were VEF, Radiotehnika, Elfa, Komutators and Elar (which produced components for the other four). In its peak in 1991, VEF employed 20,000 people. Its best known products were telephones, telephone exchanges and radios.

The Latvian electronics industry had trouble competing with Western companies when the markets were opened in the early 1990s. Cited problems included poor service and product quality. Attempts to restructure these companies were not successful and their combined production fell more than 90% between 1993 and 1997. VEF was divided into six smaller companies, most of which no longer exist. Three remaining ones, VEF un Ko, VEF TELEKOM and VEF Radiotehnika RRR, employ between 100 and 200 people each.

In 1999 the factory was privatized and reorganized.[1]

Product Line-up
VEF Minox subminiature camera

Cameras
Famous 1960 Spīdola, Soviet first portable short wave receiver

Radios

And a lot more

Phones
  • VEF-TA

The VEF-TA had many different versions that ranged from classic style rotary phones to modern push button key pad.

VEF-MIKRO 1024 personal computer

Computers
  • VEF ORMIKA
  • VEF-1022
  • VEF-MIKRO 1024
  • VEF-MIKRO 1025
VEF-MIKRO 6025 Keyboard

Computer hardware
  • 5.25" Floppy Disks Reader Mikro 5625
    Keyboard Mikro 6025
  • 5.25" Floppy Disks Reader Mikro 5625
VEF I-12 airplane

Aircraft

Motorcycle
VEF-MIKRO 1025 Personal computer

See also

References
  1. Rikards, Normunds (February 4, 2009). "Ieskats VEF vēsturē" [A look into VEF's history]. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  2. Ločmelis, Jāzeps. "Pirms 75 gadiem" [75 years ago] (in Latvian). Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  3. "Latvija 20.gs" [Latvia in 20th century] (in Latvian). Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
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