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Jerrold Electronics

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Jerrold Electronics
Company typeManufacturing company
Founded1948
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
ProductsCable television equipment

Jerrold Electronics was an American provider of cable television equipment, including subscriber converter boxes, distribution network equipment (amplifiers, multitap outlets), and headend equipment in the United States. The company would go on to be one of the first Multiple System Operators (MSO) in the cable business before divesting itself of it's cable properties following an Anti-Trust case brought against it by the United States Government.[1]

History

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The company was founded by future Pennsylvania governor Milton Jerrold Shapp (the company name was derived from his middle name) in 1948.[2] The company was one of the earliest pioneers of community antenna television systems (cable television). The company headquarters was located at 401 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During the course of the 1950's Jerrold Electronics gradually expanded their reach in the CATV sector from purely been a supplier to building turnkey CATV systems for potential operators, who inevitably would also purchase a service agreement with Jerrold. By 1953 the company was claiming to have installed 132 systems across the Unites States, and Fortune Magazine estimated their 1954 revenue at close to $4.5m.[3][4]: 113–115 

In 1960 Jerrold Electronics merged with Harman-Kardon,[5] Sidney Harman would become President and take over the day-to-day operations of the merged entity while Shapp stood back and retained the position of Chairman. However eventually disagreements between the two led to Shapp buying out Harman, who would subsequently go on to take over the Jervis Corporation. In 1967 Harman would successfully buy back the Harman-Kardon business from Jerrold.[6]

Shapp sold the company to General Instrument in 1967. However, the Jerrold brand name continued to be used on equipment into the 1990s.[citation needed]

In the late 1990s, the Jerrold name went out of use, and General Instrument merged with Motorola becoming the Motorola Connected Home Solutions division. Motorola Connected Home Solutions was acquired by Arris in 2012. The equipment was popular with many cable pirates by then[citation needed] and by 2005, most cable companies have discontinued use of Jerrold equipment in favor of digital cable.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "United States v. Jerrold Electronics Corporation, 187 F. Supp. 545 (E.D. Pa. 1960)". Justia Law. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  2. ^ Pierre-Pierre, Garry (November 26, 1994). "Milton J. Shapp Is Dead at 82: Ex-Governor of Pennsylvania". New York Times.
  3. ^ Adventures in small business;. New York, McGraw-Hill. 1957.
  4. ^ Parsons, Patrick (5 April 2008). Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television. Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1-59213-706-0.
  5. ^ "JERROLD ELECTRONICS". The New York Times. 3 September 1960. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  6. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 15 April 1967. p. 66.

Further Reading

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There are a number of sources available covering the history of Jerrold and the cable industry as a whole.

  • Parsons, P. Blue Skies: A History of Cable Television Temple University Press, 2008
    Extensive history
  • Stubbs, G. From workhorse to icon. The 704 Jerrold Field Strength Meter CED Magazine, November/December 2004, p. 42
    History of one notable instrument
  • Taylor, A.S. History Between Their Ears: Recollections of Pioneer CATV Engineers The Cable Center, 2000
    Histories of key engineering staff involved
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  • [1] NCTA (National Cable & Telecommunications Association) History of Cable Television. Washington, DC 2001
    Brief narrative history
  • [2] Archived 2012-01-19 at the Wayback Machine United States: Cable Television The Museum of Broadcast Communications 2001
    Extensive, well documented
  • [3] Young, C. RFMD. CATV Hybrid Amplifier Modules: Past, Present, Future’’ (RFMD Greensboro 2009)
    History of CATV amplifier development
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