Fisher Electronics was an American company specialising in the field of hi-fi electronics. The company and the name was bought by Japaneseelectronics conglomerate Sanyo in 1975.
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. In 2000, Fisher's entire product lineup was re-branded as Sanyo. Upon the acquisition of Sanyo by Panasonic in 2011,[7] Sanyo's product lineup was, in turn, 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 – 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[who?] 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.
Under Sanyo ownership, Fisher also commercialized a range of consumer products[13] including
television sets, HiFi VHS recorders,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.
Photo gallery
Fisher Allegro Model X19 Tube 20 watt stereo amplifier and matching FM Multiplex Tuner, c. 1962
Fisher Marketing Brochure and Component Price List circa 1964
Fisher Custom Electra Console – 1967 – Model E-492-W – 21-R Solid State Chassis – 45 Watts – Made in US – Turn Table: Dual 1010 (W. Germany).
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
Fisher 800B Tube Stereo Receiver
Fisher often used the Tuning Eye or "Stereo Beam" and "Stereo Beacon" as shown on the Model 800B
Extremely rare Model 214 FM Multiplex Tube Tuner made by Fisher and sold with Realistic badging through RadioShack stores c. 1962
Fisher MC-3010 Integrated Component System (Receiver and 8-Track Player/Recorder Combo c. 1975)
A Fisher Electronics record player and tape deck, without speakers
Fisher PC-367WS television set, manufactured 1987
References
^Fisher, Avery. "Avery Fisher". Created by N. Brewer 2008-08-13. IEEE Global History Network. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
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