Chord radio

The first transistor radio to be sold in Germany - the accord Peggie from 1957

Akkord-Radio , complete company : Akkord-Radio, Gerätebau A. Jäger und Söhne OHG was an independent German manufacturer of radios , especially portable radios , from 1948 to 1969 .

Company history

Foundation in Offenbach

August hunters founded in 1948 in the leather city of Offenbach am Main with his sons Hans and Karl the chord radio, instrument A. Hunter and Sons OHG . The company headquarters and production were in Offenbach-Bieber , Am Rebstock 12 in a former factory for leather goods. Hans and Karl Jäger took up the idea of the Offenbach leather suitcase and built their first portable radio model "Akkord Camping".

The first chord model, like its successors up to approx. 1958/59, was equipped with battery tubes (see also electron tube ). In addition to the DCH 25, steel tubes of the 1 series (DF 11, DAF 11; DL 11) were also used. From 1950, Akkord was particularly successful with the "Offenbach" models, which were equipped with the small tubes from the then new 9 series (DK 91, DF 92, DAF 91, DL 92) developed especially for portable radios. The “Akkord Offenbach” radio was available in standard and luxury versions. The case covers made of real leather followed the tradition of Offenbach leather goods. The models were particularly popular with women.

With the “Offenbach 53” in 1953, the first chord portable radio with VHF came onto the market.

Opening of the production in Herxheim

In 1955 they opened Germany's first special factory for portable radios in Herxheim near Landau / Pfalz in the former dance hall of the “Golden Eagle” in Obere Hauptstrasse 47. In 1957, the company's headquarters were relocated from Offenbach to Herxheim.

Computing technology

For a short time, Akkord was also active in the growing field of electronic computing technology: With the Akkord Supertronic , the company launched the first electronic invoicing machine in Germany in 1963 . In 1966 the printing electronic table calculator TRA 20 appeared .

growth

With solid technology, modern design and smart advertising , accordion radios have been sold in over 70 countries. Chord drifted with the manufacturing of transistor the suitcase radios economic development Südpfalz ahead. In the 1960s, the company offered 1,500 women and men jobs in Landau , Herxheim, Edenkoben , Bad Bergzabern , Klingenmünster and Ramberg . At the time, Akkord had particular success with its portable radio mounts for use in cars, as car radios were still relatively expensive. The chord motorette was known for this .

A chord radio was also featured on the BRAVO front page . With names like "Kessy", "Jerry" and "Filou", Akkord also specifically addressed young customers.

Sale to Bosch, Akkord Elektronik

In 1964, Karl Jäger sold his shares to Robert Bosch GmbH . This was followed in 1969 by Hans Jäger, with whom Bosch became sole owner and the company's independent history ended. Until around 1971 Bosch still used the brand under “Akkord Elektronik”. Bosch stopped manufacturing the invoicing machine and closed some Akkord locations.

The Hildesheim Bosch subsidiary Blaupunkt built home (stereo) receivers in the former Landau plant . The Fellbach-based company Wega took over the Herxheim Akkord factory with its subsidiary "Wega-HiFi-GmbH" and produced hi-fi equipment there until around 1979 .

In the Herxheim Museum, more than 60 accord models from 1948 to 1969 are presented in the exhibition, which show the productivity and success of the company.

literature

Müller, Anne: Inquired: "We have built a plant here": Interview with Friedrich Mussler. In: Herxheimer Heimatbrief. - 15 (2005), pp. 87-90. - TREATED PLACES: Herxheim near Landau (Palatinate). - MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION: Industrial company. - Akkord-Radio GmbH; Interview.

swell

Rosa Tritschler: Akkord portable radios. Exhibition music to take away in the Herxheim Museum. Akkord - a company history. From portable radio to data technology . Editor: Institute for Historical Regional Studies at the University of Mainz eV, Hegelstrasse 59, 55099 Mainz (link deleted: http://www.wirtschaftsgeschichte-rlp.de/industrie-handwerk/ae/akkord.html from December 25, 2013 03: 53:47 GMT)
http://www.historische-radios.info/firmen/akkord/firmengeschichte.htm