The Circuit That Made Radio Commercially Possible

Truly one of the classic electronic designs of the 20th century, American electrical engineer and physicist, Louis Alan Hazeltine (b. Aug. 7, 1886, Morristown, N.J., U.S. d. May 24, 1964, Maplewood, N.J.), invented the 'neutrodyne' circuit in 1922 while under contract to the U.S. Naval Yard outside Washington, D.C.. Professor Hazeltine's invention effectively neutralized the high-pitched squeals that plagued early radio sets.

Hazeltine patented his Neutrodyne circuit, offered it to independent manufacturers under license, and thus provided consumers with a vastly improved radio set, that broke the patent stranglehold that RCA then held on the commercial radio industry.

Radios bearing the Neutrodyne label would come to have a significance beyond their technical advances.

The Independents begin to Compete

Classic Early Radio Designs from The Independent Radio Manufacturers, Inc.

Some truly timeless and beautiful radio designs and cabinets arose from the revolutionary neutrodyne design.

RCA's monopoly on radio circuitry patents had caused stagnation in early radio design. Independent companies like Freed-Eisemann, Fada, WorkRite, and Garod, now freed to compete with their own licensed designs introduced some of the most beautiful and innovative radios ever seen into the Amercian marketplace.

WorkRite, Garod, and Fada, in particular produced some of the most enduring, classic radio designs and cabinets in radio history.

c. 1923