15 Facts About Lafayette Radio

Lafayette Radio Electronics Corporation was an American radio and electronics manufacturer and retailer from approximately 1931 to 1981, headquartered in Syosset, New York, a Long Island suburb of New York City.

Lafayette Radio sold radio sets, Amateur radio equipment, citizens band radios and related communications equipment, electronic components, microphones, public address systems, and tools through their company owned and branded chain of retail outlets and by mail-order.

Lafayette's main competitors were Radio Shack, Allied Radio, Heathkit, and "mom and pop" radio dealers throughout the United States.

Lafayette Radio advertised heavily in major US consumer electronics magazines of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly Audio, High Fidelity, Popular Electronics, Popular Mechanics, and Stereo Review.

Lafayette Radio offered a free 400-page catalog filled with descriptions of vast quantities of electronic gear, including microphones, speakers, tape recorders, and other components.

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In 1981, Lafayette Radio entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and sold its New York area stores to Circuit City.

Lafayette Radio made major investments in what were called sound rooms to demonstrate hi-fi equipment, using custom switch panels and acoustic treatments in an attempt to duplicate a home listening environment and offer fair comparison with an assortment of branded hi-fi gear.

Lafayette Radio's buyers had firm commitments to accept delivery of thousands of older design units capable of only 23 channels, and were not able to liquidate the inventory without taking a serious loss.

Lafayette Radio was hurt by the advent of electronics retailers relying on aggressive marketing techniques and competitive pricing in the late 1970s.

Lafayette Radio filed for bankruptcy in 1981 and most Lafayette stores in the state of New York closed by the end of the year.

Several Lafayette Radio stores were purchased by Circuit City of Richmond, Virginia.

Science kits were popular, and Lafayette Radio offered the "Novatron", a "Miniature Atom Smasher", Model F-371.

Lafayette Radio offered TV vacuum tube testing, for customers who wanted to service their own televisions.

Lafayette Radio was quick to jump on industry trends, embracing first open reel tape recorders and later 8-track cartridge recorders and compact cassette recorders, along with an array of gimmicks, supplies, and accessories.

Lafayette Radio sold a variety of electronic musical equipment made by different manufacturers.