Pentron
Pentron Corporation (Sound, Inc), 777 S. Tripp Ave., Chicago, IL - 1948 -1961
Irv Rossman, 81, executive of an electronics firm, and formerly of Glencoe and Highland Park, died Nov. 25 in his Los Angeles home. Mr. Rossman was chief executive officer of Crest Electronics. The family-owned company has headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., with offices in Los Angeles
Mr. Rossman had worked in the electronics field for more than 50 years. In 1945, he founded the Pentron Corp., which makes wire recorders and later developed and marketed audio tape recorders. Pentron Corp. was one of the largest producers of audio tape recorders carried under the brand names of such firms as Montgomery Ward, Sears, Emerson, Westinghouse and Motorola.
He sold the firm and retired in 1962 when he moved to Los Angeles. Also in 1962 he helped develop the electronic division for Apeco (American Photo Electronic Copier) in Evanston.
Mr. Rossman came out of retirement in 1964 to found and operate Javelin Electronic in Los Angeles, which was among the first firms to produce viewfinder video cameras used in security systems.
He sold that firm and again retired in 1974, but after a few months he founded Crest Electronics Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of closed-circuit television and security equipment to security dealers and installers, which place the equipment in department stores and businesses.
"He was really a pioneer in the electronic industy," said his daughter, Valorie Castelli, vice president of Crest.
In the late 1960s he founded and headed the Closed Circuit Television Manufacturers Association.
Mr. Rossman graduated from Columbia University in the late 1920s.
"He was well-known and widely recognized by his peers for his contributions in the electronic industry," said his grandson, David Castilli, comptroller with Crest.
Besides his daughter and grandson, he is survived by a brother; two other grandchildren; and two great-granchildren.
Private services were held in Greensboro.
Equipment built by Sound, Inc. in 1947 included a radio Model 5R2 and an early amplifier MB7E8. In 1949 Harry A. Momson resigned as Vice President of Ampro, Corp to become VP and Director of Sales of Sound, Inc. In 1950, Pentron Sales Manager Irving Rossman announced that Pentron had acquired the assets and facilities of Sound, Inc., 221 Cullerton, Chicago, Illinois and will conduct future business at that address. By the middle 1950's Pentron had moved to Tripp Ave in Chicago. In 1956, a letter below shows that Irving Rossman eventually became President of Pentron.
Feb 4, 1960
PENTRON ELECTRONICS PROPOSES STOCK OFFERING Pentron Electronics Corporation 777 South Tripp Ave Chicago Ill filed registration statement File 2-16092 with the SEC today seeking registration of 250000 shares of common stock to be offered for public sale at $3 per share through group of underwriters headed by Stanley Belier Co which will receive commissions of $.375 per share plus maximum expenses of $11500 In addition Stanley Belier the senior partner of the underwriter ha purchased 10000 shares of common stock at $.25 per share from Theodore and Irving Rossnan president and Executive vice president respectively which shares also are included in the registration statement The company and its subsidiaries are engaged in the manufacture and sale of magnetic tape recorders amplifiers tape recorder components and related electronic equipment Of the proceeds from the sale of the stock $115000 will be applied to the payment in full of outstanding 67 sinking fund debentures $40000 will be used for plant renovation $35000 for the purchase of new equipment and $30000 for the purchase of tools and dies The balance of the proceeds will be added to general funds In addition to the debentures and other indebtedness the company has outstanding 565000 shares of common stock of which officers and directors own 356677 shares 63.17. Theodore and Irving Rossman own 2227 and 23.77 respectively.
Interesting Time Magazine article on june 9, 1967 (sourced by David Curl) about Pentron stock minipulation 1966.
1959 PENTRON DORMIPHONE TAPE DECK
The following photos were provided by Joseph Lo Monaco
(information from Joseph Lo Monaco's sales listing in 2013) 1959 PENTRON DORMIPHONE TAPE DECK - Here is a vintage Pentron Dormiphone tape deck. The unit works pretty well but needs a tune-up of sorts. The drive motor is strong, but it seems to need a replacement belt. I have the original, but I have a heavy duty rubber band on it right now. The tapes I have are old and are sluggish. The tapes are a continuous loop similar to an old 8-Track tape. New tapes for this are available. Most of the tubes are original Pentron branded tubes. The unit also comes with a microphone and an under-pillow speaker. The programmable timer clock works too. This has the potential to be reworked into a low power guitar amp for those vintage electronics buffs. (6SL7-GT 58-48 274, 12AX7 RCA, 6X5-GT SYLVANIA 913 MBY, 6V6-GT 58-43 274, 6E5 MAGIC EYE TUBE, Speaker 270-640 QUAM NICHOLS) There is some fascinating history behind these machines. They were initially made to learn a new language or to condition yourself to quit smoking while you sleep!!!!!!! Subliminal Sleep Programming. One of the people associated with these machines (Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron) worked for the CIA and was involved in the MK Ultra experiments.
PENTRON COUSINO "ECHO-MATIC II" MODEL E-20 SELF CONTAINED TAPE CARTRIDGE PLAYER
THIS UNIT(right)WAS MADE BY PENTRON COUSINO IN THE 1950'S, A PIONEER IN THE FIELD OF AUDIO TAPE CARTRIDGES. THESE WERE USED PROMINENTLY IN ARCADE GAMES, RIDES,ETC. ( SPECIFICALLY IN THE "GYPSY FORTUNE TELLER" ARCADE AMUSEMENT GAMES). THIS UNIT IS SELF-CONTAINED WITH THE PLAYER MECHANISM, AMPLIFIER AND SPEAKER. IT ALSO HAS A 1'4" INPUT THAT WILL ACCEPT A GUITAR OR MICROPHONE
Photos below provided to our museum by others
We appreciate all photos sent to our museum. We hope to successfully preserve the sound recording history. If we have not credited a photo, we do not know its origin if it was not taken by the contributor. Please let us know if a photo on our site belongs to you and is not credited. We will be happy to give you credit, or remove it if you so choose.
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The following photos of the Pentron T-90 were provided by Johnny Cassidy |
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The following photo of the 1951 military version of the Pentron 9T3 from her Dad was donated by Barbara Maffeo |
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1952 Pentron "Dormiphone" (from SassetteMaster)
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