Lafayette Radio Electronics

Overview

Lafayette Logo 1965

Lafayette Radio Electronics was a major American electronics retailer, distributor, and manufacturer known for selling radios, amateur radio equipment, CB radios, hi-fi equipment, test instruments, electronic parts, and kits through retail stores and mail-order catalogs. The company became especially well known during the 1950s through the 1970s for its extensive annual catalogs and nationwide retail presence.

According to Lafayette’s 1971 Golden Jubilee Catalog (Catalog 710), the company traced its origins back to 1921. Abraham Pletman served as the company’s original president.

Lafayette Logo 1978

Lafayette operated both retail stores and a large mail-order business. The company sold products under the Lafayette brand as well as equipment manufactured by other companies. Many Lafayette-branded products were produced by Japanese manufacturers including Trio/Kenwood and others.

One notable feature of the company was the “Junk Room,” where returned, discontinued, overstocked, or cosmetically imperfect items were sold at steep discounts. Many items placed there reportedly had little or nothing wrong with them aside from missing packaging or customer complaints.

Lafayette Radio Electronics eventually merged or became associated with companies including Concord Electronics, Wholesale Radio Service Company, and Radio Wire Television Inc.

The company opened a major warehouse store on Jericho Turnpike in Syosset, New York.

Lafayette published its final catalog in 1979 and subsequently ceased operations during the early 1980s.

Technical Specifications

Item	Details
Company Name	Lafayette Radio Electronics
Industry	Consumer Electronics, Amateur Radio, CB Radio, Electronic Components
Founded	1921
Founder/Leadership	Abraham Pletman
Headquarters	Syosset, New York
Business Type	Retail Stores, Mail-Order Catalog Sales
Known For	Electronics catalogs, Lafayette-branded radios, CB equipment, kits, test equipment
Final Catalog Published	1979

Description

Lafayette became one of the most recognizable electronics retailers in the United States during the postwar electronics boom. Their catalogs competed directly with Allied Radio, Radio Shack, and Heathkit catalogs and were widely used by hobbyists, radio operators, technicians, and experimenters.

The company marketed a broad range of products including:

Amateur radio transceivers
CB radios
Shortwave receivers
Stereo equipment
Test instruments
Electronic components
Intercom systems
Antennas
Educational electronics kits

Lafayette-branded communications equipment became especially popular during the CB radio boom of the 1970s.

Historical Timeline

Year	Event
1921	Lafayette Radio Electronics founded
1935	Operations located in Newark, New Jersey and Atlanta, Georgia
1950s	Expanded national catalog and retail operations
1962	Headquarters located at 111 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset, NY
1960s	Expanded Lafayette-branded electronics and communications equipment
1971	Published Golden Jubilee catalog celebrating 50 years
1970s	Operated major warehouse store in Syosset, New York
1979	Published final Lafayette catalog
Early 1980s	Company ceased operations

Historical Addresses