Collins

Started in Art Collins’ W0CXX basement in late summer of 1932.

Collins was eventually acquired by defense giant Rockwell.

Rockwell/Collins is still making very nice, usually cutting-edge, equipment, mostly for the military. A number of interesting communication services are still provided out of Cedar Rapids, with clients including Aeronautical Radio, Inc., the US Air Force, and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Art Collins died in 1987. His ham callsign is now being used by the Rockwell-Collins Employees Amateur Radio Club at the company’s home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.