Trio-Kenwood — Manufacturer Profile and History
Also see Kenwood and Trio Corporation
Overview
Trio-Kenwood was the export branding used by Trio Corporation of Japan during the transition from the Trio name to the globally recognized Kenwood brand. This dual branding appeared primarily in the 1960s through early 1980s on communications and audio equipment intended for international markets.
Technical Specifications
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Trio-Kenwood (branding) |
| Parent Company | Trio Corporation (later Kenwood Corporation) |
| Founded | Branding introduced circa 1960 |
| Country | Japan |
| Industry | Communications equipment, consumer electronics |
| Key Products | Amateur radios, CB radios, HF/VHF/UHF transceivers, audio equipment |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
Description
The Trio-Kenwood name was not a separate company, but a transitional brand used to bridge recognition between the established Trio name and the newer Kenwood identity in export markets, particularly in the United States.
Equipment from this period may be labeled:
- Trio
- Trio-Kenwood
- Kenwood
This branding overlap is commonly seen on amateur radio transceivers and hi-fi components from the late 1960s and 1970s.
History
- 1946: Company founded as Kasuga Radio Co., Ltd. in Japan
- 1960: Introduction of the Kenwood brand for export markets
- 1963: Company renamed to Trio Corporation
- 1960s–1970s:
- Export products increasingly labeled Trio-Kenwood
- Growth in amateur radio and high-fidelity audio markets
- Late 1970s–early 1980s: Gradual phase-out of Trio name in favor of Kenwood
- 1986: Company officially renamed to Kenwood Corporation
Historical Addresses
- Trio-Kenwood Corporation
Shinogi Shibuya Building 17-5
2-chome Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150, Japan - Trio-Kenwood Communications
111 West Walnut Street
Compton, California 90220, USA
Notable Product Lines
- TS Series — HF transceivers (many early units labeled Trio or Trio-Kenwood)
- TR Series — VHF/UHF transceivers
- Early Kenwood/Trio hi-fi audio components