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Air King
Products Company During World War Two
Brooklyn, NY
1932-1950
This page updated 10-25-2022.
Air King was located in
Brooklyn, NY and manufactured AM radios for the consumer market starting
in 1932. The Air King radio (model 66) was groundbreaking for its time
in both plastics and radio design. Before 1933, it had the largest
Bakelite molded housing ever produced. For other models, Plaskon was
the plastic housing material of choice. Among American radios, Air King
was a standout compared to its wooden predecessors. The end result was
smaller, fashionable, yet relatively inexpensive radios that could be
consumed on a mass scale and were not restricted to the wealthy upper
class. Later, Air King made radios for Silvertone (Sears), GE, and
other companies, and also sold radios under their own name.
There is little
documented history regarding Air King’s wartime production. However, the
following artifacts illustrates their expertise. After World War Two,
the company continued to manufacture radios along with wire recorders
and television receivers.
The Air King Products Company won the
Army-Navy "E" award one time during World War Two.
Air King Products Company World War Two
Products: During World War Two, Air King was an exclusive
supplier for the U.S. Navy. It produced $9,819,000 worth of
communications, sonar, radio, and motor generator equipment for the
Navy, the majority of it in the last nine months of the conflict.
Table 1 - Air King Company's
Major World War Two Contracts
The information below
comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply
Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945." This was
published by the Civilian Production Administration,
Industrial Statistics Division. Table added 4-2-2022. |
|
Product |
Contract Amount |
Contract Awarded
|
Completion
Date |
| Communications
Equipment - Navy |
$1,000,000 |
2-1942 |
10-1943 |
| Sound Signal
Apparatus - Navy |
$2,260,000 |
9-1943 |
9-1944 |
| Radio Sets - Navy |
$115,000 |
2-1944 |
2-1945 |
| Test Sets TS 182
- Navy |
$1,665,000 |
11-1944 |
10-1945 |
| Radio Equipment
TC 813 - Navy |
$63,000 |
12-1944 |
3-1945 |
| Radio Equipment -
Navy |
$973,000 |
12-1944 |
7-1945 |
| Interrogators BM1
- Navy |
$261,000 |
1-1945 |
7-1945 |
| Rectifier Power
Units - Navy |
$242,000 |
3-1945 |
7-1945 |
| Transmitter Power
Units - Navy |
$127,000 |
4-1945 |
8-1945 |
| Radio Equipment -
Navy |
$766,000 |
4-1945 |
11-1945 |
| Rectifier Pr
Units - Navy |
$402,000 |
6-1945 |
12-1945 |
| Transmitters
Receivers -Navy |
$1,150,000 |
6-1945 |
8-1945 |
| Motor Generators
- Navy |
$634,000 |
7-1945 |
3-1946 |
| Motor Generators
- Navy |
$161,000 |
7-1945 |
1-1946 |
| Total |
$9,819,000 |
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This World War Two receiver transmitter
combination was built by Air King Products. It is on display
at the Vermilion County War Museum in Danville, IL. The Vermilion
County War Museum has one of the best displays of World War Two radios
and test equipment that I have found. It is well worth a visit for
the military historian and persons interested in American military
history. Author's photo.
This is a type CDP-46159-A radio receiver
serial number 467. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
This is the matching type CKP-52245-A
transmitter serial number 467. Author's photo.
What is interesting about this transmitter
is that it has a data plate with the Hamilton Radio Corporation on it,
indicating the two-radio set is a Model TCS-13 with serial number 797.
It appears that Hamilton Radio was the prime contractor for the
equipment and then subcontracted the actual construction of the
equipment to Air King Products. The U.S. Navy accepted the Model
TCS-13 on April 27, 1944. The Hamilton Radio Corporation also
received the Army-Navy "E" award one time during World War Two.
Author's photo.
This is a Model BM-2 Navy Transceiver is
part of the Jim Grybowski radio collection. The three pieces of
equipment from top to bottom are: CKP-46ADN receiver, CKP-50AEH
modulation monitor, and CKP-35ABF power oscillator. Photo courtesy
of Jim Grybowski added 10-25-2022.
The BM-2 was accepted by the U.S. Navy on
July 17, 1945. The contract NXSR-88825 matches to the entry on the
Major Contracts listing for Interrogators BM1, awarded January 1945, for
$261,000. Photo courtesy of Jim Grybowski added 10-25-2022.
This BM-2 was most likely never put into service as it was accepted by
the U.S. Navy on July 27, 1945. It would have become war surplus
and sold for $89.50. Photo courtesy of Jim Grybowski added
10-25-2022.
The historical record shows that Air
King Products was located at 1523-1529 63rd Street, Brooklyn, NY.
This Google Maps Street View shows the location of the two three-story
buildings the company occupied.
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