Curtis Mathes Corporation

Founded	1957
Founder(s)	George Curtis Mathes
Industry	Electronics
Products	Television
Employees	5,000 (peak)
Parent	Connor and Mathes (est 1919)
Website	http://www.curtismathes.com/

Curtis Mathes was a North American electronics retailer based in Garland, Texas, specializing in the sale of private label brand electronics and repair services. They operated a television manufacturing facility located at the southeast corner of the intersection of FM 2495 and State Highway 31 in Athens, Texas. Curtis Mathes operated the site until July 31, 1982, when they ceased all operations at this location. Curtis Mathes filed Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on January 27, 1992, and was granted reorganization on September 1, 1992.

It was known for its commercials proclaiming itself "The most expensive television set in America; and darn well worth it". It is also credited with bringing about longer warranties. Curtis Mathes products carried a 4 year warranty on parts and labor.

[edit] History

The Curtis Mathes Corporation started in 1919 as Connor and Mathes, a manufacturer and retailer of automobile and tractor parts. By the late 1920s, the company moved into the air conditioning industry, manufacturing wooden cabinets and eventually furniture, acquiring Hub Furniture in 1942.

It was in 1957 that the Curtis Mathes Corporation was founded; this is when they moved into the television industry.

On June 2, 1983, the chairman, George Curtis Mathes Jr, 54, died along with twenty-two other passengers in the Air Canada Flight 797 fire, which started in a rear lavatory.

After the death of its founder, the Curtis Mathes brand began to die a slow death. It went from a peak of 5000 employees and seven manufacturing facilities to about 50 employees when it was sold to Enhanced Electronics in 1988. At the time of this sale, it was the last remaining fully US owned electronics company. It was during this time that the TV set formerly known as the most expensive began marketing itself through Kmart, a discounter.

The company once sold equipment sourced from Matsushita, Pioneer, Thomson, Samsung, Daewoo, Toshiba, and other manufacturers. The brand also appeared briefly in the late 1990s to early 2000s as an in-house brand for Kmart Corporation.

As of late 2007, Curtis Mathes has re-emerged with products at several retailers such as Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Meijer and Target.

[edit] External links

• http://www.curtismathes.com/
• http://www.curtismathes.com/index1.html