Gates Radio Company
Parker Gates was a radio enthusiast. At the age of 14, he developed a five-tube radio receiver and sold it for $275. His parents, Henry C. Gates and his wife, Cora B., helped Parker found Gates Radio and Supply Company in 1922 at their Quincy, Illinois apartment.
According to the Quincy Herald-Whig archives, Parker's early inventions included a sound machine that was used in movie houses all over the country, along with the first transcription turntable in 1929. A few years later, he invented a remote amplifier, which enabled radio stations to broadcast events live from outside the station. And in 1933 he invented a smaller version of his condenser microphone as well as the first radio station master console and the first radio broadcasting transmitter.
Gates would often use model numbers on his products to honor others. For example, the CB in the CB-77 turntable was to honor his mother, Cora B. Gates.
The industry changed a bit in the early 1950s, as many Class IV stations raced to implement a power increase to 1 kW daytime. A number of manufacturers developed low cost transmitters and other equipment specifically to cash in on the "upgrade" fever. As price points were "sensitive," each company tried to provide the "best value," and gear started to be made more cheaply. The term at Gates was "Value Analysis," led by George Dively.
Gates Radio Company was purchased in 1957 by Harris Intertype Corporation (now Harris Corporation) and Parker stayed on as President. In 1975, Harris dropped the "Gates Radio Division" and re-labeled the products as "Harris." 
Gates died on September 16, 1986 at his home in Quincy, IL
In 1992, Harris Corp. held a 70th anniversary celebration for the Gates division, naming a street in Quincy in honor of Parker Gates.
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Gates Radio Company
Company: Gates Radio Co. Founded: 1922 Location: Quincy, Illinois Principal: Parker Gates Born/Died: 1907-1986 1st Transmitter: 1936 Acquired: 1957 by Harris Favorite Quote: Historic Products Click on an image to go to that page and see more.  Gates Factory 1948  CB-11 1952  Spotter Tape Player 1959  Dualux 1960  Gatesway 1961  Diplomat 1965  Gatesway 80 1971  Dualux II 1975 Gates Radio links: http://www.bobmayben.com/ http://www.oldradio.com/ http://www.radioblvd.com/BCMICS.htmGates%20Factory.htmlTurntables.htmlCarts.htmlDualux.htmlGatesway.htmlDiplomat.htmlGatesway%2080.htmlDualux%20II.htmlhttp://www.bobmayben.comhttp://www.oldradio.comhttp://www.radioblvd.com/BCMICS.htmshapeimage_2_link_8shapeimage_2_link_9shapeimage_2_link_10
About Harris Corporation Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. With headquarters in Melbourne, Florida, the company has annual sales of over $3 billion and more than 13,000 employees - including 5,500 engineers and scientists - dedicated to the development of best-in-class assured communications (tm) products, systems, and services. The company's operating divisions serve markets for government communications, RF communications, broadcast communications, and microwave communications. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.http://www.harris.comshapeimage_3_link_0
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