Radiotechnique (French pronunciation: [ʁadjotɛknik] , RT) was a French electronics company that made radio transmitting and receiving vacuum tubes, and later more advanced components such as integrated circuits and solar panels. At first it was a subsidiary of the French Compagnie générale de la télégraphie sans fil (CSF). Later it became a subsidiary of Philips of the Netherlands. The company expanded after World War II, moving into television and electronics, including photovoltaics and printed circuits, and in 1979 had about 15,000 employees. Later it lost market share, went through various restructurings, was sold in 1998 and went bankrupt in 2002.
CSF subsidiary (1919–31) The Compagnie générale de la télégraphie sans fil (CSF) was formed in 1919 as a holding company for the Société française radio-électrique and other subsidiaries in fields related to radio-electricity. Radiotechnique was initially based in Lyon in 1919. The Radiotechnique subsidiary of the CSF was formed in 1919 to research and develop electronic transmission and reception tubes. In 1921 Radiotechnique began to make radio sets at its Suresnes factory. During the 1920s the company made wireless telephony transmitters and receiving sets, receiving tubes (lampes de réception) and amplifiers. Yves Rocard, a graduate of the Ecole Normale, was recruited in 1928 by Roger Julia, the director of the company, and given the task of producing triodes for the new radio sets. Maurice Ponte was hired soon after. The "Radiola" trademark was used for radio receivers as well as for a radio station. Although France was not immediately affected by the Great Depression, CSF felt the effect in 1929 since radio transmission was mainly the result of global commercial activity. In 1929 CSF transferred production of Radiola's consumer radio sets from SFR to Radiotechnique. There was a legal dispute in 1929 between CSF and Philips of the Netherlands over patents for the new radio sets connected directed to the mains electricity, which CSF won. However, CSF made an agreement with Philips under which CSF would drop its amateur equipment line and Philips would not compete on professional equipment.
Philips-CSF joint venture (1931–39)
Radiotechnique was purchased by Philips in 1931. Philips bought only half the shares of Radiotechnique, but in practice fully controlled the subsidiary. CSF used the sale of its stake in Radiotechnique to strengthen its position in the professional sector. Under the agreement with Philips the CSF scientific center left Radiotechnique and moved to Levallois as part of the SFR. Roger Julia was replaced by Henri Damelet, an executive who had joined the company in 1924. CSF remained well-represented on the board of directors, and publicity over the transfer of control was avoided. CSF held 70,000 registered shares while Philips held 70,000 bearer shares via the Midland Bank of London, which was represented on the board by Guy Thurneyssen. The two Radiotechnique factories, making tubes and radio sets, covered a large area on both sides of the Rue Carnot, connected by an underground passage. 93% of the tubes were used for consumer radio sets, the others being used for the PTT, army and other purposes. At the end of 1937 sales volumes were well below expectations and the plant was closed to dispose of stocks. There were 1,200 employees in 1936–37, which fell to 700 in the years that followed. In 1939 CSF still held 49.9% of the capital of Radiotechnique, but Philips controlled the company. Many of the radio sets sold under CSF's former "Radiola" trademark were imported from the Netherlands.
World War II (1939–45)
At the start of World War II (1939–45) Radiotechnique received important orders for radio equipment from the French Army, and increased its workforce to 1,400. The share of tubes for the consumer market fell to 44%. Given the large British participation, when the Germans occupied Paris they considered Radiotechnique to be spoils of war (Beutelager) and requisitioned the Suresnes factory on 24 June 1940. Some of the equipment from the tubes factory was removed. The factory was allowed to resume production of equipment for the telephone network and cheap radio receivers, which were popular with the occupying troops. During 1941 and 1942 at least five German directors were installed in the Suresnes factory. By 1944 there were 2,300 workers, with a large proportion of output going to Germany for civilian or military use.
Post war (1945–2002)
After the war Radiotechnique grew fast. Philips acquired total control of Radiotechnique in 1947. The Suresnes factory in 1951 produced half of France's reception tubes and 30–40% of the wireless telephony receivers. By virtue of its association with Philips it had the financial, technical and commercial resources to enter the television market when it developed in France, and later to enter industrial electronics. This phase was marked by financial restructuring, recruitment and training of managers and technicians, and by geographical expansion of manufacturing facilities. New factories were opened to the west of the Suresnes parent factory. The factory at Suresnes with 2,500 employees was followed by:
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