International Radio Corporation
Pioneering radio manufacturer that created the first AC/DC and clock radios.
The International Radio Corporation (IRC) was an American company that built radio receivers in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was founded in 1931 by Charles Albert Verschoor, a former automobile manufacturer described as a colorful promoter and an inventive go-getter. The initial $10,000 in funding came from Ann Arbor’s mayor, William E. Brown, Jr., along with a group of local business leaders who wanted to create a new company with strong growth and job potential during the Great Depression. IRC set up shop in an old furniture factory at 405 Fourth Street on the city’s west side.
IRC’s first radio, the International Duo, went on sale on August 7, 1931. It was named for its ability to pick up both local longwave and European shortwave signals, and at 14 by 16 by 9 inches, it was much smaller than the typical table radio of the day, which often measured 20 inches long and required a separate speaker. Soon after, IRC introduced the Kadette, the first mass-produced AC/DC radio. This four-tube, six-pound set was small and portable, with an innovative plastic cabinet made of Bakelite. The cabinet, produced by the Chicago Molded Products Company, was cheap to manufacture and gave IRC a solid profit. The Kadette’s circuit design was also new, and its ability to run on either alternating or direct current meant it needed no power transformer, making it cheaper, smaller, and lighter than competing models. It could plug directly into standard household outlets. IRC even sold a kit that let customers modify their Kadettes for battery power in cars and railroad cars, a move that effectively launched the car radio market.
The Kadette’s popularity made IRC profitable almost immediately. By 1933, it was the only company in Ann Arbor still paying dividends to its shareholders. Ann Arbor itself weathered the Great Depression better than Detroit and most other Michigan communities, though lost orders and missed dividends were common elsewhere in the area. IRC followed the Kadette with a string of innovative models: the Kadette Jr., the world’s first pocket radio; the Kadette Jewel, available in five color combinations; the Kadette Classic, built from three different types of plastic; and the Kadette Clockette, a small mantel-clock-style radio offered in four wooden case styles.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Founded
- in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Successor
- Argus, Inc.
- Founder
- Charles Albert Verschoor
- Operating Income
- $2,700,000
- Income Year
- 1937
- Num Employees
- 150
- Num Employees Year
- 1936
- Hq Location City
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Hq Location Country
- United States
- Brands
- Kadette
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
International Radio Corporation was established in 1931 by Charles Albert Verschoor, a former automobile manufacturer described as a 'colorful old-time promoter' and a 'go-getting inventor'. The company was financed with $10,000 raised by Ann Arbor mayor William E. Brown, Jr. and local business leaders seeking job creation during the Great Depression. It operated out of a former furniture factory at 405 Fourth Street.
IRC debuted its first radio, the International Duo, in August 1931, but its breakthrough was the Kadette, the first mass-produced AC/DC radio. This four-tube, 6 lb set featured an innovative Bakelite cabinet and a circuit that eliminated the power transformer, making it cheaper and lighter than competitors. A modification kit allowed it to be used in automobiles, effectively starting the car radio market. The Kadette's success brought immediate profitability, and by 1933 IRC was the only Ann Arbor company still paying dividends.
Later models included the Kadette Jr. (first pocket radio), the Kadette Jewel, the Kadette Classic, and the Kadette Clockette. IRC also introduced the Kadette Autime, the first mass-produced clock radio. In 1937, IRC released a 10-tube Kadette for $19.95, but these sets were criticized for using three ballast tubes that inflated the tube count without improving performance. Dealers faced low profit margins, and many dropped the Kadette line. Verschoor left in 1938, and in 1939 the radio business was sold to former General Sales Manager W. Keene Jackson, whose Kadette Radio Corporation failed within a year.
Reader's Guide
International Radio Corporation's significance lies in its series of pioneering consumer electronics innovations during the 1930s. The Kadette AC/DC radio was a landmark product: by eliminating the power transformer, it made radios smaller, lighter, and cheaper, enabling widespread household adoption. The company's introduction of the first pocket radio and first clock radio further demonstrated its role in miniaturizing and integrating radio into daily life. IRC's seasonal sales challenges led to a notable diversification into cameras, creating the Argus line, which became a successful business in its own right. After World War II, International Industries and its research division became subsidiaries of Argus, Inc., and the International name disappeared. The company's legacy includes both its technical firsts and its demonstration of how a small manufacturer could innovate in a competitive market, though its later 10-tube models and dealer conflicts contributed to its decline. The Kadette name remains associated with early mass-market radio design.
Did You Know?
- IRC produced the first mass-produced AC/DC radio, the Kadette, which could operate without a power transformer.
- The company created the first pocket radio, the Kadette Jr.
- IRC introduced the first mass-produced clock radio, the Kadette Autime.
- The company's diversification into cameras led to the Argus, which became its primary business after World War II.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was International Radio Corporation and who started it?
IRC was a radio receiver manufacturer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, launched in 1931 by Charles Albert Verschoor, a former auto maker known for his inventive and promotional style. The company was seeded with $10,000 from local business leaders, including the city's mayor, who hoped it would generate jobs during the Depression.
What was IRC's breakthrough product?
The Kadette, introduced as the first mass-produced AC/DC radio, was IRC's signature achievement. They followed it with the Kadette Autime, recognized as the first mass-produced clock radio.
Where did IRC operate from?
The company set up its workshop in a converted furniture factory at 405 Fourth Street on the west side of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
How successful did IRC become financially?
At its commercial peak in 1937, IRC recorded roughly $2.7 million in sales, a remarkable figure for a Depression-era startup.
Why does IRC matter in radio history?
IRC is remembered for pioneering two firsts in consumer radio—the mass-produced AC/DC receiver and the mass-produced clock radio—during a period when most sets still required dedicated AC power. Their story also illustrates how local civic investment could spark a new industry in the early 1930s.
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