The Kodel Radio Corporation, John Leming, Copyright 2010
The Kodel Radio Corporation was one of the largest of the original radio manufacturing businesses in Cincinnati. Kodel, owned and operated by Clarence Edward Ogden, was developed from the Automatic Electrical Devices Company. Ogden began his company manufacturing vibrating reed rectifiers to support the need to maintain batteries used in large commercial electric trucks. He had been connected in selling trucks of this nature working as manager for the glow electric company, and at one point was district manager for Walker electric trucks. On October 8, 1917 he filed with the Secretary of State for Incorporation of the Automatic Electrical Devices Company. In the next two years the business grew to the extent that Ogden had to relocate from a small loft to a large building on West Third Street. One reason for the rapid growth was that the company was commissioned by the War Department for the development and manufacturing of special rectifying equipment for the Army.
By the close of the war, orders fell off sharply for much of the equipment and to support the company, Ogden decided to join the radio manufacturing market. He employed the help of his brother Perry, and many friends including John Church (founder and owner of Harmony Radio), who he named Chief Engineer. By April 1924 a radio and circuit were ready to introduce. The radio was a one tube small compact non-regenerative receiver that used 15 feet of aerial and ground wire with a compression type condenser. It was enclosed in a small case covered with leatherette similar to a Kodak camera. By June 1924 the set designated as model "P-11" was ready for the market. Original advertising appeared labeling the set "The Camera of Radio". It has been said that the name Kodel was derived from "Kodak", however, in an interview with Clarence Ogden's daughter, she clarified that the name was actually derived from a combination of her Father and Mothers names, Clarence and Della. The original combination was "Codel" and when Clarence decided he did not like the name to begin with a "C" he changed it to a "K" making it "Kodel" The Kodel trademark was filed with the United States Patent Office May 27, 1924, and was accepted and published in the official Gazette on August 26, 1924. new company was formed as the Kodel Manufacturing Company and the P-11 made its debut in the Cincinnati Enquirer radio section on June 8, 1924. The article ran just one week after Crosley introduced the all-new 51P portable in a similar article. Testing was completed by the Radio Digest Illustrated Labs and they ran a feature article on operating and troubleshooting the new set on July 5, 1924. Statistics released by the company reported that production ranged from 800 to 2000 sets per day by mid July. By October 1924, Kodel began introducing an additional line of radio sets. Advertising caught the eye of those who were interested in quality at a low price. Kodel claimed to have a "radio for every purpose and any purse". The new line included the S1 Crystal set, the original P11 one tube portable, the P12 two tube portable, he P14 four tube portable, the C11 one tube table model, the C12 two tube table model, the C13 three tube table model which, incidentally, claimed to give 5 tube volume due to reflex amplification, and the C14 four tube table model. Optional equipment available included a battery cabinet that could be used with all sets, but fit perfectly under the C14 as a matched set. The original models were all encased in thin wood cabinets covered with black leatherette. Engineering specifications identified the materials used in construction to be of the highest caliber. Dial panels were made from Genuine Formica and were purchased directly from the Formica plant in Cincinnati. Knobs, tube sockets and rheostats were molded from genuine Bakelite and all carried the Kodel trademark and a part number. The audio transformers were wound around a core of laminated silicon steel with number 44 wire, and the top side sported a plate that carried the Kodel name and slogan "Compare the Quality." Radio frequency transformers were wound with green silk wire around the core of genuine Formica. Kodel Engineers claimed that the variable condensers were the simplest and most efficient low loss condensers on the market. The advertising department was careful to advise that the new Kodel Manufacturing Company was under the same management that made the "Homcharger" famous. The Homcharger continued to be manufactured by the Automatic Electrical Devices Company until January 1925 when both companies were merged into one and the name was changed to Kodel Radio Corporation. At the time of incorporation, the company was reportedly worth two million dollars and was the second largest manufacturer of medium priced receivers in the world.
1925 was without a doubt, the most active year at Kodel as far as radio and radio manufacturing was concerned. Clarence Ogden made the prediction that this would be radio industry's greatest year. He also noted that through surveys done by the Kodel staff, the public was interested in better class merchandise and a wide selection of programs that fans could choose from through the use of a good tube set. During the first quarter, Kodel reported that they had produced and sold over 50,000 radio sets. Production schedules increased to twenty-four hours per day and several new models were introduced. The C13 and C14 were carried over and additionally offered as a C113 and C114 model enclosed in solid mahogany cases. In addition two new amplifiers were offered, a one tube introduced as model A11 and a two tube offered as model A12. Kodel Chief Engineer John Church and Engineer Perry Ogden were busy completing plans for the release of an all new 5 tube set, scheduled for release just in time for Cincinnati's "First Annual Radio Exposition", scheduled to take place in Music hall during the week of March 9th. On March 8, the Cincinnati Enquirer published a special "Radio Show Number" and among the latest Fada Neutrodyne's, Radiola Superhetrodyne's, and Crosley Trirdyne's, came the Kodel Radio Corporation's announcement introducing the "Logodyne".
The Logodyne Big five (CL-5) was initially introduced in an advertisement that proclaimed the set to be "radio's most beautiful and efficient receiver". The circuit was designed with two stages of tuned radio frequency, the famous Kodel detector circuit and two stages of audio amplification. The sub panel was black Formica, fully engraved in unique gold scrollwork by the Veri-chrome Lab process. The cabinet was constructed of mahogany and finished in brown tone with a satin finish. A companion article declared that the Kodel Company was interested in seeing Cincinnati become as outstanding in radio development as Detroit had become in the auto industry. One month later, Kodel released a smaller version of the Big Five designated the "Standard Five". The front panel and sub-panels were smaller and one filament rheostat was eliminated.
In addition to the new models introduced, headlines were made again on March 18, when the announcement came that the Kodel Radio Corporation had purchased Radio Station WMH from the Ainsworth Gates Radio Company. Rumors of the possible sale had been circulating among the broadcasting community for several weeks before the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that they had made contact with the Radio Supervisor of the Eighth District to confirm the sale. Possession was to take place immediately and Clarence Ogden reported that he would make changes in equipment that would include the purchase of additional apparatus from the Western Electric Company. Upon takeover, the call letters for WMH would be changed and an application was being submitted to adopt WKRC. The studios were to remain in the new Alms Hotel and would be completely renovated and enlarged during the summer months. The purchase price was not discussed but the Cincinnati Enquirer released a figure of fifty thousand dollars. Ogden told the public that expectations for the station would place it among the most prominent in the nation with equipment and power to provide "coast to coast range". He also noted "as radio manufacturers and battery eliminator manufacturers, we felt it a duty to provide entertainment and diversion to the people who buy radio equipment".
Leo Ainsworth of the Ainsworth Gates Radio Company reported that he needed to sell WMH so that he could devote his time solely for the manufacture of Radio receivers. This, of course, was short lived due to his untimely and tragic death just one year later. On March 20, a dinner was given by The Kodel Radio Corporation at the Hotel Havlin to officially introduce WKRC to the public. Clarence Ogden took the opportunity to again speak his opinion on Cincinnati's prominence in the manufacturing field and paid tribute to the Crosley Corporation and the other men of Radio in the community. He introduced his Patent Attorney, and company secretary Arthur Ewald, His chief Engineer John Church, His publicity manager J. L. Koons and his new Station Manager and Studio Director, Eugene Mittendorf. Mittendorf reported that WMH would officially close March 27 and WKRC would open April 7.
The purchase of WMH and the renovation of the Alms studios was one of many projects in process at Kodel in early 1925. Production of receivers and plans for additional models made it inevitable that additional floor space or new headquarters would be required. A site was chosen in the basin area of downtown Cincinnation Pearl Streetand renovation and expansion began immediately. A meeting of Kodel executives from all over the world took place in Cincinnation July 5, 1925 to show off the new plant and production began there on July 6th. The building was six stories high with three one-story "wings". Shipping and receiving was accommodated by the installation of a rail spur from the local yard. The roof of the building had an antenna system similar to those at WKRC. The front of the building had a crest at the top center with the new "KRC" logo, which also began to appear on all of the receiving sets manufactured from the Pearl Street factory.
Kodel released two new console models for the season. The first based on the Logodyne big 5, had a massive 4-legged cabinet with doors on the left and right and a center fold down desk panel, which opened to reveal the panel. The right door covered the built-in speaker and left door opened to reveal the batteries and charger. The Standard Five Console was introduced and was of the same design as the Big Five only on a slightly smaller scale with no center drop down panel. The Big Five Console sold for $275.00 and the Standard Five sold for $165.00.
The Standard Five and Big Five models were also released in panel assembled kit form, and the Standard Five model was used as the base set for the new "Unitrola" model which was designed as a replacement unit for the phonograph motor board in console and table phonographs. The motor board was removed and the Unitrola bolted in place. The Kodel reproducer unit mounted to the Phonograph horn turning the unit into a Radio.
Another change in the 1925 season was use of the "Gold Seal" name being applied to the crystal set and small tube sets that were still being produced. Kodel was offering one horn speaker model denoted as the "Deluxe Amplifier" and also sold a solid mahogany cabinet style amplifier that incorporated a special tone chamber. Possibly the best known release for 1925 was the Microphone Loudspeaker model incorporating the Kodel reproducing unit in an exact replica of the transmitting microphone used at broadcasting stations. Two models were released which were identical with the exception of the reproducer unit. One model housed the Kodel Jr. unit for $15.00 and the other housed the regular unit for $20.00 The Kodel advertising department began introducing the new line up in a bi-weekly series of 2-page ad's that began running in Liberty magazine. The layouts included the new "KRC" logo, the statement of ownership for WKRC that included a drawing of the towers, and a slogan "KRC The Emblem of Worth in Radio". The slogan also began to appear on the dials of voltmeters used in homcharger production. The ad's also prompted the public to send for a free 16-page booklet titled "The Secret To distance and Volume In Radio"
If Clarence Ogden had any obsessions in life, there has never been any doubt that one was his search for the ultimate rectifier. 1926 was a year of transition for Kodel. The manufacture of Radio sets was beginning to become overshadowed by the desire to become industries leading manufacturer of direct current power devices. The major design problem for radio had been the lack of cheap automatic power. Batteries were bulky and messy and required constant charging. Kodel of course, was a leading manufacturer of good home charging equipment, but alternating current was
becoming a normal household item and the public needed a device that could convert that power into a useful source to operate a radio without the need for batteries. The homcharger could not fit the requirement because the vibrating reed created noise and interference. Ogden's internal Engineering staff, in conjunction with the Engineering staff at the University of Cincinnati, selected a design using transformers, filter capacitors and a Tungar bulb for the first power unit released in 1926. By March, an A unit, B unit and combination A&B unit were released to the public. The combination unit furnished 2, 4 or 6 volt filament currents and 22 ½-150 volts for the plate voltage. The units were housed in very heavy stamped metal cases with attractive plated hardware.
Radio production at the plant remained at a steady pace during the first half of 1926 and Kodel released two new receivers using the new method of single control tuning. Tuning was accomplished via synchronization of all three condensers driven off of the center. The outer two condensers retained a vernier adjustment. The Standard Five receiver received the first upgrade and a new name "The Kodel Unitrol Standard Five". An all-new receiver that employed six tubes was introduced as the "Kodel Big Six Unitrol". Both sets appeared in the Radio Dealer issue for July 1926, and these sets appear to have been the last of the radio models designed and introduced by Kodel. The company did introduce a new version of the reproduction microphone speaker that doubled as a speaker and lamp. The Kodel Radio Lamp sold with the speaker unit installed for twenty-six dollars and as a lamp only, for nine dollars and seventy-five cents.
During the last few months of 1926, the Kodel staff made a decision to examine the future of radio production. The decision was made to abandon radio because of the enormous demand for charging equipment and battery eliminators. By December, Kodel was liquidating radio's and radio parts, and clearing floor space to accommodate orders.
By the close of the war, orders fell off sharply for much of the equipment and to support the company, Ogden decided to join the radio manufacturing market. He employed the help of his brother Perry, and many friends including John Church (founder and owner of Harmony Radio), who he named Chief Engineer. By April 1924 a radio and circuit were ready to introduce. The radio was a one tube small compact non-regenerative receiver that used 15 feet of aerial and ground wire with a compression type condenser. It was enclosed in a small case covered with leatherette similar to a Kodak camera. By June 1924 the set designated as model "P-11" was ready for the market. Original advertising appeared labeling the set "The Camera of Radio". It has been said that the name Kodel was derived from "Kodak", however, in an interview with Clarence Ogden's daughter, she clarified that the name was actually derived from a combination of her Father and Mothers names, Clarence and Della. The original combination was "Codel" and when Clarence decided he did not like the name to begin with a "C" he changed it to a "K" making it "Kodel" The Kodel trademark was filed with the United States Patent Office May 27, 1924, and was accepted and published in the official Gazette on August 26, 1924. new company was formed as the Kodel Manufacturing Company and the P-11 made its debut in the Cincinnati Enquirer radio section on June 8, 1924. The article ran just one week after Crosley introduced the all-new 51P portable in a similar article. Testing was completed by the Radio Digest Illustrated Labs and they ran a feature article on operating and troubleshooting the new set on July 5, 1924. Statistics released by the company reported that production ranged from 800 to 2000 sets per day by mid July. By October 1924, Kodel began introducing an additional line of radio sets. Advertising caught the eye of those who were interested in quality at a low price. Kodel claimed to have a "radio for every purpose and any purse". The new line included the S1 Crystal set, the original P11 one tube portable, the P12 two tube portable, he P14 four tube portable, the C11 one tube table model, the C12 two tube table model, the C13 three tube table model which, incidentally, claimed to give 5 tube volume due to reflex amplification, and the C14 four tube table model. Optional equipment available included a battery cabinet that could be used with all sets, but fit perfectly under the C14 as a matched set. The original models were all encased in thin wood cabinets covered with black leatherette. Engineering specifications identified the materials used in construction to be of the highest caliber. Dial panels were made from Genuine Formica and were purchased directly from the Formica plant in Cincinnati. Knobs, tube sockets and rheostats were molded from genuine Bakelite and all carried the Kodel trademark and a part number. The audio transformers were wound around a core of laminated silicon steel with number 44 wire, and the top side sported a plate that carried the Kodel name and slogan "Compare the Quality." Radio frequency transformers were wound with green silk wire around the core of genuine Formica. Kodel Engineers claimed that the variable condensers were the simplest and most efficient low loss condensers on the market. The advertising department was careful to advise that the new Kodel Manufacturing Company was under the same management that made the "Homcharger" famous. The Homcharger continued to be manufactured by the Automatic Electrical Devices Company until January 1925 when both companies were merged into one and the name was changed to Kodel Radio Corporation. At the time of incorporation, the company was reportedly worth two million dollars and was the second largest manufacturer of medium priced receivers in the world.
1925 was without a doubt, the most active year at Kodel as far as radio and radio manufacturing was concerned. Clarence Ogden made the prediction that this would be radio industry's greatest year. He also noted that through surveys done by the Kodel staff, the public was interested in better class merchandise and a wide selection of programs that fans could choose from through the use of a good tube set. During the first quarter, Kodel reported that they had produced and sold over 50,000 radio sets. Production schedules increased to twenty-four hours per day and several new models were introduced. The C13 and C14 were carried over and additionally offered as a C113 and C114 model enclosed in solid mahogany cases. In addition two new amplifiers were offered, a one tube introduced as model A11 and a two tube offered as model A12. Kodel Chief Engineer John Church and Engineer Perry Ogden were busy completing plans for the release of an all new 5 tube set, scheduled for release just in time for Cincinnati's "First Annual Radio Exposition", scheduled to take place in Music hall during the week of March 9th. On March 8, the Cincinnati Enquirer published a special "Radio Show Number" and among the latest Fada Neutrodyne's, Radiola Superhetrodyne's, and Crosley Trirdyne's, came the Kodel Radio Corporation's announcement introducing the "Logodyne".
The Logodyne Big five (CL-5) was initially introduced in an advertisement that proclaimed the set to be "radio's most beautiful and efficient receiver". The circuit was designed with two stages of tuned radio frequency, the famous Kodel detector circuit and two stages of audio amplification. The sub panel was black Formica, fully engraved in unique gold scrollwork by the Veri-chrome Lab process. The cabinet was constructed of mahogany and finished in brown tone with a satin finish. A companion article declared that the Kodel Company was interested in seeing Cincinnati become as outstanding in radio development as Detroit had become in the auto industry. One month later, Kodel released a smaller version of the Big Five designated the "Standard Five". The front panel and sub-panels were smaller and one filament rheostat was eliminated.
In addition to the new models introduced, headlines were made again on March 18, when the announcement came that the Kodel Radio Corporation had purchased Radio Station WMH from the Ainsworth Gates Radio Company. Rumors of the possible sale had been circulating among the broadcasting community for several weeks before the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that they had made contact with the Radio Supervisor of the Eighth District to confirm the sale. Possession was to take place immediately and Clarence Ogden reported that he would make changes in equipment that would include the purchase of additional apparatus from the Western Electric Company. Upon takeover, the call letters for WMH would be changed and an application was being submitted to adopt WKRC. The studios were to remain in the new Alms Hotel and would be completely renovated and enlarged during the summer months. The purchase price was not discussed but the Cincinnati Enquirer released a figure of fifty thousand dollars. Ogden told the public that expectations for the station would place it among the most prominent in the nation with equipment and power to provide "coast to coast range". He also noted "as radio manufacturers and battery eliminator manufacturers, we felt it a duty to provide entertainment and diversion to the people who buy radio equipment".
Leo Ainsworth of the Ainsworth Gates Radio Company reported that he needed to sell WMH so that he could devote his time solely for the manufacture of Radio receivers. This, of course, was short lived due to his untimely and tragic death just one year later. On March 20, a dinner was given by The Kodel Radio Corporation at the Hotel Havlin to officially introduce WKRC to the public. Clarence Ogden took the opportunity to again speak his opinion on Cincinnati's prominence in the manufacturing field and paid tribute to the Crosley Corporation and the other men of Radio in the community. He introduced his Patent Attorney, and company secretary Arthur Ewald, His chief Engineer John Church, His publicity manager J. L. Koons and his new Station Manager and Studio Director, Eugene Mittendorf. Mittendorf reported that WMH would officially close March 27 and WKRC would open April 7.
The purchase of WMH and the renovation of the Alms studios was one of many projects in process at Kodel in early 1925. Production of receivers and plans for additional models made it inevitable that additional floor space or new headquarters would be required. A site was chosen in the basin area of downtown Cincinnation Pearl Streetand renovation and expansion began immediately. A meeting of Kodel executives from all over the world took place in Cincinnation July 5, 1925 to show off the new plant and production began there on July 6th. The building was six stories high with three one-story "wings". Shipping and receiving was accommodated by the installation of a rail spur from the local yard. The roof of the building had an antenna system similar to those at WKRC. The front of the building had a crest at the top center with the new "KRC" logo, which also began to appear on all of the receiving sets manufactured from the Pearl Street factory.
Kodel released two new console models for the season. The first based on the Logodyne big 5, had a massive 4-legged cabinet with doors on the left and right and a center fold down desk panel, which opened to reveal the panel. The right door covered the built-in speaker and left door opened to reveal the batteries and charger. The Standard Five Console was introduced and was of the same design as the Big Five only on a slightly smaller scale with no center drop down panel. The Big Five Console sold for $275.00 and the Standard Five sold for $165.00.
The Standard Five and Big Five models were also released in panel assembled kit form, and the Standard Five model was used as the base set for the new "Unitrola" model which was designed as a replacement unit for the phonograph motor board in console and table phonographs. The motor board was removed and the Unitrola bolted in place. The Kodel reproducer unit mounted to the Phonograph horn turning the unit into a Radio.
Another change in the 1925 season was use of the "Gold Seal" name being applied to the crystal set and small tube sets that were still being produced. Kodel was offering one horn speaker model denoted as the "Deluxe Amplifier" and also sold a solid mahogany cabinet style amplifier that incorporated a special tone chamber. Possibly the best known release for 1925 was the Microphone Loudspeaker model incorporating the Kodel reproducing unit in an exact replica of the transmitting microphone used at broadcasting stations. Two models were released which were identical with the exception of the reproducer unit. One model housed the Kodel Jr. unit for $15.00 and the other housed the regular unit for $20.00 The Kodel advertising department began introducing the new line up in a bi-weekly series of 2-page ad's that began running in Liberty magazine. The layouts included the new "KRC" logo, the statement of ownership for WKRC that included a drawing of the towers, and a slogan "KRC The Emblem of Worth in Radio". The slogan also began to appear on the dials of voltmeters used in homcharger production. The ad's also prompted the public to send for a free 16-page booklet titled "The Secret To distance and Volume In Radio"
If Clarence Ogden had any obsessions in life, there has never been any doubt that one was his search for the ultimate rectifier. 1926 was a year of transition for Kodel. The manufacture of Radio sets was beginning to become overshadowed by the desire to become industries leading manufacturer of direct current power devices. The major design problem for radio had been the lack of cheap automatic power. Batteries were bulky and messy and required constant charging. Kodel of course, was a leading manufacturer of good home charging equipment, but alternating current was
becoming a normal household item and the public needed a device that could convert that power into a useful source to operate a radio without the need for batteries. The homcharger could not fit the requirement because the vibrating reed created noise and interference. Ogden's internal Engineering staff, in conjunction with the Engineering staff at the University of Cincinnati, selected a design using transformers, filter capacitors and a Tungar bulb for the first power unit released in 1926. By March, an A unit, B unit and combination A&B unit were released to the public. The combination unit furnished 2, 4 or 6 volt filament currents and 22 ½-150 volts for the plate voltage. The units were housed in very heavy stamped metal cases with attractive plated hardware.
Radio production at the plant remained at a steady pace during the first half of 1926 and Kodel released two new receivers using the new method of single control tuning. Tuning was accomplished via synchronization of all three condensers driven off of the center. The outer two condensers retained a vernier adjustment. The Standard Five receiver received the first upgrade and a new name "The Kodel Unitrol Standard Five". An all-new receiver that employed six tubes was introduced as the "Kodel Big Six Unitrol". Both sets appeared in the Radio Dealer issue for July 1926, and these sets appear to have been the last of the radio models designed and introduced by Kodel. The company did introduce a new version of the reproduction microphone speaker that doubled as a speaker and lamp. The Kodel Radio Lamp sold with the speaker unit installed for twenty-six dollars and as a lamp only, for nine dollars and seventy-five cents.
During the last few months of 1926, the Kodel staff made a decision to examine the future of radio production. The decision was made to abandon radio because of the enormous demand for charging equipment and battery eliminators. By December, Kodel was liquidating radio's and radio parts, and clearing floor space to accommodate orders.