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Black Radio (Surveillance) Receiver Companies

There were dozens of radio companies in hot pursuit of government contracts emering from the agencies and the DOD during the Cold War. This is table is a sampling based on information I'be encountered in the course of my research.

There are many links between clusters of these companies. Information will be added as time allows.

Astro Communication Labs Pioneer in solid-state surveillance receivers founded by CEI engineers	Apcom Surveillance receiver systems and accessories	Applied Communications Acquires Norlin Communications to enter the surveillance radio market
Clarke Instruments Where the Cold War history of surveillance radios begins	Communication Electronics, Inc - CEI The pre-eminent Cold War surveillance receiver company founded by Ralph Grimm	Cubic Communications Interesting radios from a solid competitor
Defense Electronics, Inc Founded by engineers who fled Nems-Clarke as Vitro acquired and sank it	R. L. Drake, Co Limited forays into the surveillance market	E-Systems Absorbed Ling-Tempo-Vought (LTV) and their aerial surveillance platforms
General Electronics Laboratories Cambridge, MA based telemetry receiver manufacturer	Harris RF Communications Turning a Racal USA design into a communication workhorse	Interad Limited Radio company started by former Watkins-Johnson employees
Ling-Temco-Vought Systems integrator using custom equipment made by CEI (and others) for aerial surveillance platforms	F. G. Mason Engineering Custom shop producing quirky equipment for clandestine uses	Micro-Tel Wideband surveillance receiver company
Nems-Clarke Designed and manufactured first surveillance receivers	Norlin Communications Interesting radios from a short-lived competitor	Racal USA Esteemed UK radio firm makes a foray into US market
Reaction Instruments Fascinating equipment from a short-lived competitor	Ralph. E. Grimm, Co Last gasp for a giant in the surveillance radio industry	Rohde und Schwarz Not a player in US agency market but a tough competitor for foreign contracts
SciComm Short-lived competitor owned by Andrew Government Products	Vitro Electronics Nems-Clarke after conglomerate takeover (engineers flee and start many new successful companies)	Watkins-Johnson West Coast microwave tube company diversifies into radios and becomes highly respected in the industry
	WJ Communication Electronics Technology East Coast division of WJ built on the acquisition of Ralph Grimm's CEI