The Brand Behind Your RCA Digital Camcorder

When you take out your RCA digital camcorder this weekend to shoot video of your family, friends, or pets, you may find yourself thinking about the history of the RCA Corporation, and you may be surprised who made that camcorder. Is it really RCA?

The History Of RCA

RCA was created as Radio Corporation of America. Once known as the most trusted name in electronics, RCA was formed in 1919 as a publicly held company owned by its corporate parent General Electric.

Historians agree that General Electric's purpose in founding RCA was to create a legal way of monopolizing the emerging, and profitable, radio business in the United States. In its early days, RCA's charter required it to be primarily American-owned. It acquired many patents and was famous for hiding the inner workings of its radios under layers of interior chambers that helped to protect the company from copiers who would steal their technology by reverse engineering.

RCA's First Television

RCA launched its first all-electronic television at the New York World's Fair in 1939, the same year that Gone With The Wind and The Wizard Of Oz became box office legends.

Diversification

As television became more popular, RCA grew in size and revenue. The company diversified in the 1970s, acquiring the Hertz rental car company, Banquet brand frozen dinners and Random House publishing. In 1986, RCA was ripe for a takeover. GE sold its RCA and E brands to Thomson Group in exchange for some of Thomson's medical businesses.

RCA Digital Camcorders Today

Today, RCA digital camcorders are made by Thomson SA, which designs, develops and distributes all of RCA's audio and video products. The brand is still recognized as a strong trademark in the crowded digital camcorder field.

RCA's Small Wonder Video Camcorder has revolutionized the industry, delighting consumers who are tired of lugging around a huge bag full of camcorders and accessories like cables, battery packs, lenses and filters. The RCA Small Wonder digital camcorder is about the same size as an Apple iPod! It uses two AA batteries, which are much easier to purchase and carry around than those heavy battery packs of yesterday.

With RCA's Small Wonder digital camcorder, there is no need for three different connector cables. A USB arm releases from the back of the camcorder. RCA even packs a 1.5-inch LCD display into this tiny camcorder.

As the RCA brand nears its 100th birthday, it demonstrates that it has changed with time and adapted over the years. RCA digital camcorders will be popular for many years to come.

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