ELKHART, IN – Local reports noted that Harman’s Crown manufacturing facility in Elkhart, IN will cease its operations in the coming months and that, between now and next June, some 115 workers could be affected. Some may get an opportunity to relocate to Harman sites in Los Angeles or Dallas; others may be eligible for severance arrangements, reports noted.
The Crown amplifier brand has its roots in a company founded by a minister, Clarence C. Moore, called the International Radio and Electronics Corporation (IREC) in 1947.
First producing rugged and compact open-reel tape recorders used by missionaries in remote locations, IREC developed the first tape recorder with a built-in 15-watt amplifier in 1949 and the company’s first solid-state recorder, the SA 20-20, in 1964.
Although IREC faced challenges including a catastrophic fire on Thanksgiving Day in 1971, the business perservered and the company debuted their D-60 amplifier six weeks later.
In 1975, prompted by Moore’s wife and co-founder, Ruby Moore, the company changed its name to Crown International Inc. Crown was acquired by Harman in March, 2000.
For a related story go to http://www.fohonline.com/news/17232
For more information, please visit www.harman.com and www.crownaudio.com.
