Gates Equipment Archive

Gates Radio was founded in 1922 by Parker Gates' father, Henry C. Gates. As a pioneering company, Gates invented many different pieces of equipment for the broadcast industry.

(In 1957, Gates Radio was purchased by Harris Corp, although the Gates Radio logo was used until 1975.)

The "SA" model appellation was introduced for the 25th anniversary - "Silver Anniversary" models.

The industry changed a bit in the early 1950s, as many Class IV stations raced to implement a power increase to 1 kW daytime. A number of manufacturers developed low cost transmitters and other equipment specifically to cash in on the "upgrade" fever. As price points were "sensitive," each company tried to provide the "best value," and gear started to be made more cheaply. The term at Gates was "Value Analysis," led by George Dively. During the time when "value" manufacturing hit its peak, in 1957, Gates Radio Company was purchased by Harris Intertype Corporation (now Harris Corporation).

Sadly, Gates Radio began to acquire the moniker "Quincy Tin Works" as it sought ways to cut costs of manufacture. Some commentators remark about the "time line" between early Gates equipment that was "solid, well built, reliable" and "cheap, sort of OK, difficult to maintain" products. This was not said to be in harmony with Gate's reputation.

Phil Alexander notes: "The "Quincy Tin Works" moniker came about through George Diveley's edict to build products at a lower cost once Harris-Intertype bought Gates Radio. Although Parker Gates stayed for 10 more years as President, the major policy directives came from Cleveland. Both cosmetic and cost surgery started with the cabinets. Square corners are so much cheaper than anything more esthetic. Harris insisted on a VA (value analysis) program which was a major buzzword when they bought Gates in the late '50's. Ed Gagnon was their PR honcho at the time and he headed up the program. The directives came from Cleveland, not from Parker Gates. This gave birth to the BC-1T (tin can) succeeded a few years later by the 1G."

In 1975, Harris dropped the "Gates Division" and relabeled the products as "Harris."

Click on picture for larger view
	CC-1
	CC-2
	31 eight channel, including five mic channels the first Gates post-war console
	31A
	31B
	SA-40 9 pot Mono. Nov, 1953 - $1295 (100% tube replacement cost was $25.17) (Interesting note: The control room mic pot was in the center!) This was the predecessor to the "Gatesway"
	SA-50 9 Pot dual mono
	Studioette - The original version
	Studioette - model 51CS or 52CS
	Studioette - 3rd version - 1960s
	Gatesway
	Gatesway 80
	Dualux Dual 9 pot Mono (nine channels, two masters and monitor pot). In 1960, it was $1,795
	Dualux 80
	Dualux II
	The Yard
	Stereo Yard
	Yard II
	Yard 80
	Diplomat Dual Mono/Solid State Restored by: C. Park Stewart Dave Hultsman says: The "Diplomat" was a 10 Channel mono and the "Executive" was a 10 channel stereo snow plow. The first germanium units used the 2N422 as a low level pre-amp. This unit in a mic pre-amp would clip. The later models used a 2N1307 which did not clip as bad.
	Executive Stereo/Solid State 1962-1982 Featured germanium transistors. But ... wow .. that was real early in the solid state era.
	President 1963 Dave Hultsman says: The "President" was great for TV Audio.
	Producer- 4 Pot mono. Usually used for Production or News.
	Stereo Producer - 4 Pot Stereo. Usually used for Production or News. KMLP Radio.
	Ambassador - 5 Pot Mono Console Dave Hultsman says: the "Ambassador" was a great radio newsroom console, also good for TV Audio.. A look at WFIX in 1965
	Stereo Statesman - Five channel, solid state

This is the Gates Radio Section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Last Update 6/21/07

This is the Gates Radio Section of The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by: Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer Last Update 6/21/07

This is the Gates Radio Section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Last Update 6/21/07