Built By Whom?

[Theophilus Punoval]

Does anyone have concrete knowledge about who was the manufacturers of Realistic stereo receivers? For example, I have an STA 85, STA 120 (available in the fall of 68), STA 2000 and a STA 2080. Someone told me he thought the 85 was built by Hitachi but I'm more interested in more definite information.

 

[Bodyblue]

I have an STA 85 (love it BTW) and I have been told it was a Hitachi build as well but when I opened it up to change the bulbs, I could see no evidence of that. RS used several different vendors over the years one of them was Foster. I believe that the units with the slider volume/balance controls like the 85 were all Hitachi built.

 

[ggregg]

Most, 75% or so, were Foster built during the classic solid state era. Some early seventies ones were Hitachi, some later ones, from the 1980's, were Pioneer. Foster is nothing to sneeze at, they made Stereotech for McIntosh. They could make it as good or bad as the customer wanted. RS had them build good competitive gear.

 

[ggregg]

The STA-180 I had, top of the line from 1972, was Hitachi built but not sure on the others mentioned. Lots of Realistic models had slider volume controls so I don't think that's the determining factor. The STA-180 was filled with Hitachi parts.