Date:    October 2, 2005

To:    Suzie Null

From:    Eric Liskay

Subject:    Company Study and Product History For GPX AM/FM Radio Receiver

 

This memorandum focusses on the company GPX, Inc. and the history of a particular AM/FM Stereo Receiver model number A2935. The serial number for our particular radio is 2510181641. The headquarters is located on 900 N 23rd Street, St. Louis, MO 63106. The phone number given for their address is (314) 621-3314. For customer service, the e-mail address prodinfo@gpx.com is given. For sales, the e-mail address salesinfo@gpx.com is listed. Although the company was not very helpful in finding information for the model A2935 AM/FM radio, they still may be able to provide information on newer similar products.

GPX, Inc. was previously called Dick Proctor Imports and was founded in 1971. The company was founded, and the headquarters still resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Dick Proctor Imports started out by importing consumer electronics from Asia. In 1973, the company created the Gran Prix Electronics division. At this point, the company began to make products using the name “Grand Prix”. The name of Dick Proctor Imports and the product brand name was changed to GPX, Inc. in 1985. GPX, Inc. continued to grow and expand over the next decade. In 2004, GPX was acquired by Synergy Enterprises, LLC.

The first portable AM/FM radios like the product made by GPX started with the transistor radio. The transistor allowed the miniaturization of radios so that they could be carried in one’s pocket. GPX was not one of the first companies to utilize this technology but followed later with their own products. Our group attempted to contact GPX about our product but failed to obtain any information on the product. One group member telephoned the company and got the response the the company no longer keeps information on old products. Upon e-mailing ProdInfo@gpx.com, GPX responded, “A2935 is very very old - do not have any information regarding it other than AM/FM radio.” Why the company doesn’t keep information on old products is unclear. It could be because electronics go out of style and are replaced so frequently by newer products. It could also be because the company switched from paper to computers in the middle 1980s and product information didn’t get transferred. No patent information on GPX’s portable radios could be found either. Based on a Vendor Index site for Gran Prix Electronics, the model A2935 AM/FM radio sold for $32.00 each.

Currently, radios have gotten small enough to fit them on a pen. Most of GPX’s current radio lineup have more features than just being able to play the radio. The GPX A2935 that I studied was large enough that it could have been a tape player. It was also rather ugly and square compared to newer products. Some additional features that GPX now offers on their radios are flashlights, rechargeable batteries, LCD displays, clocks, radios built into headphones, waterproof radios, and ones that can access NOAA weather channels. GPX also offers shower radios with mirrors. Along with AM/FM radios, GPX now sells XM radios. MP4, MP3, and portable CD players are more common these days than radios. Most newer audio devices are multi-function and allow the user to listen to the radio, or play a CD.