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Watt Radio is founded in 1924 in
Turin in Via Cibrario 39 in the San Donato
district on the initiative of Giuseppe Soffietti
called Rag.
G. Soffietti & C., by acquiring a factory
producing electrical equipment.
The activities are primarily focused on the production and sale
of spare parts for radios. |
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In 1928, the company is a limited
liability company under the name Watt Radio,
Fabbrica Conduttori Elettrici Isolati S.A.
From then on the company makes complete radio equipment and in the following
year launches model Watt Triumph, followed by
the compact model Watt Small.
In 1932 the Rapsodo is introduced, a superheterodyne receiver
with 8 tubes. |
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In the thirties, the production
of Watt Radio extended to other categories of
equipment, such as low frequency amplifiers,
photoelectric cells, and electro-acoustic
devices such as microphones.
Watt Radio is now one of the most important Italian industries
in the field of household electronic products. |
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During World War II the factory
is seriously damaged, caused by the bombing of
the capital of Piedmont.
The activities resumed in 1948, now also in the
field of television.
In collaboration with RAI it begins with experimental
television broadcasts, leading in 1954 to the
first broadcast transmissions of Turin Eremor,
"Channel C". |
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In 1958 the company transformed
into a limited partnership, the name changes to
Watt Radio S.a.s. di G. Soffietti & C., and its head office and factory are
moved to a new building in Via Bistagno 10 in
the Santa Rita district. |
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Watt Radio makes the first full-color TV in Italy (which is
also present at the "International Exhibition of
Radio and Television" in Milan in 1964). |
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In the seventies, the company is
in difficulties, caused by aggressive foreign
competition. Shortly thereafter this situation leads to the liquidation of
the company. |
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In 1975 the brand was taken over
by Piemonte Elettronica S.r.l. of
Alfonso Cassin and Francesco Novarese with headquarters and
factory in Brandizzo, Turin, where television
sets are produced and in the nineties decoders
for pay television. |
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The company later becomes Watt
Radio Srl, located since 2000 in Beinasco.
Currently it sells and repairs
LCD TVs and LEDs. |
