About the Company
Craig was not a traditional deck manufacturer like Akai, TEAC, Revox, etc. Instead, it was primarily a U.S. consumer electronics brand that imported, rebadged, and sometimes assembled reel‑to‑reel tape recorders in the 1960s.
Craig — U.S. Brand of Reel‑to‑Reel Recorders
Brand: Craig
Corporate Name: Craig Electronics / Craig Corp.
Country: United States (originally Los Angeles, California)
Founded: 1963 (as Craig Electronics; brand roots in earlier family business)
Reel‑to‑Reel Production: 1960s – early 1970s
Market: Consumer / portable / budget audio equipment
Technology: Transistorized and hybrid audio products sourced from Japanese OEMs (Sanyo, Pioneer, etc.)
Craig was best known in the 1960s as a brand name under which affordable reel‑to‑reel tape recorders were sold in the U.S. and some export markets. Rather than designing mechanisms from scratch, the company imported Japanese manufactured decks and sold them under the Craig label, and in some cases did quality control and local final assembly to navigate U.S. import tax rules.
Company Background
The Craig brand traces back to the family‑run Craig Movie Supply Company and Craig – Panorama in Los Angeles; later it became Craig Electronics and then Craig Corp. after reorganizing in Delaware in 1963.
Under T. Robert Craig Jr., the company shifted focus toward consumer electronics, including tape recorders, stereos, calculators, and later car audio and 8‑track players.
Craig’s fortunes shifted away from open‑reel decks as cassette and 8‑track formats gained popularity, and its brand eventually moved into low‑cost electronic goods beyond audio.
Reel‑to‑Reel Tape Deck Era (1960s – Early 1970s)
Craig’s reel‑to‑reel deck presence was centered in the 1960s, when consumer interest in open‑reel tape recorders peaked and Japanese OEMs could supply compact, solid‑state designs that U.S. brands could rebadge affordably.
Typical Strategy
Craig sourced tape decks from Japanese manufacturers such as Sanyo and Pioneer, rebadged them, and sold them under the Craig brand in department stores and mass‑market retail.
Some local final assembly and quality control was done in the U.S. during the 1960s to reduce tariffs; by the early 1970s this largely ceased as import practices changed.
Known Reel‑to‑Reel Models
Craig sold a variety of budget to mid‑range open‑reel decks, notable mostly among vintage collections rather than hi‑fi specialists. Examples include:
Craig 212 – A portable transistor reel‑to‑reel recorder with up to ~3.5″ reel capacity and built‑in amp/speaker; typical specs show 1 7/8 and 3 3/4 ips speeds and mono track system.
Craig 2403 – A stereo open reel tape recorder (4‑track/2‑channel) with support up to 7″ reels, multiple speeds, and modest performance typical of consumer decks of the era.
Collectors and vintage users sometimes note that many Craig decks, including the 212, were rebadged Sanyo models common in the U.S. during the 1960s.
Market Position & Reputation
Consumer Focus:
Craig’s reel‑to‑reel models were entry‑level to mid‑range consumer products, ideal for basic home recording, playback, and general use.
Their affordability made them popular with hobbyists and general users, though Craig decks were not usually regarded as high‑end or professional equipment.
Brand Reputation:
Enthusiasts consider Craig decks like the 212 fairly common and straightforward to service.
Over time, Craig pivoted away from reel‑to‑reel tape decks and toward car audio, 8‑track systems, and eventually low‑cost consumer electronics.
Decline of Open‑Reel Era
By the early to mid‑1970s, Craig’s involvement in reel‑to‑reel tape decks faded as:
Cassette and 8‑track formats dominated home and car audio.
The company focused more on portable audio and automotive entertainment systems.
Local assembly diminished and the Craig name became more associated with budget consumer electronics into the 1980s and beyond.
By 1985 the original Craig Corp. sold its assets, and the brand continued under new owners primarily as a low‑cost consumer electronics label rather than as a reel‑to‑reel audio producer.