Charles Avnet | |
---|---|
Born | 1888 |
Died | 1979 (aged 90–91) |
Known for | Founder of Avnet |
Spouse | Celia Avnet |
Children | Lester Francis Avnet Norman Avnet Robert Avnet Lillian Avnet Marks |
Family | Jon Avnet (grandson) |
Charles Avnet (1888–1979) was an American businessman who founded electronics parts distributor Avnet.
Avnet was born to a Jewish family in 1888 in Russia. [1] [2] [3]
In 1921, [4] Avnet began buying surplus ham radio parts and selling them to the public on Radio Row in the lower Manhattan [1] capitalizing on the end of the World War I era ban on the trade of radio parts in 1918. [2] He had $85,000 in sales in his first year. [1] With the advent of commercial radio broadcasting and factory-made radios (which did not require parts), he adjusted his distribution pipeline and began selling parts to manufacturers and dealers. [2] In 1929, he diversified by branching out into car antenna kits and automobile assembly kits. During the Great Depression, he shifted the focus from retailing to wholesaling. [2] During World War II, sales to the private sector were banned, so Avnet shifted to government sales [4] with an emphasis on connectors. [2] After the war, the market was flooded with war surplus components and Avnet flourished incorporating as Avnet Electronics Supply Co Inc in 1955 reaching $1 million in sales. [4] In 1959, the company went public as Avnet Electronics Corporation. [4]
He was married to Celia Avnet. [3] They had four children: Lester Francis Avnet (1913–1970), Robert H. Avnet (1919–1964), Lillian Avnet Marks, and Dr. Norman Avnet (1928–2017). [5] [6] [7] He died in 1979; services were held at Congregation Beth Sholom in Long Beach, New York. [3] His grandson (son of Lester) is director, writer and producer Jon Avnet. [8]
Charles Avnet | |
---|---|
Born | 1888 |
Died | 1979 (aged 90–91) |
Known for | Founder of Avnet |
Spouse | Celia Avnet |
Children | Lester Francis Avnet Norman Avnet Robert Avnet Lillian Avnet Marks |
Family | Jon Avnet (grandson) |
Charles Avnet (1888–1979) was an American businessman who founded electronics parts distributor Avnet.
Avnet was born to a Jewish family in 1888 in Russia. [1] [2] [3]
In 1921, [4] Avnet began buying surplus ham radio parts and selling them to the public on Radio Row in the lower Manhattan [1] capitalizing on the end of the World War I era ban on the trade of radio parts in 1918. [2] He had $85,000 in sales in his first year. [1] With the advent of commercial radio broadcasting and factory-made radios (which did not require parts), he adjusted his distribution pipeline and began selling parts to manufacturers and dealers. [2] In 1929, he diversified by branching out into car antenna kits and automobile assembly kits. During the Great Depression, he shifted the focus from retailing to wholesaling. [2] During World War II, sales to the private sector were banned, so Avnet shifted to government sales [4] with an emphasis on connectors. [2] After the war, the market was flooded with war surplus components and Avnet flourished incorporating as Avnet Electronics Supply Co Inc in 1955 reaching $1 million in sales. [4] In 1959, the company went public as Avnet Electronics Corporation. [4]
He was married to Celia Avnet. [3] They had four children: Lester Francis Avnet (1913–1970), Robert H. Avnet (1919–1964), Lillian Avnet Marks, and Dr. Norman Avnet (1928–2017). [5] [6] [7] He died in 1979; services were held at Congregation Beth Sholom in Long Beach, New York. [3] His grandson (son of Lester) is director, writer and producer Jon Avnet. [8]