Talon Electronics

A word about Replacement Semiconductors -

ECG Semiconductors - Sylvania ECG semiconductors were originally intended for the consumer electronics repair, hobbyist, and experimental markets and later found applications in the industrial repair and maintenance markets. Sylvania was a pioneering manufacturer of semiconductors before developing the "Electronic Components Group" concept. Like all other replacement lines, ECG semiconductors were intended to minimize replacement parts inventory for repair and maintenance departments. For over 30 years, ECG was the replacement line with the broadest replacement range. Even after being acquired by Philips, ECG remained the market leader, but were eventually bought out by NTE.

GE Semiconductors - First appearing in the 1960's with a parallel experimenter line, the General Electric replacement semiconductor line outlasted all but SK, ECG and NTE. Early 1960's GE devices were solely produced by GE, with later devices being primarily re-marked items purchased from other manufacturers. Following the purchase of the GE line by Thomson, GE replacement semiconductors disappeared altogether in the 1980's in favor of Thomson's broader SK replacement line purchased from RCA.

HEP Semiconductors - Developed by Motorola in the late 1960's, the HEP line of semiconductors were mostly remarked premium Motorola devices. These beefy, high quality semiconductors were popular with hobbyists and those seeking industrial-grade replacements. Because they lacked the range of other replacement lines, particularly in the area of replacing popular Japanese semiconductors, the HEP line disappeared altogether in the late 1970's.

NTE Semiconductors - Originally an ECG "clone" developed in 1979 by New Tone Electronics, NTE courted the independent distributor base and developed the variety that was lacking in many other "ECG-like" semiconductor lines. Early devices, under the "TCG" line were merely remarked JEDEC and EIAJ devices, but quickly developed into custom marked and developed semiconductors. NTE purchased the ECG line in 2001, and is now the sole replacement semiconductor line - a market leader with humble beginnings.

REN Semiconductors - Developed by Raytheon as an ECG clone. Without a broad distributor base, the REN line of replacement semiconductors never had any real success, and disappeared altogether in the 1990's.

SK Semiconductors - Like the Sylvania ECG line, the RCA "SK" series was an early replacement semiconductor line. Developed in the 1960's, RCA capitalized on the existing RCA repair parts distributor network, marketing the devices as "Top of the Line" semiconductors. An early leader, they were overtaken by ECG as the industry standard and were eventually dissolved several years after Thomson purchased the RCA consumer electronics line.

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