Tandy and Radio Shack

🏢 Tandy Corporation

Founded: 1919 (as Hinckley-Tandy Leather Company)
Renamed: Tandy Corporation in the 1960s
Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Tandy Corporation originally started as a leather supply business. In the 1960s, under Charles Tandy's leadership, the company diversified and entered consumer electronics by acquiring the then-struggling Radio Shack in 1963.

Tandy became known for:

• Retail consumer electronics

• Personal computers (notably the TRS-80 series)

• Hobbyist and DIY electronics kits

• Operating a wide network of Radio Shack stores in North America and overseas

📻 Radio Shack

Founded: 1921, Boston, Massachusetts
Acquired by Tandy: 1963
Peak: 1980s–1990s

Radio Shack was a retail chain known for:

• Electronic components and DIY kits

• Audio equipment and accessories

• CB radios, scanners, and amateur radio gear

• Personal computers (TRS-80 line)

• Early mobile phones and tech gadgets

The brand was a staple for electronics hobbyists and tinkerers. 

👨💼 Charles Tandy (1918–1978)

Role: Chairman and CEO of Tandy Corporation
Legacy: Visionary entrepreneur and marketing genius

Charles Tandy transformed his family’s leather business into a diversified retail empire. After acquiring Radio Shack in 1963 (when it had only 9 stores and was near bankruptcy), he revitalized the brand by targeting hobbyists, engineers, and emerging consumer electronics markets.

Key contributions:

• Positioned Radio Shack as the go-to place for tech tinkerers

• Drove the development of the TRS-80, one of the first mass-market home computers (released in 1977)

• Expanded the retail footprint of Tandy and Radio Shack aggressively

Tandy died in 1978, leaving behind a retail empire and a significant influence on early personal computing and electronics DIY culture.

👨💼 Lew Kornfeld

Role: Former President of Radio Shack (Tandy Corp.)

Lew Kornfeld joined Radio Shack in the 1940s and became a key executive after the Tandy acquisition. He was instrumental in:

• Turning around the struggling brand post-acquisition

• Developing the store-based strategy focused on small, knowledgeable electronics outlets

• Advocating for affordable, accessible consumer electronics

Kornfeld was known for his deep understanding of customer needs and product trends. He co-authored a memoir titled “To Catch a Mouse, Make a Noise Like a Cheese,” reflecting on his years at Radio Shack and the retail innovations of the Tandy era.