Inspirational Quotes by Arthur A. Kent (American Inventor)

Arthur Atwater Kent Sr. (1873–1949) was an American radio pioneer, inventor, and prominent radio manufacturer based in Philadelphia.

Born in Burlington, Vermont, Kent started studying mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic in 1895. However, his focus was on his small business Kent Electric Manufacturing Company, through which he sold small electrical and mechanical gadgets. After graduation, he worked at a New Hampshire tool company.

In 1921, Kent patented the modern form of the automobile ignition coil—the Unisparker Ignition system became the industry standard for almost 50 years. Also, in 1921, Kent produced his first radio components, first selling do-it-yourself kits and, from 1923, complete radio sets. At its peak, it turned out nearly 1,000,000 sets in 1929. By 1925, the Atwater Kent Manufacturing Company became the largest maker of radios in the United States.

Kent’s company also sponsored the popular The Atwater Kent Hour concert music program on NBC and CBS radio 1926–34. However, the onset of the Great Depression, the expiry of patents, and the invasion of lower-cost components diminished demand for Kent’s expensive cabinet models of radios. Kent dissolved his design engineering facility in 1931 and shuttered his radio factory in 1936.

Kent was a prominent philanthropist in Philadelphia, helping pay for the restoration of the Betsy Ross House and the establishment of the Philadelphia History Museum.

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