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Sun electric history
- Thread starter 70staged
- Start date
engineer2
Well-known member
I did a quick Google search and there are only fragments of information. I think they started in 1931.
The little bit I know:
They were in their heyday at their Harlem and Avondale location in Chicago from the 50's thru the 70's. They had sales/service branches all over the country.
In the 80's they decided to move to a new facility in Crystal Lake, IL. Many of their good engineers didn't want to move from Chicago to the "boonies", or didn't stay long. It didn't help that new cars were coming out with computer systems unique to each manufacturer which meant major investments and expensive annual changes to some test equipment. Corporate profits took precedence over investing in new designs. The downward slide began.
They were put up for sale in 1989 and bought out by Snap On in 1992
The little bit I know:
They were in their heyday at their Harlem and Avondale location in Chicago from the 50's thru the 70's. They had sales/service branches all over the country.
In the 80's they decided to move to a new facility in Crystal Lake, IL. Many of their good engineers didn't want to move from Chicago to the "boonies", or didn't stay long. It didn't help that new cars were coming out with computer systems unique to each manufacturer which meant major investments and expensive annual changes to some test equipment. Corporate profits took precedence over investing in new designs. The downward slide began.
They were put up for sale in 1989 and bought out by Snap On in 1992
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
You may find more history in bits and pieces on the thread dedicated to vintage Sun Electric equipment and tools. We have one. And if not, I bet some of the avid collectors on that thread might chime in with what they might know. See the Index in the Sticky at the top of the board.
It often surprises me how little info can be found about the Sun Electric Corporation, especially since they once supplied loads of workshops. European activities were centered in the Netherlands, and that company still survives as Sun Test Systems, see website: https://suntestsystems.com/about-us/history/ . They do mainly aircraft testing components, but still some car testing equipment as well.
I'm becoming more and more of a Sun junky myself ...
I'm becoming more and more of a Sun junky myself ...