Setron (company)

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A monochrome television set manufactured by Setron Setron television set, National Museum of Singapore (134456).jpg
A monochrome television set manufactured by Setron

Setron Limited was a Singaporean electronics company active in the 1960s and 70s, founded in 1965 [1] by Tan Biauw. [2] The company notoriously assembled television sets using European-made components; the company started assembling its first sets in April 1965 from its facility at Leng Kee Road. [3] These sets were available on the local market in December 1965. [4]

It opened a new facility in April 1966, at a time when one out of six Singaporeans owned a television set. [5]

Beginning in 1969, the company began diversifying its business assets, including the establishment of foreign subsidiaries in Malaysia and Indonesia and agreements with Japanese firms Sanyo for electrical equipment and Toyo for plywood. [6] In May 1974, the company released its first colour sets, also the first to enable UHF reception, timing with the introduction of colour television in Singapore. [7] The company had received 500 orders. [8] In 1977, it introduced cassette recording for radio, a first in Singapore. [1]

On 23 May 1979, Haw Par received a takeover notice from Haw Par Brothers International Limited. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "A 'first' far Singapore in radio: cassette recorder technology". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 29 September 1977. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  2. "Bankers, businessmen among board members". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 28 April 1971. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  3. "First local assembled TV sets out soon". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 28 May 1965. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  4. "Local TV sets are now on market". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 10 December 1965. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  5. "One home in six has TV". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 28 April 1966. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  6. "Setron's performance shows big potential". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 24 June 1972. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  7. "Setron brings out locally assembled colour sets". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 10 May 1974. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  8. "Firm gets orders for 500 colour sets sets". New Nation (retrieved from NLB). 13 May 1974. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  9. "Announcement to Shareholders". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 25 May 1979. Retrieved 26 July 2025.