[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

Fair point, I did not mean GE was failing in all markets. My reference was the low-voltage (600V and lower), specifically the discontinuation of the GE's AV line switchboards.

GE medium voltage equipment is still OK, but if you are a specifying engineer, GE has all but eliminated its representation and support compared to Eaton Cutler Hammer, also a US-owned company to date. Therefore, GE can low-ball bids and if there is an issue, you don't have the Engineering support to call like you do with S&C, Powercon, French-owned Square D and German-owned Siemens.

I used to deliver appliances in the 80s between bench sessions and witnessed the declines in the consumer lines, even back then. My employer stopped selling Zenith in 1980 due to system 3 early issues, then Magnavox in 1984 after NAP became less supportive. Then they added Maytag and Panasonic because of the issues starting on the economy-grade GE appliances and Thomsen's combined GE-RCA. Through it all, Sony was a popular line with available parts and support.

Yes I have noticed the same issues, it's almost like they don't want to bother competing in all the markets which they could. I work in the electrical industry and to be honest have never specified GE equipment for exactly the reasons stated, but when I've been involved in commissioning it I have been pretty impressed by their quality. Maybe I just like GE because of the history that comes with the little round symbol. I have always been impressed by the way their radios from the 60s were value engineered - they didn't use a single screw more than necessary and still ended up working quite well. A pretty sharp contrast to Zenith radios which used a sturdy metal chassis right to the end of tube radio production.