Spartus Corporation was an American consumer electronics manufacturer originally based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded as the Utility Manufacturing Company in 1934, it produced a wide variety of products, including wall clocks, alarm clocks, electric shavers, analog cameras, and more. It sold these through a medley of brands—including Falcon, Spartus, Galter, Regal, Monarch, Spencer, among others. It was founded in 1934 by Jack Galter (1904–1993) as a continuation of his father's manufacturing company.
In 1951, Utility was purchased by its sales manager, Harold Rubin, who renamed the company Herold Manufacturing Company. In 1960, Rubin adopted the Spartus trademark for the company's name, and in 1963, Spartus moved its headquarters to Louisville, Mississippi. It maintained a manufacturing presence in the town until the early 1990s. In 1970, Spartus was acquired by the Kidde & Company, and made a subsidiary. Kidde itself was purchased by a U.S. arm of the Hanson Trust, Spartus being acquired by extension. Manufacturing of Spartus products was permanently moved to mainland China in 1993. Salton, Inc., of Florida later acquired the rights to the Spartus trademark in 2001.
History
Spartus was founded as the Utility Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois, in 1934 by Jack Galter (1904–1993).[1]