Allied Radio was an American radio manufacturer and retailer, which sold radio sets, ham units, citizen's band (CB) radios, and other communications equipment, as well as electronic components, through retail stores and via mail-order. Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi-manufactures. ... A drawing of a self-service store Retailing consists of the sale of goods/merchandise for personal or household consumption either from a fixed location such as a department store or kiosk, or away from a fixed location and related subordinated services (Definition of the WTO (last page). ... Amateur radio, commonly called ham radio, is a hobby enjoyed by many people throughout the world (as of 2004 about 3 million worldwide, 70,000 in Germany, 5,000 in Norway, 57,000 in Canada, and 700,000 in the USA). ... A typical mobile citizens band radio Citizens band radio (CB) is, in the United States, a system of short distance radio communication between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the single 27 MHz (11 meter) band. ... An electronic component is a basic electronic building block packaged in a discrete form with two or more connecting leads or metallic pads. ...

A thriving mail-order catalog business in electronic components was a boon to the amateur electronic hobbyist located in areas where such components were not available in local retail outlets. However, by the late 1970s, business was failing and they closed up. They never closed, but were bought out by several companies over the years, starting about 1970. They are currently in business as Allied Electronics (originally a subsidiary of Allied Radio) and have a web site at http://www.alliedelec.com/ . They have been in continuous business since 1928, though they offer mostly industrial components/equipment now and basically no consumer items. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ...

Allied's main competitors were Radio Shack, LaFayette Radio, and "mom and pop" (independent) radio dealers throughout the United States. RadioShack Corporation (formerly Radio Shack) (NYSE: RSH) runs a chain of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe. ... Lafayette Radio was a radio manufacturer and retailer based in Syosset, New York. ... A small business may be defined as a business with a small number of employees. ...