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Author Topic: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers  (Read 367467 times)

W1BR

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #60 on: August 14, 2015, 08:15:44 AM »

As I said, you are off base on a few points... I don't like what I am seeing, but at least RKR has attempted to take over the two companies. Whether they can make a go of it remains to be seen. But, just because Johh Henry has left doesn't mean they can't find contract engineers to help with new products--if they ever happen.  I'd still bet that companies such as Elecraft have used contracted software engineers to develop their products... that is only good business sense.

Pete
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W8JX

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #61 on: August 14, 2015, 09:49:58 AM »

As I said, you are off base on a few points... I don't like what I am seeing, but at least RKR has attempted to take over the two companies. Whether they can make a go of it remains to be seen. But, just because Johh Henry has left doesn't mean they can't find contract engineers to help with new products--if they ever happen.  I'd still bet that companies such as Elecraft have used contracted software engineers to develop their products... that is only good business sense.

Pete

Past owners would not of unloaded it if it had any future. They sold it to RKR to cut future losses. You seem to forget this. When key people leave the ship that tells you far more than is in the official news. Alpha was once a good niche amp but its day is past as it priced itself out of the game with decent foreign built amps coming on line for far less. Alpha/Tentec is kinda like Kmart/Sears merger. Sears was very solid in past but now is in deep trouble and its future questionable as it has taken on kmart debt and it is draining it dry. Sears only hope for future is to split from Kmart. RKR/Alpha is bleeding TenTec to stay afloat. Said part is that chances of someone taking over Tentec and away from RKR Alpha drain to bring it back to life is nil because tentec has little left to work with and most assets are gone. Many years ago Tractor supply bought Farm and Fleet store chain which was quite viable and better known than tractor supply (TSC) In merger that liquidated Farm and Fleet and it is history. Soon TenTec too and Alpha as well.
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Ham since 1969....  Old School 20wpm REAL Extra Class..

SWL2002

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #62 on: August 14, 2015, 11:57:36 AM »

The only thing that was keeping TEN TEC afloat when Jack owned it was their non-amateur work.  If they had relied on their Ham radio products, TEN TEC would have been belly up years ago.  Jack retired and then shortly unloaded the business.  The stuff that was keeping them afloat has dried up with several key people leaving.  They only have the Ham radio products now and most future products are on hold or canceled.  I know a couple of guys that worked there until recently and the news is not good.

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W8JX

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #63 on: August 14, 2015, 02:18:11 PM »

The only thing that was keeping TEN TEC afloat when Jack owned it was their non-amateur work.  If they had relied on their Ham radio products, TEN TEC would have been belly up years ago. 

Makes sense abut TenTec. Kenwood makes more money off land mobile radio systems than ham gear these days.(not even counting Kenwood JVC audio which makes a lot of money) Their success in land mobile radio and profits enabled them to fund designing some new Ham rigs. Were it not for land mobile sales there might not be a ham radio division today. Kenwood has wisely stayed out of amps and has no desire to make them from what I have heard.
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W9CW

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #64 on: August 14, 2015, 05:21:27 PM »

This is an off-topic reply to W8JX's post regarding the demise of Farm & Fleet stores... I believe you are incorrect, as Farm & Fleet is not history, it is alive and well.

Blain's Farm & Fleet, founded in 1955, and is based in Janesville, WI.  Perhaps you are talking about another "Farm & Fleet."   We have a very large Farm & Fleet store here in my city, and it does tremendous business.  A Farm & Fleet store has been located here for decades.  And, there is absolutely no connection to TSC (Tractor Supply Company).  Here's a copy and paste on their history:

Blain's Farm & Fleet was founded in 1955 by brothers Claude and Bert Blain. Bert's daughter, Jane Blain Gilbertson recently took the position as CEO and President after working with the organization for over 30 years herself. The company now has 36 stores within Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Along with the Blain Supply Inc. located in Janesville, Wisconsin, the company employs over 4,000 people. The business was built and ran on strong family values as it still does today.


See link below:

http://www.farmandfleet.com/about/history.aspx
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SWL2002

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #65 on: August 14, 2015, 05:46:46 PM »

This is an off-topic reply to W8JX's post regarding the demise of Farm & Fleet stores... I believe you are incorrect, as Farm & Fleet is not history, it is alive and well.

Blain's Farm & Fleet, founded in 1955, and is based in Janesville, WI.  Perhaps you are talking about another "Farm & Fleet."   We have a very large Farm & Fleet store here in my city, and it does tremendous business.  A Farm & Fleet store has been located here for decades.  And, there is absolutely no connection to TSC (Tractor Supply Company).  Here's a copy and paste on their history:

Blain's Farm & Fleet was founded in 1955 by brothers Claude and Bert Blain. Bert's daughter, Jane Blain Gilbertson recently took the position as CEO and President after working with the organization for over 30 years herself. The company now has 36 stores within Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Along with the Blain Supply Inc. located in Janesville, Wisconsin, the company employs over 4,000 people. The business was built and ran on strong family values as it still does today.


See link below:

http://www.farmandfleet.com/about/history.aspx

I think he was talking about Quality Farm and Fleet stores.  Never heard of Brian's Farm and Fleet.
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W8JX

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #66 on: August 15, 2015, 04:58:04 AM »

This is an off-topic reply to W8JX's post regarding the demise of Farm & Fleet stores... I believe you are incorrect, as Farm & Fleet is not history, it is alive and well.

Slight typo.  Quality store chain that owned Quality Farm and Fleet and a few other names in 2002. They had approx 700 stores in 30 states and we used to shop them a lot verses TSC. QFF stores generally had better wider selections and prices too. they were supposed to rebrand many of them but all the locations around this area closed up for good.
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WB8NUT

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #67 on: August 15, 2015, 05:41:13 AM »

The only thing that was keeping TEN TEC afloat when Jack owned it was their non-amateur work.  If they had relied on their Ham radio products, TEN TEC would have been belly up years ago.  Jack retired and then shortly unloaded the business.  The stuff that was keeping them afloat has dried up with several key people leaving.  They only have the Ham radio products now and most future products are on hold or canceled.  I know a couple of guys that worked there until recently and the news is not good.

SWL2002 is pretty much an anonymous post and it references two other anonymous people as in "I know a couple of guys that worked there until recently." Information from anonymous sources posted by an anonymous individual just is not believable. It might be true, it just has no credibility.

Make yourself know, disclose the sources, then we might be able to seriously evaluate the information.
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SWL2002

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #68 on: August 15, 2015, 07:26:35 AM »

The only thing that was keeping TEN TEC afloat when Jack owned it was their non-amateur work.  If they had relied on their Ham radio products, TEN TEC would have been belly up years ago.  Jack retired and then shortly unloaded the business.  The stuff that was keeping them afloat has dried up with several key people leaving.  They only have the Ham radio products now and most future products are on hold or canceled.  I know a couple of guys that worked there until recently and the news is not good.

SWL2002 is pretty much an anonymous post and it references two other anonymous people as in "I know a couple of guys that worked there until recently." Information from anonymous sources posted by an anonymous individual just is not believable. It might be true, it just has no credibility.

Make yourself know, disclose the sources, then we might be able to seriously evaluate the information.

Yes, but first please post your social security number here on this forum so we can verify that you are indeed WB8NUT and not someone who has stolen his identity.  How do we know that you are who you say you are? 
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W8VVE

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #69 on: August 15, 2015, 08:50:40 AM »

RKR Designs...in their ad in QST Sept 2015...is showing the Ten Tec 588AT Omni 7
"Returning to production soon!"  Just an FYI...no comment.  73. Sam. W8VVE
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W1BR

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #70 on: August 15, 2015, 09:01:18 AM »



SWL2002 is pretty much an anonymous post and it references two other anonymous people as in "I know a couple of guys that worked there until recently." Information from anonymous sources posted by an anonymous individual just is not believable. It might be true, it just has no credibility.
 

Opinion is opinion... and we all have opinions right or wrong. What I know was passed to me confidence. What other people have shared with other posters on this board should be treated accordingly. Passing rumors--and some of the statements were based on pure speculation--doesn't serve any purpose.

My personal opinion is that TenTec owners were getting on in years and were ready to enjoy retirement.

Elecraft may have been an unseen competitor.  But, does Elecraft do all software and hardware engineering in house, or do they use contractors as needed to develop a new product?

RKR has taken over both Alpha and TenTec.  Contract engineers come and go... unless you have a product under development, why would you keep excess staff?  What advantage is there to duplicity of staff when companies are combined under one entity?  Would it make more sense to eventually consolidate all of the businesses at one location, instead of being spread across the country? Is the military/commercial market more profitable than the ham market, or is it the other way around?? Speculation here, I am just giving my own opinion, which is not based rumors or contacts.

Pete

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N9FB

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #71 on: August 15, 2015, 09:38:48 AM »

Quote from: K1ZJH

Opinion is opinion... and we all have opinions right or wrong. What I know was passed to me confidence. What other people have shared with other posters on this board should be treated accordingly. Passing rumors--and some of the statements were based on pure speculation--doesn't serve any purpose.


well said.  putting ones callsign online is not anything like putting ones social security # online.  the anonymous suggestion upthread that the two are equivalent is pure hogwash and calls further into question that anonymous author's musings on this topic.

Quote from: K1ZJH

My personal opinion is that TenTec owners were getting on in years and were ready to enjoy retirement.

Elecraft may have been an unseen competitor.  But, does Elecraft do all software and hardware engineering in house, or do they use contractors as needed to develop a new product?

RKR has taken over both Alpha and TenTec.  Contract engineers come and go... unless you have a product under development, why would you keep excess staff?  What advantage is there to duplicity of staff when companies are combined under one entity?  Would it make more sense to eventually consolidate all of the businesses at one location, instead of being spread across the country? Is the military/commercial market more profitable than the ham market, or is it the other way around?? Speculation here, I am just giving my own opinion, which is not based rumors or contacts.

Pete

exactly.  Some of the staff, in addition to the original owners who did retire, may have been looking at retiring soon as well too. starting up new product lines takes capital and that may have also played into the recent sales -- which some here are reading as fire sales.   From what i understand, the folks at RKR who bought Ten-Tec were TT fans and wanted to keep it going.  I have a feeling rumors of TT's demise are premature. Perhaps the vultures circling here in this thread are mistaking the smell of incubation & rebirth for the smell of death. Who knows?   It may be that RKR will decide to rename TT if they move it to a different state like CO.

If The Sept. 2015 QST ad says Omni VII's will soon again be available -- sounds like RKR is keeping the wheels turning.

If the buy and sell for quick profit argument were true -- why would they start manufacturing Omni VII's again now?...



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W8JX

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #72 on: August 15, 2015, 10:35:03 AM »

Contract engineers come and go... unless you have a product under development, why would you keep excess staff?  What advantage is there to duplicity of staff when companies are combined under one entity?  

If you are serious about your future you do not get rid of talent that knows your hardware and hire some one off street UNLESS you are trying to save money and shoestring by but that will kill you in products and support. TenTec as we know it is gone and only a shadow of it at most remains.
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W1BR

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #73 on: August 15, 2015, 10:57:47 AM »

Contract engineers come and go... unless you have a product under development, why would you keep excess staff?  What advantage is there to duplicity of staff when companies are combined under one entity?  

If you are serious about your future you do not get rid of talent that knows your hardware and hire some one off street UNLESS you are trying to save money and shoestring by but that will kill you in products and support. TenTec as we know it is gone and only a shadow of it at most remains.


To be clear, you are claiming that Elecraft NEVER used contract engineers??  Can you support that?  Otherwise they are in the same boat as TenTec.

Pete
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SWL2002

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RE: RKR Designs LLC / Ten-Tec / Alpha Amplifiers
« Reply #74 on: August 15, 2015, 11:19:20 AM »

Contract engineers come and go... unless you have a product under development, why would you keep excess staff?  What advantage is there to duplicity of staff when companies are combined under one entity?  

If you are serious about your future you do not get rid of talent that knows your hardware and hire some one off street UNLESS you are trying to save money and shoestring by but that will kill you in products and support. TenTec as we know it is gone and only a shadow of it at most remains.


To be clear, you are claiming that Elecraft NEVER used contract engineers??  Can you support that?  Otherwise they are in the same boat as TenTec.

Pete

Wow, a lot guys here sure have reading comprehension problems.  How do you get that he said that "Elecraft never used contract engineers" from JX's statement above?
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