past to present
WHO WE ARE
we’ve been around.
WE’RE VINTAGE
1940-1962
Clay Walker worked for Jamison (Jam) Handy, a motion picture company in Detroit during the 1930s. Clay realized television was going to be much bigger than radio, which was still in its infancy at the time. Clay had two other radio repairmen, who had been working on radios since the 1920s, and the three of them formed Northern Television Company in 1940.
Their first location was located in Detroit, MI. They quickly acquired the largest inventory of televisions, sold mainly to bars as a novelty for the rare broadcast of the day. Shortly thereafter, they opened a second store.
During World War II, all commercial production of television equipment was banned. Clay surged ahead opening this second store, knowing the TV boom would be huge, as it was, and continues to be today. This second store was originally located at 1226 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak, MI. Clay was so sure of the sales boom to come; he opened a third store at 834 Griswold Street, Port Huron, MI. At one time there were five separate Northern TV locations.
Due to the war, NBC’s commercial TV schedule is canceled; however, television is allowed to continue broadcasting on a very limited basis at some stations. Meanwhile, radio was still thriving and growing, becoming the main medium during the war. Radio sales and service was a huge business and Clay concentrated his service efforts here. He knew once the war ended the TV boom would be huge.
Due to reasons unknown, Clay bought out his two partners, closed the Detroit and Port Huron stores, focusing on the Royal Oak location.
1962-1993
With the war over and TV production soon to begin, Clay prepared the business for the first round of sales in 1947. The 3rd TV Clay sold that year is now on display at the Royal Oak Historical Society.
While the TV sales were booming at Northern TV, a young Veteran from Mackinac City, Ray Olsen, began working at Western Auto, who also sold TVs. Ray quickly became a manager there. He was offered a post in South Bend, IN with Western Auto, but declined, wishing to stay in MI. Clay Walker hired Ray in 1950 and later sold the business to Ray in 1962, with partners Joe Boginski and Archie Bartley.
TVs were selling so well Clay needed more room in order to keep up with the sales, thus a new building was constructed across the street at 1321 E. 11 Mile Road, where Northern TV remained for 62 years. Clay expanded the business further by also selling appliances. At some point they even had a booth at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market to draw customers to the store.
Ray, Joe and Archie saw more highs than lows and focused on quality service at a fair price, which we still enforce today. Customer satisfaction was, and is, the most important goal in every transaction.
In 1993, all three men decided it was time to retire and sold the business to Michael Sheppard.
we’re living it.
THE PRESENT
1993-PRESENT
Mike was bit by the radio repair bug in the early 1970s and quickly obtained work in his teens in the electronics service industry. At the age of 24 Mike had opened his own service shop, Sheppard Electronics in Troy and Warren, MI.
Mike soon closed these locations to concentrate his efforts on Northern Television Company, just as Clay Walker had done 53 years prior.
On January 2, 2012 Northern Television Company moved to our current location in Madison Heights, MI, starting Northern’s 72nd year in business (to the day) in a new location.
We continue to offer the greatest quality at a very fair price, keeping in mind that customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance in our success.
We continue to expand our business and grow with the technological changes that happen every day, while stepping back in time to where Northern Television Company got its start servicing (now antique) radios and phonographs.
Bring in your repair and we’ll get the blood pressure and cholesterol checked and get you back in the saddle again.
antique radio service
hi-fidelity & vintage audio
turntables & phonographs
speaker repair
& service
stereo consoles & victrolas
