Recoton - Recoton Corp. is a leading American manufacturer and distributor of consumer electronics and accessories. Originally founded in 1936 as Record Town to produce durable steel phonograph needles, the name was later shortened. Herbert Borchardt, who moved to America in 1941 and headed the German concern Polydor Records, which existed in Germany before World War II, made a significant contribution to the company's development and growth. By 1995, Recoton had become a global leader in the consumer electronics accessories industry. It declared bankruptcy in 2003.