Philco - Philco (an abbreviation for Philadelphia Battery Company) is an American electronics manufacturer headquartered in Philadelphia. Philco was a pioneer in the production of batteries, radios, and televisions. In 1961, the company was acquired by Ford, and in 1966 it was renamed "Philco-Ford". In 1974, Ford sold the company to GTE, and in 1981 it was acquired by Philips, which in 1987 became a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips. In North America, the Philco brand is owned by Philips. In other markets, the Philco International brand is owned by Electrolux.