(BRG) - Budapest Radiotechnical Factory - was one of the largest Hungarian radiotechnical enterprises of the socialist period. Originally founded as Vörös Szikra Gyár (Red Spark Factory) in 1953, it became a division of Beloiannisz Híradástechnikai Gyár (BHG) in 1956, and since 1959, the company has operated under the name Budapesti Rádiótechnikai Gyár - BRG.
The company's initial focus was radio transmitters, microwave technology, and industrial high-frequency equipment. Magnetic recording was soon added to the mix: the first mass-produced reel-to-reel tape recorder, the Mambó, went on sale in late 1959.
Half of the production was intended for the domestic market, and the other half for export. By the 1960s and 1970s, exports had become a significant part of BRG's operations. At various times, 70–80% of production was exported. The main markets were socialist countries, but shipments were also made to other countries around the world.
In the early 1960s, BRG began establishing a production base in Kecskemét - BRG's Kecskemét subsidiary, likely established in 1961. Later, audio cassette production began at this plant. Since the company did not manufacture its own magnetic tape, it used imported tape, likely including Maxell.
In the early 1970s, the company became one of the Hungarian developers of magnetic cassette storage devices for computers. In 1986, BRG Kecskemét was developing its own Hungarian Walkman.
Petőfi Népe, 1986. június
But the bulk of exports were linked to socialist countries, with the USSR being a particularly important market.
In 1989, BRG underwent self-privatization and was transformed into a holding company - BRG Mechatronikai Rt. At the same time, individual plants began to become independent.
In the early 1990s, the market in socialist countries collapsed, and the Comecon market, particularly the Soviet market, began to disintegrate. In 1992, liquidation began, and the Kecskemét plant was closed before other production units. Later, in 1994, the tape recorder assembly plant in Lakitelek was also liquidated.