Sherwood Electronic Laboratories was founded in Chicago in 1953 by engineers Ed Miller and John Snow. Basing themselves on the former Radio Craftsmen Company, the pair concentrated on producing advanced hi-fi amplifiers that both sounded and looked great. As a result, Sherwood was touted as one of the first true hi-fi manufacturers in the USA and were well-established in the market place by the time stereo exploded onto the scene in the late 1950s.

Early Sherwood products had a distinctive look that was both stylish and clean. Where competitors had square, stark looking amplifiers, Sherwood products were slim with beautiful enamel fronts and knobs. This aesthetic touch along with their superior sound quality gave them an edge in the consumer market.

The primary product lines in the early stages of the company included tuners and integrated amplifiers and receivers. In 1961, the quality of Sherwood products was confirmed when their equipment was used in the world’s first FM-stereo broadcast. In 1967, Sherwood manufactured the world’s first 100% solid-state receiver.

In the late 1970s, Sherwood moved from the United States market. In 1978 production shifted to Korea in order to improve competition with other brands. Some time later, the company was acquired by the Haitai Electronics Company of Korea.

Sherwood, under Haitai Electronics, still has a firm position in Europe, though its success in America waned with the move to offshore production. The company still produces quality multi-channel receivers and amplifiers, and has a strong name in the Home Theatre electronics field.

Oddly enough, despite their unique appearance and high quality of sound, Sherwood valve amplifiers are not particularly valuable or considered to be highly collectible. perhaps that will change, meanwhile there are some great bargains out there waiting to be snapped up!