The Gizmotchy® high performance horizontal and vertical beam antenna traces its roots back to the early dawn of CB history. This unique antenna was originally sold by the Utica Radio Corporation in the early 60’s. In the middle 60’s Charles Radio Company assumed ownership of the antenna. The Gizmotchy® antenna still retains the look of the original Gizmotchy®, but has been improved with new designs, higher quality workmanship and state of the art materials.

R.L. “Bud” Charles founded Charles Radio Company in the 1960’s in Mt. Carroll, IL. Bud and his wife, Jane, began distributing CB radios, antennas, accessories, and manufacturing the Gizmotchy® antenna. In the late 60’s his son, Tom, completed a tool and die apprenticeship and assumed the production of the Gizmotchy® antenna for his father. Tom produced the Gizmotchy® antenna under the company name Charles Electronics and produced all of the Gizmotchy® products that his father sold. Charles Electronics started out in a small garage. In 1976 Tom purchased a 4400 square foot building and moved production of the Gizmotchy® products to the new location. Production continues in this facility to the present date.

Upon the death of “Bud” Charles in January of 2000 the ownership of the antennas has been passed down to Tom and Nola Charles, who produce the Gizmotchy® antenna at their facility in Mt. Carroll, IL. They have been producing antennas, antenna parts, and coaxial switches since 1968. The radio portion of the Charles Radio Company was sold to Ken’s Electronics, Kalamazoo, MI in May 2000.