On Sun, 10 Jan 2021 23:26:37 +0000 (UTC), Bertrand Sindri
wrote:

Cursitor Doom wrote:
I bought Roberts because I've had their broadcast recievers in the
past and been very happy with them in all respects. They were a bit
pricey (though not as much as a Hacker) but the build and sound
quality was very good. Their internet radios, OTOH, have none of
that reassuringly solid feel about them.

It could be possible that "Roberts" (the brand name) has gone the way
of a lot of the traditional US "brand names" of yesteryear (Honeywell,
Westinghouse, etc.).

They (the US brands, I have no idea re. Roberts) are nothing more than
"Names" owned by some rent-seeking corporation who will sell the right
to brand anything as "Honeywell" or "Westinghouse" for the right price.

What you mention re. the massive reduction in build quality is exactly
what happened to the products that were "branded" as "Honeywell" or
"Westinghouse" (or others) once they became a "brand name for hire".
The product build quality plummeted.

Exactly. They sold out to get rich (or should I say *even* richer).