It was founded in Ellenville, New York in 1949 by 23-year-old former Merchant Marine radio operator and DuMont TV antenna installer Joe Resnick with the backing of his brothers Harry and Louis Resnick. Its principal innovation was that its antennas arrived with elements folded, not disassembled, so that during installation the antenna could be quickly unfolded with the elements automatically locking into place. Joseph Resnick was elected to Congress from the NY 28th district in 1964 and died of natural causes on October 6, 1969.