Viking
Viking of Minneapolis, Inc. (Telex), 9600 Aldrich Ave. South, Minneapolis 20, Minn
1920's - 1969 (Telex to 1985)
We believe Peter A. Rasmussen founded the Viking Tool & Machine Corporation in Belleville, NJ and first applied for its trademark on Wednesday, March 20, 1946. A U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for VIKING by VIKING TOOL & MACHINE CORPORATION, THE, . The USPTO has given the VIKING trademark serial number of 71498665. The current federal status of this trademark filing is EXPIRED. The VIKING trademark is filed in the category of Yarns and Thread . The description provided to the USPTO for VIKING is MES, MOLDS, AND TAPPING AND SCREW FORMING APPARATUS.
In 1947 the Viking company was known for making the Minit Popcorn Machine (left)
First Viking tape recorder ads were found in the 1957 Allied catalog and in magazine ads that also featured the Fidelipac Viking 35 Series tape cartridges (view ads below).
1964 Frank Garay is elected President of Viking of Minneapolis succeeding Peter A. Rasmussen
In 1965 Viking produced the Studio 96 professional tape recorder (left).
Viking was sold to Telex in 1966. Telex Communications, Tulsa, Oklahoma who had started out in 1936 making hearing aids
1967 Telex built a new 50,000 sq.ft. plant in Blue Earth, MN to assemble Viking tape recorders which were previously being built in Bloomington
Peter A. Rasmussen passed away in 1967
Billboard (Jan 7, 1967) announces that John S. Boyers (one of the founders of Magnecord) has been named by Telex Corp as Director of Engineering for the Telex Acoustics, Viking and Magnecord Taperecorder Divisions.
In 1969 tape magazines list 6 Viking models including a Model 433.
From 1970 to 1975 the HiFi Stereo tape issues showed the same recorder as a Telex 433 tape recorder (3 speed, 2 motor, $324.95) and a 
Telex Lab Series 2001 reel tape recorder. It had 3 heads 2 motors, held 8.5 inch reels, 7.5 & 3.75, $725.00.
Folks will recognize the Magnecord 1024 rebranded with Telex in this 1975 ad (left)
The 1977 db magazine has an ad for the Telex 230 reel tape recorder.
Turner microphones and Magnecord tape recorders were also brought under the Telex brand (right)
The Viking models and ads:
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
Professional Viking Studio 96
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1972
1974
1975 Telex Magnecord
1977
1978
1979
1982
1983
1985
Additional Viking photos from contributors:
Viking 75 Series
Viking 95
Viking 230
