William Balderston, who worked his way up in the electronics industry to become head of Philco Corp., helped mastermind the idea of putting radios into cars and radar units on ships and planes. Balderston was president and chairman of the Philco Corp., a major producer of radios and television sets. In 1930, Philco bought rights to a radio that could be operated in a car, and near the end of Balderston’s presidency (1948-54), Philco became first in the United States in car-radio sales.

Balderston began his career when he went to work for his father-in-law, who operated the Ray-O-Vac Co. in Madison, Wis. Balderston was hired by Philco in 1930 to organize sales of radios to automobile manufacturers. He rose through the ranks and was named executive vice president in 1946 and president in 1948.

While Balderston led Philco in the field of car radios, he also was in charge of the development and mass-production of about $400 million in radar and other electronic equipment for the armed forces. In recognition of his service, President Truman awarded him the Certificate of Merit in 1947.

After the war, he guided the company back into a peacetime economy by developing television and electronics production. In 1961 Philco was bought by the Ford Motor Company and became its subsidiary.

Balderston also served on the Committee for Economic Development, a national organization of businessmen and scholars concerned with major economic issues, and was a member of the Board of the Greater Philadelphia Movement and a director of the Boys' Clubs of America. He was married and had two daughters and two sons.