telecommunications equipment and electronics for the military. The five largest state companies were VEF, Radiotehnika, Elfa, Komutators and Elar (which produced components for the other four). In its peak in 1991, VEF employed 20,000 people. Its best known products were telephones, telephone exchanges and radios. The Latvian electronics industry had trouble competing with Western companies when the markets were opened in the early 1990s. Cited problems included poor service and product quality. Attempts to restructure these companies were not successful and their combined production fell more than 90% between 1993 and 1997. VEF was divided into six smaller companies, most of which no longer exist. Three remaining ones, VEF un Ko, VEF TELEKOM and VEF Radiotehnika RRR, employ between 100 and 200 people each. In 1999 the factory was privatized and reorganized. Product line-up Cameras Minox Radios Spīdola Vega VEF VEF Latvia VEF Abava Phones VEF-TA The VEF-TA had many different versions that ranged from classic style rotary phones to modern push button keypad. Computers VEF ORMIKA VEF-1022 VEF-MIKRO 1024 VEF-MIKRO 1025 Computer hardware Mikro 6025 computer keyboard Mikro 5625 – 5.25" floppy disk reader Aircraft VEF Irbītis I-11 VEF Irbītis I-12 VEF Irbītis I-14 VEF Irbītis I-15 VEF Irbītis I-16 VEF Irbītis I-17 VEF Irbītis I-18 VEF Irbītis I-19 VEF JDA-10M Motorcycle Pandera (prototype, built 1938) See also Minox FC Daugava Riga References External links VEF-Minox cameras VEF camera serial numbers History of VEF Catalogue of VEF factory products with prices, pictures and descriptions, year 1937 Manufacturing companies based in Riga Electronics companies of Latvia Aircraft manufacturers of Latvia Car manufacturers of Latvia Electronics companies of the Soviet Union Photography in Latvia Electronics companies established in 1919 Electronics companies disestablished in 1999 Soviet brands Latvian brands Companies nationalised by the Soviet Union 1919 establishments in Latvia 1999 disestablishments in Latvia