Linear Corporation was founded in 1961 by Ted Farrell, who served as President and Chief Executive Officer. William A. Schanbacher joined the Los Angeles-based Company as a co-principal shortly after incorporation. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Originally, Linear was a retail operation that sold and installed automatic garage door operators for residential installations. However, both principals had made the decision early to create an electronics manufacturing company and soon acquired the rights to manufacture wireless radio controls marketed under the trade name "Tamar."