About Us

About Us

At Elenco, we transform intimidating subjects like electronics and engineering into exciting adventures in hands-on learning. Through play, discovery, and imagination, we make complex concepts approachable and fun for young minds.
SNAP CIRCUITS© lets kids bring science to life—snapping together components to light up a bulb, power a fan, launch a plane, or tune a radio. Every project and game delivers instant results, sparking creativity and building problem-solving skills.
By turning learning into an engaging, interactive experience, SNAP CIRCUITS© empowers kids to explore, create, and gain confidence, making science and engineering exciting and accessible.
Elenco Electronics was founded in 1972 as a family-owned company based in Wheeling, Illinois. For more than five decades we are renowned for producing educational STEM products, including the award-winning SNAP CIRCUITS© line, which has been recognized for excellence in fostering learning.
Elenco also offers a range of educational toys, games, tools, and test equipment. Our products are available through major retailers and educational channels.
Many of today’s rising leaders in science and technology learned the basics of engineering by creating and inventing with SNAP CIRCUITS© as a child.
At Elenco, we transform intimidating subjects like electronics and engineering into exciting adventures in hands-on learning. Through play, discovery, and imagination, we make complex concepts approachable and fun for young minds.
SNAP CIRCUITS© lets kids bring science to life—snapping together components to light up a bulb, power a fan, launch a plane, or tune a radio. Every project and game delivers instant results, sparking creativity and building problem-solving skills.
By turning learning into an engaging, interactive experience, SNAP CIRCUITS© empowers kids to explore, create, and gain confidence, making science and engineering exciting and accessible.
Elenco Electronics was founded in 1972 as a family-owned company based in Wheeling, Illinois. For more than five decades we are renowned for producing educational STEM products, including the award-winning SNAP CIRCUITS© line, which has been recognized for excellence in fostering learning.
Elenco also offers a range of educational toys, games, tools, and test equipment. Our products are available through major retailers and educational channels.
Many of today’s rising leaders in science and technology learned the basics of engineering by creating and inventing with SNAP CIRCUITS© as a child.

Imagine what you can do, when you Learn by Doing.

About Us

At Elenco, we transform intimidating subjects like electronics and engineering into exciting adventures in hands-on learning. Through play, discovery, and imagination, we make complex concepts approachable and fun for young minds.
SNAP CIRCUITS© lets kids bring science to life—snapping together components to light up a bulb, power a fan, launch a plane, or tune a radio. Every project and game delivers instant results, sparking creativity and building problem-solving skills.
By turning learning into an engaging, interactive experience, SNAP CIRCUITS© empowers kids to explore, create, and gain confidence, making science and engineering exciting and accessible.
Elenco Electronics was founded in 1972 as a family-owned company based in Wheeling, Illinois. For more than five decades we are renowned for producing educational STEM products, including the award-winning SNAP CIRCUITS© line, which has been recognized for excellence in fostering learning.
Elenco also offers a range of educational toys, games, tools, and test equipment. Our products are available through major retailers and educational channels.
Many of today’s rising leaders in science and technology learned the basics of engineering by creating and inventing with SNAP CIRCUITS© as a child.

Imagine what you can do, when you Learn by Doing.

Our History

Elenco Beginnings

gil-tv-history

•Elenco is founded by Gil Cecchin; first factory in his basement

•First product: color bar generator for TV repairmen

•First customer: ICS Correspondence School

1972
Expansion

•Starts making power supplies

•Expands into kits

•M-1200 I (digital multimeter) introduced

1976-1978
New Products

•LP 500 (logic probe) debuts

•First catalog (included 20 products)

1979-1981
New Home

•Current building at 150 Carpenter Wheeling, IL is built

•M-1400 becomes first imported product

1984-1987
Market expansion with Motorola

Motorola

•Enters cellular accessory market by selling tranformers to Motorola

•AM/FM-108 debuts

1991
Introducing Snap Circuits®!

•Snap Circuits® debuts SC-100 and SC-300

•Snap Circuits® mini kits and RC Snap Rover (SCROV-10) debut

2002-2006
SC-300 Wins!

•SC-300 wins Specialty Toy of the Year at the TOTY's

•Snap Circuits® debuts eight new products

•Snap Circuits® 3D Illumination (SC-3Di) debuts

2008-2016
WEmake™ introduced

• WEmake™ line of DIY/Maker kits debuts

2017
SC-BRIC wins big

SCBRIC Manual

•Snap Circuits® BRIC Structures (SC-BRIC1) debuts

•Snap Circuits® BRIC wins multiple awards

•Snap Circuits® earnsSTEM APPROVED Trustmark by STEM.org

2018
TEACH TECH™ introduced

Teach Tech Logo

•Snap Circuits® MyHome and Discover Coding debut

•TEACH TECH™ line debuts

2019-2020