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Old 14th Jul 2012, 12:53 pm   #3
dinkydi
Retired Dormant Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 277
Default Re: "Miniwatt" Valves

Hi David,

Philips had many factories in Australia, but in 1947 they were consolidated at Hendon, South Australia. This became Philips headquarters in Australia. The site was previously, during the war, a munitions plant. Of particular interest amongst many Philips manufacturing operations at Hendon was a valve assembly and production facility employing 3,500 workers, at its peak. Valves were sold domestically and exported not only under the Philips brand, but also others, including Mullard. Later a microelectronics fabrication facility was built there.

The other huge valve manufacturing operation in Australia was Amalgamated Wireless at Ashfield, N.S.W., well known these days amongst enthusiasts as the source of the "Radiotron Designer's Handbook". A.W.L. began in 1909 and later became A.W.A. Valve production started in the late 1930's, I believe. Large numbers of valves were produced during and after the war, and later for TV. In due course there was a microelectronics fabrication facility at Rydalmere, N.S.W.

Peter
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