Radio factories still standing

[FERNSEH]

Was R & A part of the Pye group of companies? Or was it simply a supplier to Pye.
R & A = Radio and Allied, is that correct?

DFWB.

[FERNSEH]

The Rank Toshiba works in Ernesettle closed in 2009. Any news about the building? I read that the site is to be cleared for a new enterprise zone.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Did-...ail/story.html

DFWB.

[dazzlevision]

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

Was R & A part of the Pye group of companies? Or was it simply a supplier to Pye.
R & A = Radio and Allied, is that correct?

Reproducers & Amplifiers made the R&A loudspeakers.

Radio & Allied Industries was Michael Sobell's company up to its merger with GEC UK.

[McMurdo]

Here's an R&A advert, courtesy of Grace's Guide

[stevehertz]

I love those old photos of assembly lines. No signs of fume extraction, pretty girls dressed up for the occasion, etc.

[McMurdo]

The vast art-deco factory units of Ismay Industries of Dagenham, manufacturers of 'Halcyon' tvs and radios and 'Electrix' vacuum cleaners. Halcyon radio were absorbed into AC Cossor in 1938. Existing as industrial units, the main admin & assembly hall still serves the electrical industry as the head office of present owner, WF Electrical Rexel Senate.

[bikerhifinut]

I have a memory of the old ferrograph factory in jarrow on the industrial estate where the road dropped down to Tyne dock Arches. Passed it most weekends on my way home from College in south shields.
Or am i confusing it with somewhere else?

Andy

[AC/HL]

This was the Wharfedale factory in Idle, Bradford. Not the original, but the "new" Rank factory.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.83...8i6656!6m1!1e1

[McMurdo]

Following a mention of Whiteley Radio (later Electronics) of Mansfield, here's their factory in Mansfield, awaiting a new fate. Whiteley made 'Stentorian' radios and extension speakers in the 1930's and diversified until they were absorbed just recently into one of their biggest customers.

[AC/HL]

One of the great survivors until recently. Low profile, but adaptable. I know they made sub-assemblies for Telephone Rentals, most likely others.

[jjl]

As I live near and frequently visit Welwyn Garden City, I've often wondered where Murphy Radio's facilities were located and whether any of their buildings are still standing.

John

[AC/HL]

I don't know how recent this is: http://www.classicwireless.co.uk/muwgcnow.htm
but this was it in 1937: http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw054500

[McMurdo]

I found this advert in a 1953 edition of Practical Television magazine. Electronic Precision Equipment, of High Street, Wealdstone with a picture of one of their kit tvs branded 'Elpreq'. 'Further flicking revealed they were a prolific supplier of tv and radio kits and full-page ads for what appears to be government surplus.

The factory shown is the old 'Herga' cinema and streetview shows it was still in the TV and Radio business at the time of the pic!

[Jon_G4MDC]

Murphy Radio was last in Bessemer Road Welwyn Garden City.
As they became part of the Rank Organisation a large factory was built with a tower on top - probably in the 1960s.
Finally ended up Rank Xerox and photocopiers were made there. I had a couple of summer jobs there in the 1970s.
Xerox are still on the site but that building is long gone.

https://www.architecture.com/image-l...RIBA57822.html

I believe Murphy had an earlier site maybe in Tewin Road. I can research that.

Edit - turns out I was wrong it was in Broadwater Road

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw054500

They started in the garage of a house just up the road from where I am typing this.

[Peter.N.]

There used to be a 'Graham Farish' building in Bromley when I used to live that way, no idea if its there now though.

Peter

[Humber888]

The information below about Graham Farish comes from http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums...showtopic=5210. The company had moved out before I came to Bromley.

The following comes from the archives of Bachmann:

QUOTE

Thomas Graham Farish founded the company in 1919 to manufacture radio components. The business began in Catford but moved to Masons Hill, Bromley in 1922. The company expanded its business portfolio by building electric fires etc between the wars. At one time senior managers in the company included a Mr Morphy and a Mr Richards who later went on to form Morphy-Richards.

World War 2 saw the company undertaking war work ,which resulted in the company acquiring die-casting machines. After the war they decided to combine their skills of electronics and die-casting to launch into model railways. The company pioneered the first commercially produced two rail locomotive for the British market in the form of a Black 5 (Farish termed this a General Purpose 5 locomotive - GP5) in 1949, the track was announced the previous year. A small range of locomotives followed including a Merchant Navy in streamlined form, a GWR King, SR Q Class in three rail only, GWR 94xx pannier and an 81xx prairie tank. An HO gauge New York Central Hudson locomotive (4-6-4) was also produced, along with some stainless steel type coaches. A small range of coaches followed along with 5 types of diecast wagon.

Production was affected by shortages of raw materials in the 1950s and the company took a break to concentrate on other business activities. It returned in 1961 with an upgraded OO range with only the 94xx and the prairie returning. The wagons were now produced in plastic between 1962 and 1964 but were short lived.

A move to Holton Heath (Poole) followed in 1964. This gave the company the opportunity to expand its OO activities and to introduce the first N gauge items in 1970. The wagons were now all plastic and the coaches produced to a high standard. It is these that are often seen for sale as much of the early material suffered from deformed bakelite / plastic. A number of modellers in the 1960s converted the King to run on a Hornby-Dublo Castle chassis and the Merchant Navy to run on Tri-ang Winston Churchill chassis.

The OO items continued to be sold until around 1981 but the emergence of Mainline Railways and Airfix Railways in the late 1970s had resulted in the company deciding to concentrate on the expanding N gauge market, which it continued to serve as the major (and at times only) supplier of British ready to run until the company was acquired by Bachmann Europe on the retirement of Peter Graham Farish in 2000.

[red16v]

Nudging the topic slightly sideways, the old Decca TV factory is still there down the road from Battersea power station. It's a self-storage site now (like we need more of those).

[Jon_G4MDC]

From Welwyn Garden City Handbook and Directory 1953/4 the addresses listed for Murphy Radio were

Broadwater Road 1/5, 19 and 27/31 (probably all gone but we will see)
Bessemer Road West Side (number unspecified - most likely gone - this is not the same site as the Rank Building of 1961)
Hyde Way 21a,b &c, 23a,b &c, and 27c ( these were sectional units and still standing AFIK )
36/40 and 54/56 Tewin Road (so I was right about that one after all! Also still standing I reckon)
These sites spread over adjacent streets a few hundred yards apart.

Also of note in Hyde Way (and oddly I walked up it this morning, but before reading this thread, otherwise I would have paid much more attention)

17 Ferramic Industries
31/33 Neosid Limited who did ferrites for sure.
Suppliers co-locating with their biggest customer perhaps?
Scope for more research.

Picked up another one 181/183 Peartree Lane - Murphy Radio Hostel. (?)

[Peter.N.]

Originally Posted by Humber888

The information below about Graham Farish comes from http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums...showtopic=5210. The company had moved out before I came to Bromley.

Interesting that, thanks. They were in Masons hill when I remember them, near the Hayes lane traffic lights, but that was a long time ago.

Peter

[McMurdo]

JG Graves, Sheffield.