Thread: Murphy A122
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Old 14th Nov 2017, 7:30 pm   #9
David G4EBT
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Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
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Default Re: Murphy A122

Quote:
Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell View Post
A set well worth getting going by repair, rather than restoration keeping the history of its life. IMHO the cabinet is worth getting looking brand new, no stain, let the wood shine through, Murphy did make a very good cabinet with style.

They where very modern in design and you may get away with it in a contemporary room, call it the iWood.
The cabinets weren't actually designed or made by Murphy, but by R.D. Mills and Eden Minns.

In 1930 Gordon Russell – a furniture designer whose business was suffering due to the depression - received a call from Frank Murphy who said “ I am an engineer making radio sets and for some time have admired your furniture – would you like to design and make cabinets for me?” Over the next ten years Dick Russell and Eden Minns designed over 70 radio sets, gramophones and televisions. By 1939 Gordon Russell’s employed close on 1,000 employees, the majority engaged in Murphy cabinet production in a newly built factory at Park Royal, London.

A lovely example of a Murphy baffle set here:

1930 – 1940:

http://www.gordonrusselldesignmuseum.org/six-decades/

Gordon Russell also led the team that designed and arranged the manufacture of 'CC41' utility furniture by firms all over Britain during and after the war years, much of which was of course urgently needed due to people being bombed out of house and home and having to set up home again.

http://www.gordonrusselldesignmuseum.org/six-decades/

The Gordon Russell Design Museum, opened in 2008, is located at Broadway Worcester, in the Cotswolds - where the 'Arts & Crafts' movement originated:

http://www.gordonrusselldesignmuseum...ordon-russell/

I recently mentioned an excellent free 85-page 'e-book' about the history of Murphy cabinet design from 1930 - 1950 and the role of R.D. Russell and Eden Minns - lots of excellent pictures from glass plates rescued from a skip at the Murphy factory in the nick of time. The Author of the book worked at Murphy and was involved in cabinet design with Russel, & Minns. Worth giving the link again:

http://www.*************************..._1930-1950.pdf

I can understand why so many enthuse about Murphy sets of that golden era.

Hope that's of interest.

In many ways, its rather a shame that it often tends only to be the electronics that arouses interest in radio restorations - cabinetry being considered by many as something of a chore.
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