Who were the models selling 1930's sets? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Cobaltblue · 1st Oct 2018, 10:11 pm

It suddenly occured to me (after all I am just a bloke)

There were models mostly female used to promote radio sets pre war.

Can we ever know who these ladies were ?

Were they employees?

Interesting how tastes have changed mosts 1930's models were what I would describe as normal healthy ladies.

Today they would not be models since they are thin as paper.

Just a different age.

The makers differed the look was similar.

Cheers

Mike T

MurphyNut · 2nd Oct 2018, 4:32 am

A rather impressive radio with a modest looking model.

Radio Wrangler · 2nd Oct 2018, 7:22 am

That radio isn't impressive, it's intimidating! Who would dare turn it on?

I think there are some people on here who remember Miss Taylor of Taylor's component shop in Huddersfield. She was tall, thin and very, very elegant. A very nice person. She took over the business on her fathers death and moved it from Macaulay street to King street.

She was a model in the pre-war period, and it was quite a respectable occupation back then. She kept the business going as long as she could as a hobby. She liked meeting people and finding out what the regulars had been up to. I wonder how much time I spent sitting on the floor making a fuss of the Jack Russel. A good friend.

A connection between radio, televisors and modelling, but in another direction.

If whoever robbed her shop ever came to light, there would have been a lynch mob brandishing hot soldering irons.

David

HamishBoxer · 2nd Oct 2018, 8:08 am

Who could afford to buy and run it?

YoungManGW · 2nd Oct 2018, 8:28 am

This set looks to be quite exciting.
Regards,
Richard

rontech · 2nd Oct 2018, 8:44 am

In the late 30's early 40's I would imagine a radio like that would be under the control of The Minister for Propaganda!

Herald1360 · 2nd Oct 2018, 9:34 am

It looks like the sound system for a hotel ballroom or similar. In the first picture, the model is holding what appears to be a microphone.

It looks very American!

GrimJosef · 2nd Oct 2018, 10:17 am

I don't know about radios but in the 1960s H J Leak & Co Ltd had a HiFi show stand manned, for want of a better word, by Harold Leak's daughter and daughter-in-law wearing aluminised Melinex dresses, so they would be family rather than employees.

There's also this famous image of a model demonstrating the strength and rigidity of a Leak 'Sandwich' loudspeaker cone with Harold acting as an attentive onlooker (not at the loudspeaker cone). This copy is from Stephen Spicer's excellent history of Leak, Firsts In High Fidelity. I imagine she was paid, hopefully with a risk premium given the somewhat wobbly looking arrangement she was perched on !

Cheers,

GJ

John10b · 2nd Oct 2018, 10:42 am

The pictures that Clive posted of the Radio really surprised me, I’ve never seen a Radio that big! Was it intended for the home? I would have loved to have listened to it and turned the volume right up!
Cheers
John

HamishBoxer · 2nd Oct 2018, 10:47 am

Yes John,make sure you put your shilling in the meter first.

crackle · 2nd Oct 2018, 11:14 am

In 1934 KB did this promotional photo for their "New Pup". showing off the benefits of the battery version of the radio.

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Around 1937 they used Carroll Levis, who is Carroll Levis you may ask? Well he was very big in the mid 30's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroll_Levis

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Here he is again seen with some of the KB staff outside the factory at Foots Cray. They don't make cars like that any more.

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Mike

Nickthedentist · 2nd Oct 2018, 12:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimJosef

There's also this famous image of a model demonstrating the strength and rigidity of a Leak 'Sandwich' loudspeaker cone with Harold acting as an attentive onlooker (not at the loudspeaker cone). This copy is from Stephen Spicer's excellent history of Leak, Firsts In High Fidelity. I imagine she was paid, hopefully with a risk premium given the somewhat wobbly looking arrangement she was perched on!

I always think that HJ has morphed into Sid James in that picture

MurphyNut · 2nd Oct 2018, 1:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by John10b

The pictures that Clive posted of the Radio really surprised me, I’ve never seen a Radio that big! Was it intended for the home? I would have loved to have listened to it and turned the volume right up!
Cheers
John

Here's a link for further reading John-

http://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/ar...ossus-of-radio

John10b · 2nd Oct 2018, 2:31 pm

Thank you Clive, makes very interesting reading. I wonder what Mr Crosley would say if he saw some of the latest Crosley products?
Cheers
John

dseymo1 · 2nd Oct 2018, 2:55 pm

Interesting that it included a fidelity control!
I wonder how many users set it to 'low'?

GrimJosef · 2nd Oct 2018, 4:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dseymo1

Interesting that it included a fidelity control!
I wonder how many users set it to 'low'?

Just for a moment I read that in the context of the thread subject ...

.

Cheers,

GJ

dave walsh · 2nd Oct 2018, 4:26 pm

Richards "quite exciting" set [p5] is best viewed in conjunction with a VAN Morrison sound track for maximum effect ie "Turn it up, Turn it up , A Little bit higher, Radio". The song "CaraVAN"... performed with great enthusiasm live for the making of the film "The Last Waltz"!

Dave

stevehertz · 2nd Oct 2018, 6:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrimJosef

There's also this famous image of a model demonstrating the strength and rigidity of a Leak 'Sandwich' loudspeaker cone with Harold acting as an attentive onlooker (not at the loudspeaker cone). This copy is from Stephen Spicer's excellent history of Leak, Firsts In High Fidelity. I imagine she was paid, hopefully with a risk premium given the somewhat wobbly looking arrangement she was perched on!

I always think that HJ has morphed into Sid James in that picture

Nyha ha ha.

Red to black · 2nd Oct 2018, 7:25 pm

Smirk, snigger

insert double entendre here

ColinTheAmpMan1 · 3rd Oct 2018, 12:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by crackle

Around 1937 they used Carroll Levis, who is Carroll Levis you may ask? Well he was very big in the mid 30's

I have a vague recollection of Carroll Levis on 50s(?) television. There was some play on the names of the medium and his surname - television.
Colin.

1st Oct 2018, 10:11 pm	#1
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,863	Who were the models selling 1930's sets? It suddenly occured to me (after all I am just a bloke) There were models mostly female used to promote radio sets pre war. Can we ever know who these ladies were ? Were they employees? Interesting how tastes have changed mosts 1930's models were what I would describe as normal healthy ladies. Today they would not be models since they are thin as paper. Just a different age. The makers differed the look was similar. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

2nd Oct 2018, 4:32 am	#2
MurphyNut Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? A rather impressive radio with a modest looking model. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Clive Last edited by MurphyNut; 2nd Oct 2018 at 4:40 am.

2nd Oct 2018, 7:22 am	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,864	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? That radio isn't impressive, it's intimidating! Who would dare turn it on? I think there are some people on here who remember Miss Taylor of Taylor's component shop in Huddersfield. She was tall, thin and very, very elegant. A very nice person. She took over the business on her fathers death and moved it from Macaulay street to King street. She was a model in the pre-war period, and it was quite a respectable occupation back then. She kept the business going as long as she could as a hobby. She liked meeting people and finding out what the regulars had been up to. I wonder how much time I spent sitting on the floor making a fuss of the Jack Russel. A good friend. A connection between radio, televisors and modelling, but in another direction. If whoever robbed her shop ever came to light, there would have been a lynch mob brandishing hot soldering irons. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

2nd Oct 2018, 8:08 am	#4
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? Who could afford to buy and run it? __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

2nd Oct 2018, 8:28 am	#5
YoungManGW Hexode Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oswestry, Shropshire, UK. Posts: 408	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? This set looks to be quite exciting. Regards, Richard Attached Thumbnails

2nd Oct 2018, 8:44 am	#6
rontech Heptode Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 646	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? In the late 30's early 40's I would imagine a radio like that would be under the control of The Minister for Propaganda!

2nd Oct 2018, 9:34 am	#7
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? It looks like the sound system for a hotel ballroom or similar. In the first picture, the model is holding what appears to be a microphone. It looks very American! __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

2nd Oct 2018, 10:17 am	#8
GrimJosef Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 4,311	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? I don't know about radios but in the 1960s H J Leak & Co Ltd had a HiFi show stand manned, for want of a better word, by Harold Leak's daughter and daughter-in-law wearing aluminised Melinex dresses, so they would be family rather than employees. There's also this famous image of a model demonstrating the strength and rigidity of a Leak 'Sandwich' loudspeaker cone with Harold acting as an attentive onlooker (not at the loudspeaker cone). This copy is from Stephen Spicer's excellent history of Leak, Firsts In High Fidelity. I imagine she was paid, hopefully with a risk premium given the somewhat wobbly looking arrangement she was perched on ! Cheers, GJ Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.ampregen.com

2nd Oct 2018, 10:42 am	#9
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,883	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? The pictures that Clive posted of the Radio really surprised me, I’ve never seen a Radio that big! Was it intended for the home? I would have loved to have listened to it and turned the volume right up! Cheers John

2nd Oct 2018, 10:47 am	#10
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? Yes John,make sure you put your shilling in the meter first. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

2nd Oct 2018, 11:14 am	#11
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? In 1934 KB did this promotional photo for their "New Pup". showing off the benefits of the battery version of the radio. Around 1937 they used Carroll Levis, who is Carroll Levis you may ask? Well he was very big in the mid 30's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carroll_Levis Here he is again seen with some of the KB staff outside the factory at Foots Cray. They don't make cars like that any more. Mike

2nd Oct 2018, 2:31 pm	#14
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,883	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? Thank you Clive, makes very interesting reading. I wonder what Mr Crosley would say if he saw some of the latest Crosley products? Cheers John

2nd Oct 2018, 2:55 pm	#15
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? Interesting that it included a fidelity control! I wonder how many users set it to 'low'?

2nd Oct 2018, 4:26 pm	#17
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? Richards "quite exciting" set [p5] is best viewed in conjunction with a VAN Morrison sound track for maximum effect ie "Turn it up, Turn it up , A Little bit higher, Radio". The song "CaraVAN"... performed with great enthusiasm live for the making of the film "The Last Waltz"! Dave

2nd Oct 2018, 7:25 pm	#19
Red to black Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 2,474	Re: Who were the models selling 1930's sets? Smirk, snigger insert double entendre here __________________ I don't suffer from Insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.