Relda Radio & Eagle

[Alan Stepney]

Relda radio was, as I am sure many here know, started by Mr Adler.
(I cant remember his first name. But it wasnt Larry!)

As is obvious he liked anagrams.

They were one of the first, if not THE first to import and market Eagle products from Japan.
I understood at the time that he, Adler, had thought up the name (think German) and that was the origin of what became one of the most popular brands for many years.


Can anyone confirm this, or have any views, or even knowledge, on the subject?

[igranic]

After 1960, Relda Radio's advertisements in Practical Wireless were certainly dominated by Eagle brand products. Prior to that, they seemed to carry a representative mix of government surplus equipment. This is confirmed by examples in my possession.

Edward

[AmateurZS2RD]

For a short while in the early 60's, I worked for the company both at Tottenham Court Road as well as Coptic Street.

The company directors were Bernie Adler (father) and his two sons, Norman and Michael.

Norman learnt Japanese to be able to communicate with the businesses in Japan, Michael was in charge of merchandising in the U.K. and Bernie kept an eye on the running of the business.

As you may be aware, the business started with selling ex World War 2 surplus from their store in Tottenham Court Road and later started importing amplifiers and loudspeakers from Japan.

From 1966 onwards, they seem to have disappeared from advertising in Camm's Comic, a.k.a Practical Wireless.

[G6Tanuki]

From what I remember, Eagle had some sort of association with another company called Altai, who distributed cheap-and-cheerful stuff like audio-leads, microphone preamps, headphones/ microphones, CB SWR-meters/power-supplies/speakers and the like.

Related thread here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=155492

[Hartley118]

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

From what I remember, Eagle had some sort of association with another company called Altai, who distributed cheap-and-cheerful stuff like audio-leads, microphone preamps, headphones/ microphones, CB SWR-meters/power-supplies/speakers and the like.

Related thread here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=155492

It may be no coincidence that, in addition to Adler, another German immigrant by the name of Altaras was active in the import of electronic kit. My contribution to the related thread may be of interest:

The Companies House entry for Altai Group showing the previous company name as L. H. Altaras reminded me that this group have their origin in the entrepreneurship of the German immigrant Altaras family.

I remember going to meet Mr Altaras in his Manchester office/warehouse in North Manchester in the 1960s. He was very focused on his enterprise and was very clearly the boss of the outfit (and its employees, who did as they were told). The warehouse was packed with all manner of ex-WD equipment, this being the age when government surplus was still big business. I remember he was rejoicing that the price of copper was rising and he was planning to make money from his stock of wound components.

The warehouse was in an old cotton mill on the floor above a garment factory which played music all day to entertain its seamstresses. This music was disturbing Mr Altaras and his employees and I was visiting as a potential noise control adviser. ISTR that the solution lay in use of the amplifier volume control!

Altaras's brands have usually included 'Alt' as part of the name: e.g. before the appearance of Altai, Altham was a popular brand for electronics Far East imports. Originally I believe that Altham was an early 20th century radio retail brand in Manchester controlled by the Altaras family. I guess that the 'ham' part of the name suggested an aim at the radio amateur market.

There may well be a connection by marriage between the Altaras and Adler families, both of course of German immigrant origin, but I haven't yet managed to trace recent firm evidence of that.

It's interesting that some of those familiar brand names in our business are traceable to one immigrant family, and perhaps a group of families. Like Alan Sugar, they were successful in business before the word 'entrepreneur' became common currency.

Martin
__________________

[Vintage Engr]

Originally Posted by AmateurZS2RD

For a short while in the early 60's, I worked for the company both at Tottenham Court Road as well as Coptic Street.

The company directors were Bernie Adler (father) and his two sons, Norman and Michael.

Norman learnt Japanese to be able to communicate with the businesses in Japan, Michael was in charge of merchandising in the U.K. and Bernie kept an eye on the running of the business.

As you may be aware, the business started with selling ex World War 2 surplus from their store in Tottenham Court Road and later started importing amplifiers and loudspeakers from Japan.

From 1966 onwards, they seem to have disappeared from advertising in Camm's Comic, a.k.a Practical Wireless.

That brings back memories,
I went for a Job interview at the Coptic St. branch, it must have been around 1973/4. It was one of the Adler's, who I saw, but I can't remember which one.
They were looking for someone to work on Hi-fi amplifiers & FM stereo decoders.
I was working for Rank at the time, but didn't take the job as it looked a bit of a dead end.

David.

[Reelman]

For those who want to read a little more in Gerry Adler’s own words see:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK...PW-1971-04.pdf

Page 988, don’t worry, about 5 pages in!

Subsequent issues may contain further and different Eagle adverts.

I remember reading this 50 years ago but I had to look at a few issues to find the exact one I recalled. Thanks goodness for the Worldradiohistory.com site.

Peter