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Old 4th Apr 2019, 5:37 pm   #1
YoungManGW
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Default Ekco: Birth of the A22

"Hang on lads, I've got a great idea."

Wells Wintemute Coates, standing left, presents the design for what would become the Ekco A22; Eric Kirkham Cole seated right.

BTW, whatever happened to interesting middle names?

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Richard
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Old 4th Apr 2019, 5:44 pm   #2
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

The beholders all look very serious as if pondering whether they should be the one to say "Hmm, not my cup of tea if I'm being honest". Not my view I hasten to add, I like the round Ekco, but they do look less than excited about that 'frivolous' shaped Ekco wireless. That's how it seems to me anyway.
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Old 4th Apr 2019, 6:03 pm   #3
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

I think that's in part due to the photo likely being staged, rather than it being a snap of the actual big reveal. As I understand it, Coates didn't actually design the cabinet for the A22, which was developed in-house, taking cues from the cabinet he did design, the AD65 - designed 1932, released 1934. One can imagine a shocked reaction when Coates presented his original idea, which was for a round radio that laid on its 'back', the whole cabinet rotated to tune the set. "But, old boy, you can't be serious."
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Old 6th Apr 2019, 7:52 am   #4
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

Their expressions are indeed less than 'ding dong ol' boy. I say, what an absolute smasher!'

Some of the best known ideas have come from people with interesting names, Isambard Kingdom, anyone?

Have always preferred the A22 to the other round sets, fortunate enough to own a brown/copper variant, though it needs restoring. I hope to achieve this in time for Christmas 2019.

Richard, where did you find that photo?

Mark
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Old 6th Apr 2019, 8:59 am   #5
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

Mark,
It's reprinted in a 1966 University of London PhD thesis on Wells Coates as architect and designer. From where the thesis author sourced it, I couldn't tell you, I'm afraid.
Regards,
Richard

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Old 6th Apr 2019, 9:01 am   #6
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

As an aside, I never knew that the 'K' in EKCO stood for 'Kirkham', though my father owned an EKCO Radio many years ago- I don't recall the model no., being only about 7 when he sold it, but it had pre-set station buttons as well as manual tuning, and was battery powered, using a 120v HT Battery and a 2v Accumu;ator, plus possibly a 9v grid bias battery, though I'm not sure about the latter.
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Old 6th Apr 2019, 9:15 am   #7
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

Livewire, if it was of Bakelite, that battery-powered set with pre-set station buttons could well have been a PB507? Photo of sister set, sharing the same cabinet, attached.
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Richard
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Old 6th Apr 2019, 11:02 am   #8
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

It was almost 70 years ago, Richard, but AFAIK, Dad's EKCO was horizontal, not vertical. Unfortunately, though I have a few photos from my childhood days, none show the radio in question. My parents are long gone, too, so i have no way to find out what exact model the radio was. It was later replaced with a battery operated HMV, and two different models of Ever Ready Sky Queen, all of those long since gone, too.
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Old 6th Apr 2019, 11:15 am   #9
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

Sounds like the "Dougal" set.
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Old 6th Apr 2019, 11:50 am   #10
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

No presets on the AC86 'Hamish', Dougal!
Perhaps an A23?

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Old 6th Apr 2019, 11:52 am   #11
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

I missed that about the presets,need to pay more attention before typing.Oh,I missed the battery powered too!

Good set the A23,I have 2 of them.
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Old 7th Apr 2019, 12:15 pm   #12
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

Richard, my Dad's radio could have been an A23, though my memory, which may be playing tricks, tells me the pre-set buttons were vertically arranged down thr RH side of the tuning scale.
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Old 7th Apr 2019, 12:48 pm   #13
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

Are you sure it was battery? As the PB189 fits the description,except it is mains driven.
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Old 7th Apr 2019, 1:26 pm   #14
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Default Re: Ekco: Birth of the A22

It was certainly Battery operated as the house in which I lived as a child did not have an electricity supply.
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