Marconiphone, Sterling, and Plessy

[unrealdave]

I am looking to arrange another exhibition at the local museum, but this time to concentrate on Marconi’s subsidiary Marconiphone, Sterling, and Plessy. I want to cover the relationship between them, their products and ultimately their position at the end of the 20’s early 30’s.

I am looking for anything I can find on this. Obviously, I can google as well as the next man but don’t assume I have seen something, I would rather lots of overlap than miss something.

I am particularly keen on anything about sterling, as I was born in Dagenham (yes, I am that Dagenham Dave)

Thanks for any help
Dave

[Terry]

Dave, do you mean Plessey* or is that an entirely different Plessy?

(I haven't heard of the Sterling company in Dagenham or anywhere else either, so thought I'd better not jump to any conclusions!.)

* IIRC, Plessey once made Ford car radios at the old Co-op shirt factory in Upminster.

[unrealdave]

That's how we spell it in Dagenham!

'* IIRC, Plessey once made Ford car radios at the old Co-op shirt factory in Upminster. ' - this is good stuff - more details please

[Terry]

Sorry, Dave, I haven't a clue where I got that from.

You might find this page useful, particularly the list of references and external links at the end. No mention of the shirt factory, though.

Probably not relevant to your current research but here's a little story about some of those car radios that I repaired.

I assume that there's still a flying club based at North Weald aerodrome, in which case they have something that might be nice to add to your exibit - if they'll let you borrow it.

Many years ago, a former Plessey employee worked at The Avenue pub in Newbury Park and he was incensed that, when Siemens moved in, they saw this item displayed in the main reception and ordered it to be thrown out. It comprised a polished wooden stand featuring a chrome plated incendiary device that had been dropped on the factory and a collection of Luftwaffe reconnaissance material.

In those days, the flying club buildings had also been set up as a museum and I'd visited it only three weeks before and was able to assure him that it had been preserved and was now displayed in their club house beside the bar. Hopefully, it is still there.

[Terry]

Just a thought, Dave.

The old Coop Shirt Factory must be in the London Borough of Havering so does your local museum have any information about its later uses?

I take it you are familiar with Plessey's WWII activities, including the miniature railway*, in the Central Line tunnels under the Eastern Avenue? I've seen lots of pictures of this in the past but not sure where - perhaps the Redbridge Local History Department (in Ilford Central Library) could help with this a lots of Plessey information.

* Possibly Narrow Gauge Railway would be a better description (but it doesn't sound as much fun!)

[unrealdave]

I've not heard of that but I hope to get a copy of "into the sunrise" soon so will let you know what I find out