First Ekco radio?

[unrealdave]

Does anyone know the first EKCO radio produced? I know they started off making eliminators but what was the first radio? Any help appreciated

[Bassoonbloke]

Hi Dave,

I have one of these which I believe is a very early and quite rare Ekco radio. Its an AC-SGP3. There was also a DC vesion without the mains TX.
I believe it was made in 1929/1930.
When I got mine it was missing it's valves, but I managed to get hold of them and after re-stuffing the caps it works pretty well even using it's original Metal rectifier.
Any help?

Alan.

[pwdrive]

This one dates from 1927:

http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/...%22ekco%22

Lawrence.

[Bassoonbloke]

Ok, so it beats mine, but mine was still pretty early

Alan.

[Terry]

There are reports of Cole and his then girlfriend making receivers as early as 1924 at a rate of 6 a week but whether they were branded EKCO or not, I don't know.

I don't know what level of detail this book goes into. It is available from Amazon but possibly someone in the Southend area might be able to find it in a local library and report back ...

[unrealdave]

Hi guys - great response thanks - the earliest I had heard of was the all electric Model 313, so the 1927 one beats that. 1927 was the date of the new factory according to my search's - "In 1926 a private company E.K. Cole Ltd was formed with Verrells as chairman and Cole as vice-chairman. With the extra funding that was raised, the company set up a new factory at Leigh-on-Sea in 1927"

Your right Terry, but I cant find any mention anyplace of a model number. - "Cole and his future wife Muriel Bradshaw started out making radio sets in 1924."

Alan - Lovely looking set (I want one! ) must be just before the move to Bakelite.

I am getting some info together for Havering Museum as they are putting a display of some sets on next week, and I am worried I might have taken on a bit to much - been writing up labels etc for ages (takes about 15/20 mins per label for each set as I don't want to just cut and paste from the internet) and still trying to get a general document together on wireless from 1920!!! I never knew how much I do not know or understand yet

[ppppenguin]

The man you need is Tom Going. He's done a lot of research on the history of Ekco and is probably knows more about Ekco and their history than anyone else.

I have a postal address for him which I'll PM to you.

This might be useful: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october...eminar.htm

[ppppenguin]

The earliest Ekco noted in "Radio! Radio"" is the SGP3 from 1929.

In "The Setmakers" pp74-76 it says that EK Cole Ltd was founded in October 1926. A letter from Ekco dated 18/5/26 says: "...after that date only be open for business in connection with EKCO Reciving sets..." The rest of the letter marks the end of Ekco's charging and HT units.

[unrealdave]

Hang on Jeff - I just clicked the link and got some stuff about the Southend Museum and Ekco but also a big ad about mature dating with a scantily clad naughty bit smiling at me. Don't mind that but I have never, ever been called mature

I am moving on to Murphy now thanks - got enough to fill a couple of A4 sheets about Ekco and 8 labels for exhibits

Hang on again clicked it again - its asking me to join National Trust now, where's me naughty bit?

[ppppenguin]

I didn't see any ads with that page but I've got Adblock+ and Ghostery running on my browser. Adblock stopped 2 items. Ghostery said it blocked 5 items.

I assume you know that Mike Barker is THE Murphy epxert.