Murphy Radio
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Murphy Radio was a British manufacturer of radios and televisions based in Welwyn Garden City, England.
History
[edit | edit source]1929: inception
[edit | edit source]Murphy Radio was founded in 1929 by Frank Murphy and E.J. Power[2] as a volume manufacturer of home radio sets. Its factories were in the Hertfordshire town of Welwyn Garden City, England, starting with fewer than 100 employees. Murphy also had a manufacturing facility in Islandbridge, Dublin, Ireland.
1939+: expansion
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The company played an important role during World War II, designing and manufacturing radio sets for British Armed Forces use, chiefly the Wireless Set No. 38. After the war, Murphy used its military experience to design and build sets for Naval use, principally the 'B40' series[3] for the British Commonwealth Navies. The company also produced the Larkspur era A41 VHF manpack transceiver for the British Army during the 1950s.[4]
Murphy himself left the company during 1937 and went on to found another company called, perhaps unwisely, 'FM Radio'. He died aged 65, in 1955.[5]
1959 onward
[edit | edit source]The company became well known for the manufacture of television sets and was successful up until 1959 when it encountered trading difficulties, similar to others in the industry. In 1962, The Rank Organisation thought there might be advantages if they merged Murphy with their Bush Radio business. As part of the acquisition and reorganisation by Rank, Murphy acquired the undertaking and assets of Bush as well as Rank Cintel, Rank's electronic division.[6]
Current status
[edit | edit source]The brand 'Murphy' has survived, but as a licensee for Far Eastern electronics.[citation needed]
In popular media
[edit | edit source]In 2012, the brand gained attention in India due to the movie Barfi!. A vintage Murphy radio also appears in the opening of the 2012 film Life of Pi.
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Murphy Radio – Dave Grant
- History of radio in the United Kingdom
- Electronics companies of the United Kingdom
- Defunct manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom
- Companies based in Welwyn Hatfield
- Electronics companies established in 1929
- Electronics companies disestablished in 1962
- 1929 establishments in England
- 1962 disestablishments in England
- Radio manufacturers