Radio Factories Today?
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Location: Cameron Park, NSW
Member since 5 November 2010
Member #: 770
Postcount: 385
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My recollection of STC's valve manufacturing was that they were more special use rather than domestic radio applications. Submarine cable repeaters comes to mind. This fits in with the above posts re PMG and military valves.
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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Today I headed for Green Square to photograph the STC site, or what is left of it. One original building remains but the rest has been replaced with blocks of flats and a small amount of retail space.
In photo four, it can be seen that concrete cancer, a traditional problem that buildings of this era face, is not being adequately dealt with by the body-corporate. Concrete cancer is caused by the reinforcement steel inside the concrete being positioned too close to the surface of a slab, causing moisture to attack it. The rust expands and in time blows chunks of the concrete away. This is dealt with today in the Building Code of Australia which prohibits reinforcing steel being closer than a certain distance to the surface of a concrete slab or casting. I believe this distance is 50mm.
On the upside, I am pleased that the body-corporate has caused a notice to be placed on the foyer noticeboard describing the original use of the building, as per the last photo.
The remaining old building is on Wyndham Street, Alexandria. the smaller building opposite ( photo two) is currently a textile factory. I am not sure whether or not it was originally used by STC or another company and there is no indicator of prior usage on the building itself.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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Here is a photo of the original AWA Radio-Electric Works in Knox Street, Darlington, NSW. It has been converted to a block of flats. No indication of the building's original use appears visible.
The Expanse B valve and coffin-shaped Radiola models were made in this factory.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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Below are three photos of the EMI factory on Parramatta Road, Homebush, NSW. This is where receivers carrying the His Master's Voice brand were made.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
Member since 10 March 2013
Member #: 1312
Postcount: 401
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Thanks for the photos Brad. I'd been past the old HMV factory almost daily for many years but didn't realise what it was. It's size is deceiving from Parramatta Road, I had no idea it went so far back.
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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It goes back about 250m. The road between the two main buildings ends at a substation that powers part of the Western Rail Line, between Strathfield and Homebush stations. There is also a canal - fenced off these days though when I was a kid we used to use it as a freeway when riding home from school.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Location: Silver City WI, US
Member since 10 May 2013
Member #: 1340
Postcount: 977
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As I imagined HMV would be a serious factory, had seen "Homebush" on TV backcovers. Parking structure paintwork survives! STC red brick buildings on corners very solid nostalgic pre-war, hope they can be saved.
Still can't see how modern economic model of ever more 'Residential & Retail' can replace the 'value-added' wealth generation of manufacturing?
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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Still can't see how modern economic model of ever more 'Residential & Retail' can replace the 'value-added' wealth generation of manufacturing?
The area around Botany, Bunnerong and Alexandria was a hive of industrial activity in years gone by. Everyone from car manufacturers (Leyland in Zetland and even the once-mighty Holden in Rosebery), glass and bottle manufacturers, radio manufacturers to clothing, footwear and homeware manufacturers occupied the area. Right slap in the middle was Royal South Sydney Hospital to cater for all the OH&S disasters that may have taken place at the time. I am not sure what came of the Leyland factory though the former Holden site is now occupied by Westfield Eastgardens.
Looking at a satellite photo now will reveal a steady shift from factories, chimney stacks and a large population of blue collar workers to seemingly endless blocks of flats, both new buildings and converted factories.
To be honest I cannot see the sense in post-industrialism either. It flies in the face of the Australian way but a lot of people seem resigned to it and are content with buying cheap garbage that ultimately ends up on the tip before it is a year old. Some people even go as far as calling this progress though I have often referred to it as a nation sh#tt#ng in its own bathwater, excuse my pub-Latin.
More photos to come.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 28 January 2011
Member #: 823
Postcount: 6678
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Looking at a satellite photo now will reveal a steady shift from factories, chimney stacks and a large population of blue collar workers to seemingly endless blocks of flats, both new buildings and converted factories.
Yep, the land is worth far more to the owners zoned as residential or residential+retail than heavy industrial. Same reason that petrol stations, once found on almost every corner, have almost disappeared from the scene.
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Location: Ballarat, VIC
Member since 4 January 2011
Member #: 803
Postcount: 456
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I am not sure what came of the Leyland factory
The old Leyland factory was across the road from Email at Joynton Ave Zetland. The whole lot has been demolished and apartment housing built on the site.
As a nod to its historic past, the new roads within the subdivision have Leyland themed names, so we have Austin, Morris, Leyland and Wolseley Groves.
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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Here is the promised photo of the STC piped music system I mentioned in a previous post.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 28 January 2011
Member #: 823
Postcount: 6678
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As a nod to its historic past, the new roads within the subdivision have Leyland themed names, so we have Austin, Morris, Leyland and Wolseley Groves.
What, no P76 Place?
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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Here is what the Philips valve factory in Camperdown, NSW looks like today. A photo of how it used to look was posted by GTC earlier.
This is next door to what used to be one of Bonds clothing factories. The Bonds "Chesty" logo is still painted on what looks like a water tower or lift motor room above the roofline.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 28 January 2011
Member #: 823
Postcount: 6678
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Thanks for all the recent site photos. I figure you must be on leave ... or skiving off from the office
Did you find that other site in Mallett St you mentioned earlier -- the one with the historic plaque?
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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I found the building but no plaque which is making me wonder where I got the info that it had something to do with radio production. I can't find any details now, as I first photographed the building some years ago but it is on the corner of Mountain and Kelly Streets in Ultimo. Very close to the old Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children site. The building is now used for student accommodation by the looks of things.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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