The survivors - Page two

Eclipse

Eclipse Radio, based in South Melbourne, Victoria, made receivers under the Eclipse, Eclipse-Croyden, Monarch, Croyden and Peter Pan brands. Eclipse also marketed brandless and badge-engineered models for sale by department stores. During the war Eclipse made mobile radio transmitters for the Royal Australian Air Force and telephone amplifiers for the United States Signal Corps. In 1939 Eclipse was sold to Electronic Industries Limited, which was later acquired by Philips Industries Limited. Philips remains in business as a Dutch based domestic appliance maker.

Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company

The Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company Limited (EMMCO) responded to the situation where all watt-hour meters were imported from Great Britain during the early 1920's by setting up a local manufacturing base for the devices essential for billing electricity consumers for the power they consume. After becoming a dominant player in their chosen field, EMMCO moved to making radio parts and their most popular product for a long time was the famous battery eliminator, which allowed battery operated receivers to be run from the 240 volt mains supply.

EMMCO later moved into receiver manufacturing and sets were made under the EMMCO, Westinghouse, Gulbransen and Philco brands. During the late 1930's EMMCO cut back on production of their own brand but still made many badge-engineered receivers. In 1934 EMMCO merged with New Telephones Proprietary Limited to form the Electricity Meter and Allied Industried Limited (EMAIL) company. A massive expansion campaign began and EMAIL was soon an employer of 7,000 people. During World War II EMAIL made transmission and reception gear as well as power control equipment for the Australian Armed Forces.

After the war, manufacturing was shifted to Orange, New South Wales and products included fridges, freezers, energy metering equipment, stoves and air conditioners. EMAIL brands included Email, Emailair, Westinghouse, Carmichael, Elcon, Metters and Weatherall. Later takeovers of competitors such as Simpson, Malleys, Frigidaire and Kelvinator added to the production stable. EMAIL was recently taken over by Electrolux Appliances after a brief ownership by wine maker, Southcorp. Electrolux also owns and produces appliances under the Electrolux, Flymo, Vulcan, Rheem and Hoover brands.

Essanay

Essanay is a name taken from the first letters of the surnames of the company founders, Messrs Walter Sweeney and Ernest Austin. Essanay was incorporated in 1928 after the founders served in the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Imperial Forces, respectively. By 1930 Essanay were producing receivers, the quality of which, made the brand quite renowned. In 1934 their domestic product line was available as a fully manufactured unit with warranty and support or as a kit and these included broadcast band and shortwave receivers running on mains or battery power.

Essanay had close relations with AZ Radio and Zenith and all these manufacturers were disolved and the assets sold to Electronics Industries Limited in 1937.

Eveready Australia

Originally known as the British Ever Ready Electrical Company Limited, Eveready started importing and limited manufacture all kinds of battery cells for radio receivers and torches at a small building in Rowe Street, Sydney during 1901, the year of Federation. In 1919 the company moved to Marshal Street in the inner suburb of Surry Hills where full scale manufacture began.

Eveready was absorbed by National Carbon, an American company, in 1932, who previously was a major competitor. In 1937, further rationalisation took place when Union Carbide, also an American company, took over Eveready. Radio receivers were sold under the Eveready brand in the United States but they were never sold here. Today, Eveready is one of the leading producers of cells in Australia though most production has shifted to China.

Healing

Alfred George Healing started making receivers in 1922 when commercial broadcasting commenced. The heyday for the company began when they started making receivers with the 'Golden Voice' brand in 1925. In 1930 the Commonwealth Government introduced import tariffs which virtually prohibited the mass-importation of sets.

At the time Healing was an importing agent of Atwater Kent receivers and cone speakers from the United States but in response to the new tax, Healing began making Atwater Kent sets in Australia under licence. The sets carried the Healing brand. During World War II Healing manufactured radar equipment for the various armed forces throughout the British Empire. Healing expanded into television in 1956 but in 1975 when the Commonwealth started relaxing tariff protection, manufacturing ceased and Healing was eventually wound up.

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