Bowyer-Lowe Co., Ltd.
Radio Works, Letchworth, Hertfordshire (1923 - 1929)

Recordaphones Ltd.
Astor House, Aldwych London WC2 (1928 -1930)

Founded in 1922, Bowyer-Lowe Co. built radio components. In 1928, they saw a chance to manufacture the Recordaphone, a new sound recording device. A public company, Recordaphones, Ltd., was formed to capitalize on this technology. Bowyer-Lowe even joined their board. However, by 1929, the Recordaphone failed to gain traction.

Recordaphones couldn't financially support Bowyer-Lowe anymore. Citing a lack of funding, competition, and a general economic slump, Bowyer-Lowe blamed the company's demise on these factors. With the bank taking action and a bleak market outlook, Bowyer-Lowe Co. entered liquidation by the end of 1929. Recordaphones followed suit in 1930. Though Bowyer-Lowe Co. itself was short-lived, its founder, Albert Bowyer-Lowe, would resurface in the audio equipment industry soon after.

A Tale of Innovation and Missed Opportunities:

The Rise and Fall of Bowyer-Lowe Co., Ltd. (1922-1929)

Emerging in the vibrant world of early radio in 1922, Bowyer-Lowe Co., Ltd. embodied the spirit of invention and entrepreneurial ambition. Founded by Albert Edwin Bowyer-Lowe (1884-1976), an engineer and inventor, the company began as a private venture focused on the burgeoning field of wireless apparatus. Their initial success likely stemmed from the production of variable condensers, crucial components in tuning circuits of radio receivers.

The Recordaphone Gamble: A Leap into Uncharted Territory (1928):

In June 1928, fate presented Bowyer-Lowe with a captivating opportunity. Stanley Grove Spiro approached the company with an intriguing invention – the Recordaphone. This device promised the ability to record and subsequently reproduce sound, a concept brimming with potential. Recognizing the possibilities, Bowyer-Lowe, ever the innovator, saw a chance to expand beyond their core business. He assessed the Recordaphone and concluded that with some adjustments to their existing capabilities, Bowyer-Lowe Co. could become the manufacturer of this novel technology.[1]

Birth of Recordaphones, Ltd.: Ambition Meets Public Investment (October 1928):

Just four months later, in October 1928, a pivotal shift occurred. Bowyer-Lowe's vision for the Recordaphone materialized in the form of a new public company – Recordaphones, Ltd. Boasting a significant capital of £200,000, this company aimed to capitalize on the potential of sound recording technology. Through a strategic acquisition, Recordaphones secured the rights to the Recordaphone invention and a manufacturing license from British Telegraphones Ltd. for a sum of £75,000 in cash and shares. [2]

Bowyer-Lowe's industry expertise and leadership in the Radio Manufacturers' Association likely played a significant role in his invitation to join the board of Recordaphones. This move could have been motivated by a two-pronged strategy: securing manufacturing contracts for Bowyer-Lowe Co. and leveraging his knowledge to guide the new company's direction.

A Short-Lived Alliance: Dreams Collide with Reality (January – November 1929):

The beginning of 1929 witnessed an attempt to solidify the connection between the two companies. In January, Recordaphones, aiming for a vertically integrated structure, proposed acquiring Bowyer-Lowe Co. as a manufacturing subsidiary. This move would have brought Bowyer-Lowe's production expertise directly under the umbrella of Recordaphones. The plan saw Bowyer-Lowe and his partner, Widgery, acquire the existing shares of Bowyer-Lowe Co. They then promptly sold their acquired shares to Recordaphones for a sum of £34,436.

However, the dream of a thriving market for the Recordaphone quickly soured. Despite initial optimism, the invention failed to generate the anticipated level of consumer demand. By mid-November 1929, the harsh reality of the situation became apparent. Recordaphones could no longer financially support Bowyer-Lowe Co. This lack of funding, coupled with a confluence of other factors, sealed the fate of both companies. Bowyer-Lowe cited a combination of challenges: insufficient financial backing from Recordaphones, fierce competition in the market, overproduction by larger companies, and a general economic downturn that dampened consumer spending.[1]

Liquidation and Legacy: A Story with Two Endings (1929-1930):

The bank holding a debenture on Bowyer-Lowe Co., sensing financial distress, exercised its rights and appointed a receiver. This action effectively shut down the factory and initiated a process of selling the company's assets. Faced with these circumstances, a statutory meeting of creditors and shareholders confirmed the company's liquidation. [3]

Meanwhile, Recordaphones, unable to sustain itself without a viable product and its manufacturing arm, followed suit in August 1930. The ambitious dream of widespread Recordaphone adoption had become a cautionary tale.

Although Bowyer-Lowe Co.'s journey as an independent entity proved short-lived, the story doesn't end here. Albert Bowyer-Lowe, the company's founder, would resurface soon after in the audio equipment industry.

He would be associated with Bowyer-Lowe & A.E.D. Ltd., a company likely acquiring assets from the defunct Auto Electric Devices Ltd. and focusing on gramophone pick-ups, demonstrating his continued entrepreneurial spirit.

The story of Bowyer-Lowe Co., Ltd. serves as a reminder of the inherent risks associated with innovation, particularly in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. While the Recordaphone failed to capture the market,

[1] Wireless & Gramophone Trader Aug 30, 1930, Page 232.
[2] Wireless & Gramophone Trader Jul 5, 1930, Page 25.
[3] Wireless World Aug 6, 1930, Page 9.