Pye (N.Z.) Ltd.
Moresby Avenue. Waihi

Brands: Air Ranger, Astor & Clipper

In 1951 the UK Pye Group formed Pye (N.Z.) Ltd. and acquired Akrad Radio Corporation in New Zealand.

The Akrad factory in Auckland then became Pye’s principal manufacturing unit manufacturing radios from 1953, followed by televisions in 1959.

Philips Electrical Industries of New Zealand Ltd. acquired full control of Pye (N.Z.) Ltd. in 1982.

The owner of the Akrad Radio Corporation, Keith Wrigley died in 1946 and the company was placed into the care of the Public Trustee. In 1947 Tom J. F. Spencer was offered the job of managing the radio company by the public trustee and Akrad Radio Corporation Ltd. was formed in 1948 with Spencer as Managing Director. [1]

In 1951 G.A Wooler from G.A. Wooller and Co. Ltd.  & Tom J. F. Spencer returned from England and announced Pye [New Zealand) Ltd. would be formed and take over the Akrad factory which would be considerably enlarged. The new company would also take over the Pye distribution rights. [2]

Pye brought to New Zealand a complete television transmitting station which for several years remained the only demonstration unit of its kind in the country for the Queen's visit in 1953. For some years this was the only N.Z. TV station.[3]

The first NZ-made Pye radios appeared in 1953. The New Zealand Pye radios were very similar to English Pye models but did not have the long-wave band which was not available in New Zealand.

Soon the factory developed its own designs and the company claimed to have developed original radiogram styles which were taken up by other countries.
Car radios followed in 1956 with sets being sold under the brands Pye, Clipper, and GM (NZ) Ltd Air Ranger brand.[4]

In November 1960 in the UK Pye and E.K. Cole merged which resulted in Pye (N.Z.) Ltd. and Ultimate-Elco, Ltd. forming a holding company. The intention was to operate each group with a separate identity and individual operation while strengthening joint resources. [5]

In 1962 Pye acquired the majority shareholding in the company.

At this time brands, Clipper and Astor had been added to the company’s product range.[4]

Pye was one of the earliest New Zealand television manufacturers, having marketed the first sets in 1960. The first model was a 21-inch Model 201T with manufacturing starting in December 1959.

In 1967 Philips of Holland acquired a controlling (60%) interest in Pye of Cambridge in the UK.

In 1977, Philips acquired full control of Pye Ltd, then a subsidiary of Pye Holdings Ltd. This move gave Philips Electrical Industries of New Zealand Ltd. full control of Pye (N.Z.) Ltd. and eventually led to the winding-up, in December 1982. [4]

[1] The Bulletin (Aus) 9 Dec 1967, page 50.
[2] Waihi Daily Telegraph 19 Sep 1951, Page 2.
[3] nzhistory-govt-nz, Television in NZ Page 2 – TV emerges in NZ timeline.
[4] Golden Age of Radio in the Home.
[5] Press 1 Nov 1860, Page 26.