H. W. Clarke Ltd.
2 Taranaki Street, Wellington. (1928-1950)

H W Clarke (N.Z.) Ltd.
256 Cashel Street, Wellington (1950-    )

Brands; Cromwell, Gulbransen NZ,  Radion (1932) & Pacemaker

H. W. Clarke Ltd. was the New Zealand radio distributor for radio manufacturers Collier & Beale Ltd.

They were wholesale merchants for, radios, domestic & commercial refrigeration & air conditioning suppliers. In 1961 the Australian company Email Ltd. obtained a substantial interest in the company.

H. W. Clarke was established in 1928 as importers of Gulbransen player pianos from America and Mastertouch player piano rolls from Australia.

As a result of the decline of the piano business, due to the rise of radio broadcasting,  Gulbransen Co. went into the radio business, and in 1929 Clarke’s imported Gulbransen radios.

In 1932 an association was formed with Collier & Beale and the firm became the national distributor for Collier and Beale manufactured Radion receivers. The imported Gulbransen radios proved more popular than the local products.
Clarke’s gave up handling Radion in 1933 and the brand was taken up by Todd Motors Ltd. [1]

Import restrictions imposed in 1936 meant no more US imports! So, Clarke’s had Collier & Beale make chassis which they fitted to their own cabinets, and branded them, Gulbransen, due to the popularity of the US brand.

Also, at this time the Cromwell brand was introduced followed in 1939 by the Pacemaker brand. [1]

The company continued as the distributor and in 1960 distributed Admiral Televisions made by Collier & Beale. [2]

In 1961 the Australian company Email Ltd. obtained a substantial interest in the company. [3]

[1] Golden Age of Radio in the Home
[2] Press 19 May 1960, Page 21.
[3] Press 16 Sep 1961, Page 15.