S. Corre & Co.
140, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C.1 (1923)
86, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.1 (1924)

Knivetown Electric Wire Co., Ltd.
86, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.1 (1925)
Queen’s Way, Ponders End, Middlesex (1926)

Brand: Knivetown

Knivetown was a short-lived but active British radio accessory brand of the early 1920s, originating with S. Corre and F. Kniveton in London. It evolved from a sole proprietorship into a limited company, manufacturing and marketing a range of wireless components. The company ceased operations in 1927, with its assets absorbed by Ward & Goldstone, who did not continue the Knivetown brand.

Origins and Early Activity (1923–1924)
The Knivetown brand first appeared in the early 1920s, associated with S. Corre, a business located at 140, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C.1. In June 1923, S. Corre advertised a Knivetown-branded transformer in Popular Wireless Weekly, indicating the brand's initial focus on components for the burgeoning wireless (radio) market.

By January 1925, Knivetown was advertising a crystal detector in an ebonite plug-in case, again targeting radio enthusiasts and the growing home wireless market [1].

Trademark Registration and Business Structure
The Electrical Review (Dec 26, 1924) reveals that the Knivetown trademark (No. 452,243) was registered by F. Kniveton, trading as S. Corre & Co., described as an importer and factor of wireless apparatus and batteries. The business address at this time was 86, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.1. This suggests that the Knivetown name was a deliberate branding effort by F. Kniveton to market wireless components and accessories under a distinct identity [2].

Formation of Knivetown Electric Wire Co., Ltd. (1925)
In April 1925, a new company, Knivetown Electric Wire Co., Ltd., was established with a capital of £1,000. The company described itself as electrical engineers and manufacturers of wireless cables and other apparatus related to wireless telegraphy. Its registered office remained at 86, Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, London, E.C. This move formalised the Knivetown brand's presence in the wireless supply industry, likely expanding its product range and manufacturing capacity [3].

Advertisements from this period (e.g., Broadcaster & Wireless Retailer, April 1925) show Knivetown Electric Wire Co., Ltd. promoting battery, headphone, and loudspeaker cords, and explicitly stating that S. Corre & Co. was incorporated into the new company. This indicates a transition from a sole trader or partnership model to a limited company, consolidating the business's activities under the Knivetown name [4].

Product Range and Market Position
Throughout its operation, Knivetown offered a variety of wireless accessories, including transformers, crystal detectors, and connecting cords. The brand was positioned as a supplier to both radio hobbyists and the trade, reflecting the rapid expansion of wireless as a mass-market technology in Britain during the 1920s.

Decline and Liquidation (1927)
Despite its early promise, Knivetown Electric Wire Co., Ltd. entered voluntary liquidation in early 1927 (London Gazette, Jan 4, 1927). This suggests financial difficulties or market pressures, possibly due to increased competition or changing technology in the wireless sector [5].

Shortly after liquidation, Ward & Goldstone, Ltd. acquired the plant, machinery, and goodwill of Knivetown Electric Wire Co. (Electrical Review, Apr 22, 1927). Ward & Goldstone, a larger electrical manufacturer (later known as Volex), announced they could supply all the specialties previously made by Knivetown [6].
However, there is no evidence that Ward & Goldstone continued to use the Knivetown brand for their products.

[1] Wireless Weekly Jan 28, 1925, Page Ad xiv.
[2] Electrical Review Dec 26, 1924, Page 977.
[3] Electrician Apr 24, 1925, Page 501.
[4] Broadcaster & Wireless Retailer Apr 1925, Page 18.
[5] London Gazette Jan 4, 1927, Page 67.
[6] Electrical Review Apr 22, 1927, Page 639.