History of the manufacturer
Raycophone Ltd., Sydney
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| Name: | Raycophone Ltd., Sydney (AUS) |
| Abbreviation: | raycophone |
| Products: | Model types Others |
| Summary: |
Raycophone Ltd., Sydney. Manufacture of radios and cinema sound systems. Their radios were sold through Harringtons Ltd, a long established chain of photographic merchants in Australia and New Zealand. |
| Founded: | 1929 |
| Closed: | 1950 |
| Production: | 1930 - 1950 |
| History: |
Raycophone Ltd was founded in November 1929 by Raymond Cottam Allsop to manufacture cinema sound equipment. Raycophone (‘Rayco’ from its inventor, Raymond Cottam Allsop’s, name and ‘phone’ from its inclusion of disc technology). The company was taken over in April 1930 by Harringtons Ltd, an Australian photographic supplier since 1899 and radio supplier since inception. The last Raycophone radios were built in 1935 and the company concentrated on theatre equipment.
Allsop had been experimenting with sound-film from 1921 and found the primary limitation was audio amplification. The takeover by Harrington’s ensured its survival by increasing manufacturing & engineering resources. By June 1937 Raycophone sound-projection systems were installed in 345 theatres. Raycophone theatre systems lasted well into the 50’s eventually being replaced by American western Electric & RCA systems.
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This manufacturer was suggested by Stuart Irwin.
Some models:
| Country | Year | Name | 1st Tube | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | 35 | 61AW [Mantel] | 6D6 | |
| AUS | 35 | 61AWB | ||
| AUS | 32 | 62E | 58 | |
| AUS | 35 | 66E | 6D6 | |
| AUS | 35 | 61AW [Console] | 6D6 | |
| AUS | 35 | 61GB | 6D6 | Uses a genemotor for HT. |
| AUS | 35 | 57E [Table] | 6A7 | |
| AUS | 35 | 57E [Console] | 6A7 | |
| AUS | 31 | 41E [Mantel] | 224 | |
| AUS | 30 | S.G. Penthode R2-20 | 224 | Cabinet is of similar design to the US, Keller-Fuller Radiette F12 |
| AUS | 33 | Pee-Wee | 57 | Excellent article on this model by Keith Lang in HRSA Radio Waves No. 74, October 2000, Pa... |
| AUS | 33 | 263AE Ch= 63AE (Later version) | 58 | This was the later version of this chassis, with a 2A7 in place of the 57 and a 2B7 in ... |
[rmxhdet-en]
Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):
Raycophone advertisment from "West Australian Wireless News" April, 16, 1934
Advertisement from 1932.
Newspaper article on Raycophone theater equipement. From the west Australian "Sunday Times" August 23, 1936.
From the "Radio & Electrical retailer", May 2, 1946
Raycophone Projector ad from “Everyones”, July 20, 1932.
Raycophone Projector ad from “Everyones”, May 24, 1933.
From the “Sydney morning Herald”(NSW), September 23, 1932 Newspaper ad for the Peewee listing all of the Raycophone dealers.
Advertisement from the Electrical & Radio Exhibition, Souvenir Edition, 1934.
1931 advert for the 41E Table, Console and the Electric Reproducer with prices. Wireless Weekly Sep 11, 1931 Page 52
Harrington's Raycophone Factory, 1934. Wireless weekly Mar 23, 1934, Page 25
Advert for two of the first Superheterodyne radios manufactured by Raycophone in 1932. The 5 Valve 53E and the 7 Valve 72E. Wireless Weekly Dec 9, 1932, Page 60.
Wireless Weekly 6th October 1933
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