Name: | AWA-Thorn Consumer Products Pty. Ltd.; Rydalmere (NSW) (AUS) |
Abbreviation: | awathornc |
Products: | Model types |
Summary: |
AWA-Thorn Consumer Products Pty. Ltd.; 348 Victoria Road, Rydalmere, NSW 2116. |
History: |
AWA was a major manufacturer of television receivers under the AWA Radiola Deep Image brand from the mid-1950s until the relaxation of import tariffs under the Whitlam Government in the early 1970s. With the increased competition in the marketplace, AWA joined forces with Thorn Electrical Industries UK in 1973 to create AWA-Thorn Consumer Products Limited, to produce colour televisions in Australia. Thorn colour television receivers modified for Australia were marketed as AWA or Thorn models, with local improvements being made to these over the ensuing years. This division of AWA (later known as the Ashfield Division) was also the Australian distributor for many audio equipment manufacturers, including Tannoy, Revox, AKG Acoustics. AWA-Rediffusion Pty. Ltd, a company jointly owned by Rediffusion International and AWA Limited, was formed in 1971. The business was a platform to enter the Australian market with Rediffusion systems similar to those offered in the UK by RIS/RBE and included products and services such as Reditune Background Music, CCTV, Hotel Audio Distribution and Specialist Information Display Systems. In 1974 AWA-Rediffusion branched into the television sales and rental market setting up a chain of retail shops under their Redihire name. Colour television arrived in Australia in March 1975, around ten years after the UK. and Redihire had been preparing for the event for over a year with six shops opening in and around the Sydney area with the company's HQ in Roseville, New South Wales. Television rental accounted for around twenty percent of the initial market and Redihire adopted a 'rent or buy' marketing approach from the onset majoring on existing models that were being made for AWA-Thorn by Mitsubishi Electric of Japan. In 1975, AWA brought the first Pick minicomputer system to Australia, and set up a computer services arm. 1979 saw the closure of the Marconi School of Wireless when it moved to Launceston, Tasmania to become part of the Australian Maritime College. Later that year, the last Australian-made AWA appliances were produced at the company's Sydney manufacturing plant in Ashfield. From the late 1970s, appliances such as TVs were being made for AWA-Thorn by Mitsubishi Electric of Japan. This division of AWA was also the Australian distributor for many audio equipment manufacturers, including Tannoy, Revox, AKG Acoustics and Clarion (car audio). In 1984, Mitsubishi Electric purchased AWA-Thorn, (renaming it "Mitsubishi Electric AWA Pty Ltd"), marketing their VCRs, stereos and TVs in Australia while retaining 'AWA' in the brand name. |
This manufacturer was suggested by Wolfgang Scheida.
Country | Year | Name | 1st Tube | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
AUS | 78–80 | Thorn Hi-Fi deluxe 1100 | Thorn Model 1100 AM/FM AC mantel radio. Features: 2-band AM/FM, volume and slider tone ... | |
AUS | 99/99 | Dublette of ID=88546 | 6A8 | AWA Radiola see also: Radiolette 500M |
AUS | 80 | B310 - BA310 | LED Clock. Auto dimmer Made in Hong Kong. | |
AUS | 82 | Radiola B127 | AWA Radiola AM Solid State Pocket Radio. A compact AM radio with carry strap, earphone, wh... | |
AUS | 76/77 | FM/AM Radio Cassette Recorder B203 | unknown_tr | AM/FM radio cassette recorder, automatic stop, condenser microphones, monitor switch, tape... |
AUS | 79–81 | Thorn AM Pocket Radio 1107 | This is a 5 transistor radio operating on 2 AA cells. The transistors are unmarked. Made i... | |
AUS | 74/75 | Thorn 5733 Ch= Schedule V | A31-120W | 12" Portable Solid-State TV. Also contains 5 Integrated Circuits. |
AUS | 81 | S-09 | S-09 AWA Stereo Casceiver System. A 5W RM/channel amplifier with AM/FM/MPX stereo recei... | |
AUS | 74 | Deep Image P15 Ch= Thorn Schedule V | A31-120W | 12" Portable Solid-State TV. Also contains 5 Integrated Circuits. Updated version of AW... |
AUS | 82 | S-14 | S14 System, 6-piece audio system in deluxe woodgrain finish. | |
AUS | 82 | Mantel Clock Radio B115 | AM/FM LED mantel clock radio. | |
AUS | 84 | Radiola B137 | Requires 2 x AA batteries. Made in Hong Kong. |
Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):
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