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History of the manufacturer  

Humanphone (Brand), Morris Bros. Ltd.; Perth WA

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Name: Humanphone (Brand), Morris Bros. Ltd.; Perth WA    (AUS)  
Abbreviation: humanphone
Products: Model types
Summary:

Morris Bros. Ltd.
Brockman’s Building, 80 Barrack Street, Perth, WA. 
92 William Street, Perth, WA.
762 Hay Street, PERTH, WA.
106 High Street, Fremantle, WA.

Brand: Humanphone

 

Morris Brothers was a musical retailer in Perth from 1916 till 1940. They sold pianos and musical instruments. Also, gramophones, and radios under the Humanphone brand.

Founded: 1916
Closed: 1940
Production: 1917 - 1939
History:

Willy Albert Otto Schruth was the owner of Morris Bros. and Co. and imported pianos from Germany.[1] The first advertisement appears in January 1916.[2]

In October 1917 they advertised the location of their showroom at 80 Barrack Street, Perth.[3]

Morris Bros. Ltd. was registered in March 1918.[4]

The first Humantone product was a windup gramophone advertised for £5 in 1924.[5]

In December 1928 they advertised the Humanphone Dynamic Gramophone with an electric motor, amplifier, and a lightweight tonearm.

They added radio parts and imported  Atwater Kent radios along with Australian made Healing radios to their inventory in September 1929.[6]

In the 1930s, tariff barriers were substantially increased in a series of tariff proposals, the Scullin tariffs aimed at protecting Australian industry and imported radios were banned. This left the company with only Healing radios to retail.[7] They also marketed Airzone radios from 1932.

The first Humanphone radios were advertised in August 1937.[8]

In September 1937 they advertised a “countryman’s dream come true” Humanphone, Ever-Ready Air-Cell operated, dual band radio for sale at £16/16/-.

Table and console versions of the Humanphone radios are known.

The Humanphone logo was three Boobook Owls sitting on a tree branch.

Morris Bros. Ltd. was liquidated in February 1940.[9]

Willy Schruth’s son, Odee Schruth sold and repaired radios for the company and in July 1940 opened Morris Radio Repairs at 44 St. Georges Terrace, Perth and 690 Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley.[1][10]

[1] The Encyclopaedia of Western Australian Wirelesses and Gramophones.
[2] The  Northam Courier (WA)  Jan 28, 1916, page 2.
[3] The Daily News (WA) Oct 24, 1917, Page 3.
[4] The Daily News (WA) Mar 23, 1918, Page 8.
[5] The West Australian (WA) Dec 22, 1924, Page 3.
[6] The Truth (WA) Sep 29, 1929, Page 8.
[7] The West Australian (WA) Sep 1, 1930, Page 3b.
[8] The West Australian (WA) Aug 2, 1937, Page 19.
[9] Sunday Times (WA) Feb 18, 1940, Page 3.
[10] The West Australian (WA) Nov 16, 1940, Page 8.

This manufacturer was suggested by Gary Cowans.


Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
AUS  28/29 Humanphone Dynamic Gramophone   Electric powered gramophone with a built-in valve audio amplifier and loudspeaker. Avai... 
AUS  25 Humanphone Little Marvel Gramophone   Windup, portable gramophone. 

[rmxhdet-en]

Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):

[2] First advertisement appears in January 1916. The Northam Courier (WA) Jan 28, 1916, page 2. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_2_the_northam_courier_wa_jan_28_1916_page_2..jpg
[3] Showroom at 80 Barrack Street, Perth The Daily News (WA) Oct 24, 1917, Page 3. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_3_the_daily_news_wa_oct_24_1917_page_3.jpg
[4] Morris Bros. Ltd. was registered in March 1918. The Daily News (WA) Mar 23, 1918, Page 8. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_4_the_daily_news_wa_mar_23_1918_page_8.jpg
[5] First Humantone product was a windup gramophone advertised for £5 in 1924. The West Australian (WA) Dec 22, 1924, Page 3. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_5_the_west_australian_wa_dec_22_1924_page_3.jpg
[6]Selling Atwater Kent Radios in 1926. The Truth (WA) Sep 29, 1929, Page 8. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_6_the_truth_wa_sep_29_1929_page_8.jpg
[7] Imported radios were banned. The West Australian (WA) Sep 1, 1930, Page 3b. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_7_the_west_australian_wa_sep_1_1930_page_3b.jpg
[8] The first Humanphone radios were advertised in August 1937. The West Australian (WA) Aug 2, 1937, Page 19. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_8_the_west_australian_wa_aug_2_1937_page_19.jpg
[9]Morris Bros. Ltd. was liquidated in February 1940. Sunday Times (WA) Feb 18, 1940, Page 3. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_9_sunday_times_wa_feb_18_1940_page_3.jpg
[10]Morris Radio Repairs at 44 St. Georges Terrace, Perth and 690 Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley. The West Australian (WA) Nov 16, 1940, Page 8. Image sourced from Trove – National Library of Australiatbn_aus_human_10_the_west_australian_wa_nov_16_1940_page_8.jpg

  

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