History of the manufacturer
SMD S.M.D. Manufacturing Co. Pty. Ltd.; Pinetown, Durban and Cape Town
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| Name: | SMD S.M.D. Manufacturing Co. Pty. Ltd.; Pinetown, Durban and Cape Town (ZA) |
| Abbreviation: | smdmanuf |
| Products: | Model types |
| Summary: |
S.M.D. Manufacturing Co. Pty. Ltd.; Cape Town |
| Founded: | 1939 |
| History: |
SMD was officially formed in 1957, but our roots go even further back to as far as 1939 when Mr. Horace Dainty, our founding partner, formed a company with his co-investors Smith & Matson. They linked their surnames together to form SMD Manufacturing Company. During the war period, SMD’s efforts were primarily geared towards manufacturing of communications equipment for both UDF and British forces. During this time, they designed and manufactured specialized radio equipment such as the M17 radio. After the war, Dainty quickly revitalized SMD manufacturing and development operations in the old SMD factory in Pinetown, Durban. SMD won a tender from the CSIR to develop the Wadley Receiver, which led to the developed RA17 for RACAL (UK), as well as manufactured hundreds of thousands transistor radios under the Eveready name to the local market. Then in 1957, SMD registered SMD Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd as a separate marine division. The aim was to service the naval and merchant ships, headed up by Mr. Duncan Compton-James. SMD formed a Joint Venture with RACAL and established RACAL-SMD. Barlow Group acquires SMD Manufacturing Company and becomes Barlow Manufacturing Company. Racal increased their stake in RACAL-SMD and establishes their full presence in South Africa, namely Racal Electronics South Africa. Ultimately becoming the SAAB GRINTEK of today. During this time, Duncan Compton-Jones purchased the full equity in SMD Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd and moved operations to Cape Town where our head office is based today. During the 1990’s Duncan Crompton-Jones sold his shares in SMD to his senior staff member, Mr. Arend de Boer who also became the CEO. n 2012, GrupoArbulu (Spain) acquired an 80% share in SMD, making SMD a part of one of the world’s leading marine electronics group companies. In 2014 Arend de Boer retired as CEO and is succeeded by Mr. Brian Chambers as MD. Then in 2016 the SMD Africa Marine Company is registered as a holding company for all the SMD Africa Companies. In 2017 Seatronics in Port Louis is acquired and becomes SMD Mauritius. Also during 2017, the SMD Kenya Company is registered. In 2018 Brian Chambers leaves SMD, and GrupoArbulu becomes 100% shareholder, and thereafter Andile Dhlomo is appointed as MD. [from smd-marine.com/our-story/] |
This manufacturer was suggested by Bernhard Nagel.
| Country | Year | Name | 1st Tube | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA | 54 | Viking Wanderer Portable R18U | DK92 | MW and four SW bands. Operates from AC and DC mains voltages or dry batteries. So ... |
Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):
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Hits: 1010 Replies: 4
Made in South Africa 5 band radio - info needed
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Vesa Karppinen
28.Feb.21 |
1
Recently I got my hands on a 5 band portable 1950's radio manufactured in South Africa. I am keen to get it working, so schematic would be very handy and any other info. Works from various mains voltages and from batteries. I haven't been able to find any information of this radio on internet. Name: Viking R18U Wanderer portable. Model: SMD R18U. Manufactured by S.M.D. Manufaturing Pty Ltd, Pinetown, Natal Valves: DK92, DF91, DF91, DAF91, DL94 . Hot chassis design. 90V and 2 x 4.5V batteries. Some electrolytic capacitiors made England 1954. Telescopic antenna. Main cable with Australian 3 pin power plug, neutral wired to chassis with 47nF capacitor?. This must have been done afterwords. Two large resistors with multiple taps wired to mains voltage selector. Selenium rectifier Please help. Attachments
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Bernhard Nagel
02.Mar.21 |
2
Hello Vesa, thank you for the really interesting introduction of your Viking R18U Wanderer Portable. This model is new for RMorg, same with the company SMD Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Pinetown Natal (Durban). The company still exists today, see smd-marine.com/our-story/ (copy and paste in your browser) The manufacturer now has been proposed as a new entry for the mfr. data base. After acceptance, you can make a new model suggestion for your radio. Please let me know if you need further assistance for doing that. Best regards Bernhard |
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Bernhard Nagel
02.Mar.21 |
3
The new South African company SMD Manufacturing has been created, so your model Viking R18U Wanderer Portable can be proposed as the first model for this mfr. Please make your new model suggestion and start from the home page "Create new model" or follow the link to the same form. After acceptance, a schematic search can be started from the new model page. Good luck! Best regards |
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Vesa Karppinen
09.Mar.21 |
4
Thank you Bernhard, I will start working on the details of the radio and will fill in the form as much as I can. Regards, Vesa |
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Michael Watterson
13.Mar.21 |
5
I'm told by an ex-South African that worked there that Grinel aka GRC aka Milcom was the same company as Grintek at one stage. Formed by the need of the UK Racal to distance itself from South Africal. See also this page. I thought a TR48 had also been uploaded. It was entirely a Grinel model. I'll try and find the photos I took and the technical details. |
End of forum contributions about this manufacturer/brand
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