Alfred Graham & Co.
St. Andrew's Works, Crofton Park, London SE4 (1908)
Branch Factory: Kilmore Works, Forest Hill, London SE23

The Algraphone Salon
25-26 Savile Row, Regent St., London (1922)
82 High St., Clapham, London SW4 (1925)

Graham Amplion Ltd.
26 Saville Row, London W1 (1931)
Works: in Slough

Amplion (1932) Ltd.
230, Tottenham Court Road, London W1 (1932)
175/179 Cricklewood Lane, London NW2. (1954)

Amplion Ltd.
175/179 Cricklewood Lane, London NW2. (1954)

Brands: Amplion, Algraphone

Alfred Graham & Co., established in the late 1880s by Alfred Graham, Edward Graham, and Joseph Arthur Dearlove, began as a pioneer in ship telephones and naval communication systems. The company gained prominence with its patented loud-speaking naval telephones, adopted by the British Admiralty and installed on iconic ships like the Titanic, Olympic, and Dreadnought-class battleships. Their products included exchange switchboards, sound-powered telephones for warships, and silver-plated phones for luxury liners. By 1919, they had completed over 12,000 ship installations.

In 1920, Graham Amplion Ltd. focused on loudspeakers and radio products. The company diversified into gramophones (Algraphones), public address systems, automobile horns, and ground-air wireless communication. Their innovative products were showcased at events like the British Industries Fair 1922. Expansion included a new factory in Brackley (1911) and later a larger facility in Slough (1928).

Despite early success, competition and market challenges led to their decline. In 1970, the company was wound up.

HISTORY

Alfred Graham & Co. was established in the late 1880s as a partnership between Alfred Graham and Edward Graham. The company initially specialized in ship telephones and later expanded into other electrical engineering products. [1]
In 1898, Joseph Arthur Lovel Dearlove joined the partnership, bringing his technical expertise and patents in telegraphy. [2][3]

Dearlove's background was impressive. Born in 1859 in Higham Park, Northamptonshire, he was educated at Salway House, Leyton, and King's College. He received mechanical training with Latimer Clark, Muirhead, and Co., and later joined Clark, Forde, and Taylor, submarine cable engineers. Dearlove participated in significant cable-laying projects, including the establishment of duplex working between London and Emden in 1878, and cable installations in Venezuela, Curacao, San Domingo, Haiti, and Cuba in 1888. [4]

The company's early years were marked by significant innovations:

Early Innovations

• 1887: Alfred Graham demonstrated the first practical loudspeaker
• 1893: GRAHAM loudspeakers were placed on the market
• 1894: The company's products were first used in the British Navy
• 1896: Naval telephones were developed and adopted by the Admiralty
• 1898: Watertight loudspeakers were patented and fitted on many warships and mercantile vessels
• 1902: Complete loudspeaker installations on central battery plan were erected on warships [5]

Expansion and Growth

The company continued to grow and innovate in the early 20th century:

• 1906: The most extensive naval installation to date was fitted in H.M.S. "Dreadnought"
• 1915: In December, the partnership between the Grahams and Dearlove dissolved. Despite leaving the company, Dearlove continued his successful career, remaining a partner in Clark, Forde, and Taylor until his death on October 19, 1923. [4]
• 1919: By this time, no less than 12,000 ship installations had been carried out
• 1920: AMPLION loudspeakers were produced for wireless, and the "AMPLION" trademark was registered on September 5, 1920. [14]
• 1921: The company marketed the Graham Electrical Autohorn and permanent magnets
• 1922: AMPLION was standardised by leading manufacturers of radio apparatus [5]

Diversification

In the 1920s, the company diversified its product range:

• 1922-1926: Algraphone, an expensive bespoke gramophone, was produced
• 1924: AMPLION sales exceeded those of all other makes combined in the UK [5]
• 1926-1927: The company sold Metrovic valves rebadged as Amplion [6]

Company Restructuring

In November 1926, following the death of E. A. Graham, the business was divided into two limited companies:

1. Alfred Graham & Co., Ltd.: Continued to operate the naval telephone side of the business
2. Graham Amplion, Ltd.: Focused on the manufacture and sale of Amplion wireless loudspeakers, radio products, electric horns, and motor accessories

Alfred Graham, the founder, returned to the business and accepted the chairmanship of both companies' boards. [7]

International Expansion

Graham Amplion, Ltd. controlled an international organization that included:

• Australia: Amplion (Australasia) Pty. Ltd. 
• Belgium: Compagnie Continentale Amplion 
• Canada: The Amplion Corporation of Canada, Ltd. 
• France: Compagnie Française Amplion 
• Germany: Deutsche Amplion-G.m.b.H. 
• USA: The Amplion Corporation of America 

Later Years and Decline

In May 1932, Amplion (1932) Ltd. was registered as a private company to carry on the business of manufacturing and retailing wireless telegraphy, telephony, and television products. [8]

In April 1938, Graham Amplion Ltd. had a capital of £200,000 in 5,000 preference and 195,000 ordinary shares of £1. [9]

However, in May 1939, Graham Amplion Ltd. was struck off the register of companies. [10]

Amplion (1932) Ltd. continued the legacy of the Graham Amplion company, focusing on audio equipment and expanding into wireless receivers, public address systems, hearing aid battery charging equipment, and photographic equipment.

In 1936, the company moved to a new factory at Power Road, Chiswick. In 1945, Amplion became part of the Rank empire, leading to further expansion with a new factory opening in Ernesettle, Plymouth in 1949.

Despite some successes, Amplion (1932) Ltd. faced challenges in the competitive post-war market. The company's fortunes declined over the following decades, leading to its eventual closure.
In 1953 Amplion (1932), Ltd. was appointed distributors to the wholesale and retail trade for the sale of Plessey radio and television components. [11]

In August 1960 at the 27th British National Radio and Television Show at Earls Court Amplion Limited of the same Cricklewood Lane address as Amplion (1932), Ltd. displayed a number of record reproducers, tape recorders, and battery eliminators, as well as a stereo amplifier and transistor receiver. The " Marine " tape recorder is very unusual in that it can be operated from DC as well as AC mains.[12]

The company's fortunes declined over the following decade, leading to its eventual closure. In early 1970, Amplion was struck off the Register of Companies and dissolved, marking the end of its long history in the British electronics industry [13]

[1] Electrical Review Aug 19, 1904, Page 296.
[2] Electrical Engineer May 11, 1894, Page 672.
[3] The London Gazette Mar 28, 1916, Page 3338.
[4] 1923 Institution of Electrical Engineers: Obituaries, Page 1152.
[5] Pitman's Radio Handbook 1926, Page 2.
[6] Amplion valve with the Metrovic logo.
[7] Electrical Review Nov 26, 1926, Page 876.
[8] Electrical Review May 27, 1932, Page 791.
[9] Electrical Review Apr 22, 1938, Page 594.
[10] The London Gazette May 2, 1939, Page 2932.
[11] Wireless World Sep 1954, Page 414.
[12] Wireless World Sep 1960, Page 438.
[13] London Gazette Feb 5, 1970, Page 1471.
[14] Electrical Review Feb 18, 1921, Page 203.