Peto-Scott Co. Ltd.
64 Featherstone House, High Holborn, London WC (1922)
77 City Road, London WC1 (1931)

British Radio Gramophone Co. Ltd.
77 City Road, London WC1 (1928)
62 High Holborn, London, WC1 (1937)

BRG (Brand) British Radio Gramophone Co. Ltd.
Pilot House, Church Street, Blake Newington, London N16 (1932)

Peto Scott Electrical Instruments (Holdings) Ltd.
Pilot House, Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 (1937)
Addlestone Road, Weybridge, Surrey. (1947)

Peto-Scott Ltd.
Addlestone Road, Weybridge, Surrey. (1966)

In 1919, the company was formed by Walter Scott Worthington. The company initially supplied parts for building radios. In 1928, they faced financial difficulties and decided to cease manufacturing. The company was acquired by Pena Industries in 1957 and then by Philips in 1964. Philips focused the company on professional television equipment.
In 1968, the company merged with Pye TVT.

Peto Scott Electrical Instruments (Holdings) Ltd. was removed from the companies register in July 1977

History of the Peto-Scott Company from 1919 to 1977

Early Days (1919-1923)

In 1919, the company was formed by Walter Scott Worthington.

Supplying Parts for Building Radios (1922-1928)

Exhibiting at the All-British Wireless Exhibition (1922)

At the All-British Wireless Exhibition held at the Horticultural Hall, Westminster in September 1922, The Peto-Scott Co. (Stand No. 16) exhibited a three-valve set built in a unit system from "Peto-Scott" units. The company supplied parts for building apparatus, complete with full instructions for assembly and wiring, so that sets could be completed at home. These parts were carefully packed in special boxes. Peto-Scott also prepared a booklet explaining the construction of various sets from the parts they supplied.

Registration as a Private Company (1923)

Peto-Scott Co. Ltd. was registered as a private company in January 1923 by radio engineer Walter Scott Worthington and W. Worthington. The company manufactured and dealt in wireless, telegraphic, and telephonic apparatus and appliances. [1]

Claiming to be the First in Wireless and Television Parts (1926)

In March 1926, they advertised in the first edition of Television magazine, claiming to be the first to supply parts for wireless in 1919 and the first in television in 1928 for early television experimenters. [2]

Financial Difficulties and Restructuring (1928-1932)

Formation of British Radio Gramophone Co. Ltd. (1928)

In May 1928, British Radio Gramophone Co. Ltd. was registered at the same address as Peto-Scott, 77 City Road. [3]

Public Offering for Capital (1928)

In November 1928, directors Walter Scott Worthington and Sir Ernest A. S. Bell offered a prospectus to raise capital to purchase the entire share capital of Peto-Scott Co. Ltd. (radio manufacturers) and the new Times Sales Co., which dealt with Peto-Scott's hire purchase arrangements. [4]

Decision to Cease Manufacturing (1930)

At the company's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 1930, a net loss was reported for the year. Managing Director Walter Worthington stated that the difficult conditions of the radio and gramophone business, coupled with the company's lack of sufficient capital, resulted in the loss. As a result, they decided to cease manufacturing and concentrate on the more profitable business of selling.

Petition for Compulsory Winding-up (1930)

The accounts disclosed that the subsidiary, Peto-Scott, had a very good year of trading. This allowed them to use a substantial portion of their profits to offset the company's loss. On May 7th, a petition for compulsory winding-up was filed against Peto-Scott. However, the directors continued operating the business and used every possible effort to avoid liquidation. The petitioning creditor agreed, and the directors remained confident that Peto-Scott could be saved. [5]

British Radio Gramophone struck off the Register (1932)

In February 1932, British Radio Gramophone Co. Ltd. was struck off the register, but according to the London Gazette, another company with the same name continued trading. [6]

The Pilot Authors Kit Service and British Radio Gramophone (1932-1937)

Popularity of Pilot Authors Kit Service & Appointment of British Radio Gramophone as Distributor (1932)

An announcement in the August 1932 issue of Wireless World stated that due to the popularity of the Pilot Authors Kit service, inaugurated by Messrs. Peto Scott Ltd., the company had to make alternative arrangements for wholesale distribution to ensure adequate stock for home constructors. The solution was to appoint British Radio Gramophone Co., Ltd., as wholesale distributors. Their address was "Pilot House," Church Street, Stoke Newington. [7]

Peto Scott Electrical Instruments Replaces British Radio Gramophone (1937)

By 1937, advertising indicated that Peto Scott Electrical Instruments (Holdings) Ltd. seemed to have replaced British Radio Gramophone Co. Ltd. at the Church Street, Stoke Newington address. Peto-Scott Co. Ltd. continued trading at 77 City Road, London. It's unclear what happened to Peto-Scott Co. Ltd., but they advertised the same products until 1947.

Post-War Radios (1947)

At the 1947 Olympia Radio Exhibition in August, Peto Scott Electrical Instruments displayed a range of AC and AC/DC radio sets. These included the H52 at £22 1s (plus £4 14s 0d purchase tax), an AC three-band set, and the HU52 at £22 5s (plus £4 17s 0d purchase tax) for AC/DC use. Both were four-valve superheterodynes with triode-hexode frequency changers, one IF stage, duo-diode-triode detector, AVC and AF stage, and tetrode output valves. The H52 and HU52 covered the wavebands 15-51.7m, 170-550m, and 750-2050m. Similar models, SU51, S51, and H51, were also available, covering slightly different wavebands. Additionally, they offered an all-dry battery portable radio weighing 4.4lb for £14 4s 0d (plus £3 2s 0d purchase tax), including batteries. A radio gramophone was also showcased.

Television and Radiograms (1954)

August 1954 Exhibition Peto Scott (Stand 60) displayed television receivers designed primarily for Band I, with a switchable option for Band III using a separate tuner unit. The tuner featured a cascode RF stage with continuous tuning by adjusting ganged cores in the coils. Their sound equipment included a table model receiver with one shortwave band (R54), an automatic 3-speed record changer radiogram, and a record player with an automatic changer.

Acquisition by Pena Industries and Receivership (1957-1958)

In mid-1957, Pena Industries Ltd. (Pena Copper Mines Ltd.) acquired Peto Scott.

Receivership following Pena Industries Liquidation (1958)

December 1958: When Pena Industries went into liquidation, subsidiaries like Thermionic Products and Peto Scott were placed in receivership. Both companies survived the crash and were reconstituted. Thermionic Products (Electronics) Ltd. was formed to take over the goodwill and market the products of the original company. A new company was formed to purchase Peto Scott as a going concern. [8]

Refounding and Acquisition by Philips (1958-1964)

1958: The business was purchased as a going concern from the receiver, and a new Peto Scott company was formed with substantial financial backing. The old business continued to trade.

Purchased by Philips in January 1964:

Focus on Professional Television Equipment (1964-1968)

Peto Scott Electrical Instruments of Weybridge, Surrey, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Philips in the UK. Philips' intention was for Peto Scott and ELA to pursue complementary activities in professional television equipment. Peto Scott undertook the development and manufacture of monochrome picture monitors and a monochrome plumbicon camera. [9]

In 1966, the company name was changed to Peto Scott Ltd. and advertised as Peto Scott sound & vision.

1968: A merger within the Philips-Pye Group was announced. Pye TVT Ltd. and Peto Scott Ltd. joined forces to form Pye TVT, active in the professional market for broadcast equipment, studio cameras and monitors, industrial CCTV, audio systems, and large-screen Eidophor projection.

Closure (1977)

Peto Scott Electrical Instruments (Holdings) Ltd. was removed from the companies register in July 1977.

[1] Electrical Review Jan 19, 1923, Page 106.
[2] Television Mar 1928, Page 31.
[3] Electrical Review Nov 30, 1928, Page 947.
[4] Electrical Review Nov 30, 1928, Page 948.
[5] Straits Times, Jun 23, 1930, Page 9.
[6] London Gazette Feb 16, 1932, Page 1055.
[7] Wireless World Aug 26, 1932, Page 182.
[8] Wireless World Dec 1958, Page 578.
[9] BBC Research & Development Report 1964-10, Page 11.
[10] London Gazette Jul 21, 1977, Page 9455.