Mullard Equipment Ltd., MEL Equipment Co. Ltd.
Nightingale Lane, Balham, London
Manor Royal, Crawley, Sussex (later)

Mullard Equipment Ltd moved to Crawley in 1961. Later became The MEL Equipment Co Ltd, when it was still a Philips owned company, however, once the name was changed, the letters MEL was no longer an abbreviation for Mullard Equipment Ltd. Towards the end of its Philips ownership, this Crawley business became known as the MEL Division of Philips Electronic and Associated Industries Ltd.

Military radio products included the 1970s Clansman fixed HF stations UK/VRC-321 and UK/VRC-322 and the patrol/manpack HF set UK/PRC-319 with its electronic message unit from 1989.

A Philips NV subsidiary in the UK since 1929, M.E.L. absorbed the military radio business of EKCO and was based at Crawley (near Gatwick Airport southwest of London) in the 1970s and 1980s. The brand was absorbed into Philips along with Pye mobile radio and Redifon in the early 1990s what remained was sold to Thompson CSF and is now part of Thales.

History Time-Line

1935.  Radio Transmission Equipment Ltd (RTE) was established by Mullard in Balham, London

1947.  RTE Renamed Mullard Equipment Ltd  (MEL was often an abbreviation))

1961.  Company moved to Crawley, Sussex. (Manor Royal Crawley)

1964   Mullard Equipment Ltd was renamed MEL Equipment Company Ltd  as a subsidiary of Philips Electronic and Associated Industries Ltd

1971.  MEL absorbed the avionics business of E K Cole (Ekco)

1989.  MEL radar and EW divisions were acquired by Thorn EMI

1989.  MEL communication division acquired by Thomson-CSF

Eventually MEL activities were absorbed into Thales PLC.