Johns Ltd.
32 Queen Street, Auckland. (1923-1926)
Johns Buildings, Chancery Street, Auckland. (1926- 1951)

WellMade Ltd.
75 Dominion Road, Mt Eden, Auckland (1928-1951)

Brands: Companion, Altona, Ace, Daventry, Fidelity, Kiwi, Meniwave & Well-Mayde.

John’s Ltd. initially were importers of sporting and wireless goods in 1928 and established Wellmade Ltd. in 1928 as their manufacturing company.
They manufactured a variety of radio brands until they were taken over by Swan Electric Co. in 1951.

After returning from WW1 John’s brothers, both keen sportsmen started importing sporting goods and operating a tennis racquet restringing business. In 1923 they expanded their business by importing radios and set up business as Radio Specialists, VR & AC Johns in Queen Street, Auckland. [1]

The brothers registered John’s Ltd., as importers of sporting and wireless goods in November 1924. [2]

They started importing agency for Hammarlund, USA, selling their kitsets, but also completely assembled kits.

They advertised radio components, loudspeakers, and Hammarlund parts for sale in 1925.[3]

In February 1926 they moved to new premises in Chancery Street. [3]

By 1926 they were offering sets of their own design under the names ‘Altona’, ‘Ace’, and ‘Meniwave’, the latter being a short-wave model. [4][5]

It was this constructional work, as distinct from repair work, which led to the establishment of a separate factory in January 1928, located at 75 Dominion Road in suburban Mt Eden. [8]

Wellmade Ltd., radio dealers were registered January 1928 with Subscribers: R. E. Fraser, 400 shares; M. A: Davies, 100 shares.  [7]

The factory was run as a separate entity using the tradename “Well-Mayde” for its products. The reason for the difference in the spelling of the two names was that under N.Z. law a company name cannot be used as a registered trademark. The name was used in conjunction with a pictorial trademark in the form of a girl drawing water from a well.

The name Well-Mayde was not used to brand radio sets but was displayed on the chassis label. However, according to the late John Stokes Well-Mayde was branded on crystal sets, amplifiers, battery chargers, and eliminators produced between 1929 and 1935. Battery eliminators ceased around 1935 and the remaining Well-Mayde items continued to be produced until 1940. [8]

Johns’ Ltd, like many other radio dealers, started a private broadcasting station 1ZJ from 1930 till 1935.

On 23 May 1931, they advertised a New Zealand first with a broadcast from a Falcon Airways airplane transmitting to a receiver at Mt Albert and relayed to 1ZJ for retransmission. [9]

Radios remained in production until 1951 when Johns Ltd sold out to the Swan Electric Co. which continued to operate both the city premises and the Dominion Road factory, but not for radio production. [8]

[1] The Bay of Plenty Times, 5 Oct 1923, Page 4.
[2] New Zealand Herald, 24 Nov 1924, Page 9.
[3] New Zealand Herald, 24 Feb 1926, Page 3.
[4] New Zealand Herald, 4 Jul 1925, Page 2.
[5] Rodney & Otanatea Times 8 Sep 1926, Page 5.
[6] Auckland Star, 29 Apr 1927, Page 13.
[7] New Zealand Herald 30 Jan 1928, Page 7.
[8] Golden Age of Radio in the Home   
[9] New Zealand Herald 23 May 1931, Page 20.