Truphonic Trading Co.
189 Regent Street, London W1 (1926)

Truphonic Wireless Co. Ltd.
121-123, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1 (1928)

Truphonic Radio Ltd.
121-123, Rosebery Avenue, London EC1 (1929)
Truphonic House, Hanover Park, Peckham, London. (1930)

Truphonic Radio (Putney) Ltd.
​Dryad Street and 27A Bangalore Street, Putney London SW15. (1936)
Truphonic Works, Aboyne Road, Garratt Lane, London, SW17. (1937)

Brand: Truphonic

Truphonic brand radios were sold by all the Truphonic companies listed above from 1926 until 1939.

In 1929 they manufactured Seraphone brand radios.

Dr. George Ernest Spero was thought to be involved in these companies but his association in the early years of Truphinic is not clear.

After liquidation in April 1930, the company was bought by Jack S. Hester in 1933 and continued production until WW2 caused staff shortages and production ceased.

Truphonic brand was also used by the US Chelsea Radio Corp., Boston (MA) and no affiliation with the British brand could be found.

Two radio receivers were advertised in 1928 by Truphonic Ltd., The Meloset and the Distaset,

Seraphone brand radios were manufactured by Truphonic but sold by The Seraphone Co. Ltd. at the Truphonic Regent Street address.

Truphonic Radio Ltd. was incorporated as a public company on February 4, 1929, & formed to enter into certain agreements with Truphonic Ltd., Dr. George Ernest Spero & Joseph Henry Benjamin.

At a board meeting held on April 14, 1930, it was reported that the sales were very unsatisfactory for the three months up to March 31, 1930, with only approximately 800 radios sold.

The trading accounts showed for the period October 1st, 1928, to February 28th, 1930, a turnover of £78,480, a gross profit of £12,242, but a net loss of £21,405. The chairman added that in May last, following pressure from creditors, Mr. E. D. Basden, C.A., was appointed Receiver on behalf of the debenture holders. That gentleman was proceeding with the realisation of the assets, and it was doubtful whether any surplus would be available.

The failure of the company was attributed to a shortage of working capital owing to the £10,000 liability of Mr. Spero to the company, to unprofitable contracts made by Mr. Spero when he was managing director; loss of credit and to the royalty dispute to general depression in trade owing to the Hatry collapse (Company fraud perpetrated by Clarance Hatry) and the general election and to the flooding of the market with cheap "junk" sets. The chairman said a draft statement of affairs had been prepared showing assets valued at £13,498, and after satisfying the debenture claim of £11,724 there might be a balance of £1,635 to meet the costs of the liquidation and the claims of the unsecured creditors returned at £4,204.

The chairman agreed that the directors had not exercised proper control. The unfortunate fact was that Dr. Spero was not available, and the department was without his explanation.

The liquidation was left in the hands of the Official Receiver. [2]

After liquidation in April 1930 the company was bought by Mr. Jack Sydney Hester in 1933. Hester, S. H Hester his father, and the Manager from Truphonic F.S Mann formed a private company F.S. Mann Ltd. to purchase Truphonic from the liquidator whereby he and the manager bought up everything for £100 each; he borrowed the money from his father. [3]

It became a respected firm producing 250 sets a week until the main staff members joined up to the 2nd World War and production ceased. The factory was taken over by Philips for wartime production, and Truphonic ceased to be. [4]

[1] Broadcaster & Wireless Retailer Apr 1928, Page 103.
[2] Wireless & Gramophone Trader Aug 16, 1930, Page 180.
[3] Broadcaster & Trade Annual 1933 Page 213.
[4] The Setmakers, Bussey and Geddes  ISBN 0 9517042 0 6