The Best of Murphy Cabinet Design 1930 to 1950 - Murphy Radio
The Best of Murphy Cabinet Design 1930 to 1950 - Murphy Radio
The Best of Murphy Cabinet Design 1930 to 1950 - Murphy Radio
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Best</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong><br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong> <strong>Design</strong><br />
<strong>1930</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>1950</strong><br />
compiled by<br />
James Reeve<br />
1
FOREWORD<br />
As a school leaver aged 15, I began work in November 1940 at<br />
<strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> as a trainee in the design <strong>of</strong>fice in Bridge Road,<br />
Welwyn Garden City. During the war I worked on receivers and<br />
other electronic equipment for the military. In <strong>1950</strong>, I began working<br />
for Eden Minns, designing for the new post-war products. I<br />
continued <strong>to</strong> work in cabinet and graphic design for <strong>Murphy</strong> until<br />
1970, although in 1962 the company had been taken over by Rank-<br />
Bush.<br />
This catalogue is a tribute <strong>to</strong> the design work for <strong>Murphy</strong> by R. D.<br />
Russell and Eden Minns from <strong>1930</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>1950</strong>. During this unique<br />
period they brought <strong>to</strong>gether an integration <strong>of</strong> high quality furniture<br />
design and craft techniques with as near mass–production as was<br />
possible at the time.<br />
<strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> the images <strong>of</strong> the sets are taken from contemporary<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>graphic glass plates which were rescued from a pile <strong>of</strong> scrap<br />
discarded by the firm in 1962. <strong>The</strong> text and other images (for which<br />
we had no plates) are derived from a combination <strong>of</strong> contemporary<br />
<strong>Murphy</strong> sales literature and <strong>Murphy</strong> News articles plus two modern<br />
images <strong>of</strong> surviving sets.<br />
I would like <strong>to</strong> thank Derek Dewey-Leader for scanning the glass<br />
plates and my son Nigel Reeve for producing this electronic<br />
catalogue. Thanks also <strong>to</strong> the staff <strong>of</strong> Mill Green Museum who<br />
allowed us access <strong>to</strong> their <strong>Murphy</strong> collection and David Grant who<br />
kindly contributed several images, a good deal <strong>of</strong> additional<br />
information and very helpful peer review during the project.<br />
© James Reeve<br />
September 2007<br />
3
Biographies and pho<strong>to</strong>graphs from <strong>Murphy</strong> News February 1948<br />
4<br />
EDEN MINNS F.S.I.A.: Head <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cabinet</strong> <strong>Design</strong><br />
Department. Trained as an architect, he subsequently<br />
joined the famous furniture firm <strong>of</strong> Gordon Russell Ltd<br />
<strong>of</strong> Broadway, Worcestershire, with whom he was<br />
engaged on furniture designing. From 1936 <strong>to</strong> 1939 he<br />
was designing <strong>Murphy</strong> cabinets for R. D. Russell in<br />
London. His first <strong>Murphy</strong> design was the B33. He was<br />
responsible for such outstanding cabinets as the A40C,<br />
A40RG, A42V, and others. Later he came <strong>to</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong><br />
<strong>Radio</strong> and designed many <strong>of</strong> the early war-period<br />
cabinets. War service in the Fleet Air Arm and in<br />
aircraft carriers. Returned <strong>to</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong> radio on the last<br />
day <strong>of</strong> 1945, and quickly added <strong>to</strong> his already<br />
considerable reputation in the field <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> industrial<br />
design by the evolution <strong>of</strong> cabinets <strong>of</strong> such widely<br />
differing styles as the A122, the A122 Console, and<br />
the TA126 export set.<br />
His interest in architecture still remains. His interest in<br />
radio is mainly in the part it plays as furniture. Age 42.<br />
Married: one child. Lives in a flat in Kensing<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
R. D. RUSSELL, R.D.I., F.S.I.A.: Outside consultant on<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong> <strong>Design</strong>. Is younger brother <strong>of</strong> Gordon Russell,<br />
founder <strong>of</strong> the furntiure concern <strong>of</strong> Broadway,<br />
Worcestershire. He began designing <strong>Murphy</strong> cabinets as<br />
long ago as 1931, his first being the famous A3. Early<br />
<strong>Murphy</strong> cabinets were designed at Broadway but as the<br />
range expanded an <strong>of</strong>fice was opened in London <strong>to</strong> handle<br />
the increased amount <strong>of</strong> work, and R.D.R was on the staff <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> until 1939. Like Eden Minns, he saw war<br />
service in the Navy. Afterwards he resumed active design<br />
work for <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> in capacity <strong>of</strong> outside consultant. He<br />
has been responsible for the two post-war television<br />
receivers, the V114 and V116, and the innovations<br />
introduced by the latter were described in an article by him<br />
in THE NEWS <strong>of</strong> April last year. Age: 44. Married: three<br />
children. Lives in a country house at Earls Colne in Essex,<br />
and has an <strong>of</strong>fice in central London.
A3<br />
<strong>The</strong> first <strong>Murphy</strong> mains powered radio.<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A3 Table Model 3 Valve + Rectifier ‘Straight’ receiver for use<br />
with AC mains. Two wavebands – Long & Medium.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: In solid walnut. Speaker fabric is silver. <strong>The</strong> first well designed<br />
mains radio cabinet <strong>to</strong> be quantity-produced in England.<br />
Date: 1931<br />
Price: £19 19s 0d reduced <strong>to</strong> £17 17s 0d in 1932<br />
Note: In 1932, the cabinet was enlarged <strong>to</strong> accommodate the A3A<br />
chassis. This cabinet was manufactured from walnut veneered<br />
plywood – this was the first use <strong>of</strong> this material in a mass<br />
produced radio in Britain. Price: £17 17s 0d reduced <strong>to</strong> £13 10s<br />
0d in November.<br />
5
B4<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Ercolani, cabinet manufacturer. Feet and loudspeaker<br />
fretwork modified by R. D. Russell<br />
Model: B4 4 Valve Battery portable ‘Straight’ receiver.<br />
Two wavebands – Long & Medium.<br />
Date: 1932<br />
Price: £15 15s 0d reduced in November <strong>to</strong> £12 10s 0d.<br />
6
A8<br />
<strong>The</strong> first <strong>Murphy</strong> superhet receiver.<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R.D.Russell<br />
Model: A8 Table Model 8 Valve + Rectifier superhet AC mains<br />
receiver. Two wavebands – Long & Medium.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: In walnut veneered plywood. Speaker fabric is silver with<br />
diagonal blue & black stripes. This was the first (<strong>of</strong> many)<br />
radio cabinet made in Britain <strong>to</strong> have a ‘landscape’ pr<strong>of</strong>ile.<br />
Date: 1932<br />
Price: £31 10s 0d. In November 1932 the price was reduced <strong>to</strong> £24<br />
0s 0d simply by omitting the matching stand.<br />
7
A4<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A4 AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D4 DC Superhet Table set<br />
B5 Battery Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1933<br />
Price: £14 10s 0d<br />
8
A24<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A24 AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D24 DC Superhet Table set<br />
B24 Battery Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1934<br />
Price: £14 10s 0d<br />
9
A24C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A24 AC Superhet Console<br />
D24 DC Superhet Console<br />
Date: 1934<br />
Price: £17 0s 0d<br />
10
A24RG and A26RG<br />
<strong>The</strong> first ‘<strong>Murphy</strong>’radiogram.<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A24RG & A26RG AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
D24RG & D26RG DC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
Date: 1934 (A26RG, 1935)<br />
Prices: A24RG £24 0s 0d, D24RG £25 0s 0d.,<br />
A26RG £24 0s 0d, D26RG £25 15s 0d.<br />
11
A26<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A26 AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D26 DC/AC Superhet Table set<br />
B25 Battery Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1935<br />
Prices: A26 £11 0s 0d, D26 £11 5s 0d, B25 £13 0s 0d<br />
12
A26C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A26C AC Superhet Console<br />
D26C DC/AC Superhet Console<br />
Date: 1935<br />
Price: A26C £14 15s 0d , D26C £15 0s 0d<br />
`<br />
13
A28C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A28C AC and D28C DC, Superhet Console<br />
with au<strong>to</strong>matic tuning correction.<br />
Date: 1935<br />
Price: £21 15s 0d<br />
14
A28RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A28RG AC and D28RG DC, Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram with<br />
au<strong>to</strong>matic tuning correction<br />
Date: 1935<br />
Prices: A28RG £33 10s 0d, D28RG £34 10s 0d<br />
15
B23<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: B23 Straight Battery Table Set<br />
Date: 1936<br />
Price: £6 7s 6d<br />
16
B27<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: B27 Battery Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1936<br />
Price: £9 17s 6d<br />
17
A30<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A30 AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D30 DC Superhet Table Set<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: In matt finished walnut with a band <strong>of</strong> zebrano across<br />
the front<br />
Date: 1936<br />
Prices: A30 £9 17s 6d, D30 £10 2s 6d,<br />
18
A30C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A30C AC Superhet Console<br />
D30C DC Superhet Console<br />
Date: 1936<br />
Prices: A30C £13 10s 0d, D30C £13 15s 0d,<br />
19
A30RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A30RG AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
D30RG DC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
Date: 1936<br />
Prices: A30RG £24 0s 0d, D30RG £24 0s 0d,<br />
20
B31<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: B31 Straight Battery table Set<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished walnut with polished black sides<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £6 10s 0d<br />
21
B33<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: B33 Battery Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £10 15s 0d<br />
22
AD32<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: AD32 AC/DC Superhet table Set<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £8 5s 0d<br />
23
A34<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A34 AC Superhet table Set<br />
D34 DC/AC Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £11 10s 0d<br />
24
A36<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A36 Special S.W. performance AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D36 Special S.W. performance DC/AC Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £15 10s 0d<br />
25
A38C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A38C AC and D38C DC/AC Superhet Console with<br />
special quality reproduction<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished figured walnut and straight-grained elm<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £17 10s 0d<br />
26
27<br />
A42V<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A42V AC Television<br />
receiver. <strong>The</strong> first <strong>Murphy</strong><br />
television. A luxury product.<br />
A reversed screen image was<br />
viewed via a mirror in the lid.<br />
Picture size 9in x 7 in<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Bombay rosewood &<br />
impregnated black pearwood.<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £65 0s 0d
28<br />
A34RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A34RG AC and<br />
D34RG DC/AC Superhet<br />
<strong>Radio</strong>gram.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished black walnut<br />
and French light walnut<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Prices: A34RG £24 0s 0d,<br />
D34RG £25 0s 0d.
A40C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A40C AC Superhet Console with outstanding quality <strong>of</strong><br />
reproduction, special S.W. performance and au<strong>to</strong>matic tuning<br />
correction.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Bombay rosewood and thuya burr<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £35 0s 0d<br />
29
30<br />
A40RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A40RG AC Superhet<br />
<strong>Radio</strong>gram with outstanding<br />
quality <strong>of</strong> reproduction, special<br />
S.W. performance and<br />
au<strong>to</strong>matic tuning correction. In<br />
Bombay rosewood and<br />
Bubinga. <strong>The</strong> lining <strong>of</strong> the lid<br />
is pale grey felt with a white<br />
trellis – a luxury set.<br />
Date: 1937<br />
Price: £85 0s 0d
B45<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: Straight Battery Table Set<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished black walnut with a narrow white rim<br />
surrounding the loudspeaker.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Price: £7 0s 0d<br />
31
A46<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A46 All wave AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Contrasting French walnut and black walnut veneers.<br />
Loudspeaker opening has a narrow white surround.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Prices: A46 £9 10s 0d, D46 £9 15s 0d.<br />
32
A46C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A46 All wave AC Superhet Console<br />
D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Console<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark and medium-<strong>to</strong>ned walnut. <strong>The</strong> controls are set on a<br />
sloping <strong>to</strong>p panel <strong>of</strong> feather-grained walnut for easy operation<br />
whether standing or seated.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Prices: A46C £13 15s 0d, D46C £14 0s 0d<br />
33
A46RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A46RG All wave AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
D46RG All wave DC/AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark walnut with light horizontal lines on the upper front panel.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Prices: A46RG £20 0s 0d, D46RG £22 0s 0d<br />
34
B47<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: All wave Battery Superhet Table Set<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark polished walnut with front panel carrying the<br />
concentric controls.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Price: £11 10s 0d<br />
35
B47C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: All wave Battery Superhet Console<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark and medium-<strong>to</strong>ned walnut with contrasting plinth.<br />
<strong>The</strong> controls are placed on the sloping <strong>to</strong>p for easy<br />
handling.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Price: £14 5s 0d<br />
36
A48<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A48 All wave AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D48 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: French walnut, contrasting with dark-figured walnut.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Prices: A48 £12 0s 0d, D48 £12 5s 0d<br />
37
A48RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A48RG All wave AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
with Au<strong>to</strong>matic Record Changer.<br />
D48RG DC/AC model.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished black walnut and French walnut veneer.<br />
Flush mo<strong>to</strong>r-board and slightly inset lid for easy lifting.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Prices: A48RG £30 0s 0d, D48RG £32 0s 0d<br />
38
A50<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A50 All wave AC Superhet Table Set<br />
D50 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set<br />
<strong>Design</strong>ed for good quality reproduction<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Venereed in righ-figured Honduras mahogany with control<br />
panel in dark grey-silvered glass.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Prices: A50 £16 0s 0d, D50 £16 5s 0d<br />
39
A50C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A50C All wave AC Superhet Console<br />
D50C All wave DC/AC Superhet Console<br />
<strong>Design</strong>ed for good quality reproduction.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Walnut and rose zebrano. Tilted <strong>to</strong>p suited <strong>to</strong> armchair operation.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Prices: A50C £21 0s 0d, D50C £21 5s 0d<br />
40
A52<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A52 AC Push But<strong>to</strong>n Table Set with special S.W. perfomance.<br />
7 valve (plus rectifier) double Superhet with mo<strong>to</strong>rised tuning.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Price: £18 10s 0d<br />
41
A56V<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A56V AC Television Receiver. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Price: £30 0s 0d<br />
42
A58V<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A58V AC Television and <strong>Radio</strong> Receiver. Combining<br />
Television and reception on short, medium and longwaves with<br />
good quality reproduction. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.<br />
Date: 1938<br />
Price: £45 0s 0d<br />
43
B81<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: B81 All purpose Battery Portable<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: “All weather” finish <strong>of</strong> black rexine piped with green<br />
leather with greeen plastic knobs and dial opening.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £8 15s 0d<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £9 0s 0d<br />
44
B69<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: B69 All wave Battery Table Set.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark walnut with a light walnut <strong>to</strong>p, Similar design <strong>to</strong> the 70<br />
mains table model but without “feet” and the tuning scale is<br />
black on white rather than three colours.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £9 0s 0d<br />
45
A72/B71<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A72 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set,<br />
B71 battery model. D72A (DC only) & B71A<br />
Special 4-way band models.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Light and dark polished walnut with a<br />
gold surround <strong>to</strong> the speaker and scale openings.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: A72, £12 10s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra, D72A £13 10s 0d. Price change<br />
Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £13 0s 0d DC/AC 10/- extra. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/extra.<br />
Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra. B71 £11 0s<br />
0d, B71A £12 5s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £12 0s 0d.<br />
46
47<br />
70<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: 70 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Two <strong>to</strong>nes <strong>of</strong> polished dark walnut with<br />
light walnut <strong>to</strong>p. Tapered speaker opening with a<br />
gold finished scale surround surrounded by<br />
inlaid white line. Tuning scale in 3 colours.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £10 5s 0d DC/AC 5/- extra.<br />
Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extra<br />
Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra
48<br />
A74<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: <strong>Cabinet</strong> R. D. Russell,<br />
knobs by Eden Minns<br />
Model: A74 All wave AC Table Set with<br />
excellent quality reproduction.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: In contrasting shades <strong>of</strong> walnut “V”<br />
grain side and dark walnut.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £16 0s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939<br />
£16 15s 0d. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extra<br />
Remote control unit £3 10s 0d extra
49<br />
A76<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A76 All wave AC Table Set,<br />
special Short Wave performance<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Brown figures mahogany and<br />
beech with a highly polished finish.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £16 10s 0d<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £17 10s 0d<br />
Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extra<br />
Remote control unit £3 10s 0d extra
70C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: 70C All wave Mains Console<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £14 15s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £15 10s 0d,<br />
DC/AC 5/- extra. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/extra.<br />
Remote control unit (AC only)<br />
£3 10s 0d extra<br />
50
51<br />
A74C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A74C All wave AC Console, with<br />
excellent quality reproduction<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £21 0s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber<br />
1939 £22 0s 0d. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extra<br />
Remote control unit £3 10s 0d extra
A78C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A78C All wave AC Console, with outstanding quality<br />
reproduction, special short wave performance and Remote<br />
Control.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £40 0s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £42 0s 0d<br />
Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £52 10s 0d plus P.T.<br />
52
70RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: 70RG All wave Mains <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Medium and light <strong>to</strong>ned walnut with light inlaid lines on the<br />
speaker panel.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £22 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 0s 0d extra<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £23 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 5s 0d extra<br />
Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extra<br />
Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra<br />
53
54<br />
A72RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: A72RG All wave AC<br />
Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram with<br />
au<strong>to</strong>matic record changer for<br />
up <strong>to</strong> eight 10 in. or 12 in.<br />
records<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark walnut with<br />
lighter contrasts on the<br />
exposed edges <strong>of</strong> the speaker<br />
panel and cabinet <strong>to</strong>p.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £32 0s 0d<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939<br />
£33 10s 0d<br />
Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extra<br />
Remote control unit (AC only)<br />
£3 10s 0d extra
A78RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A78RG All wave AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram, with outstanding<br />
quality reproduction, special short wave performance, remote<br />
control and with au<strong>to</strong>matic record changer, taking 10 in. or 12<br />
in. mixed records.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £90 0s 0d. Price change December 1939 £95 0s 0d<br />
Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940<br />
Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra<br />
55
V84T<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: V84T AC Table Model Television Receiver.<br />
Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £29 0s 0d<br />
56
V84C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: V84C AC Television Console. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £33 0s 0d<br />
57
V86C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: V86C AC Television Console, with high quality<br />
performance. Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £40 0s 0d<br />
58
59<br />
V88C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: V88C AC<br />
Television and all wave<br />
<strong>Radio</strong> Console.<br />
Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.<br />
Date: 1939<br />
Price: £50 0s 0d
B93<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: B93 Battery Superhet Portable<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Black rexine. <strong>The</strong> white line around the front panel is the white<br />
rubber “grommet”, the speaker silk is black and white striped,<br />
the scale has black lettering on a white ground, and the knobs<br />
and dial opening are black plastic.<br />
Date: 1940<br />
Price: £10 0s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940.<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £12 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax<br />
60
B89<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: B89 Battery Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1940<br />
Price: £7 15s 0d<br />
Price change September 1940 £8 10s 0d<br />
Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £10 12s 6d plus Purchase Tax<br />
61
A92 and B91<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A92 Mains Special Short Wave Performance AC Superhet<br />
Table Set with press but<strong>to</strong>n tuning on Short Wave.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Warm brown oak with a black bakelite front. B91 (battery<br />
model) has a white tuning scale because the dial is not<br />
illuminated; saving battery power.<br />
Date: 1940<br />
Price: A92 £15 15s 0d, B91 £14 10s 0d<br />
Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 A92 £19 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax,<br />
B91 £18 2s 6d plus Purchase Tax<br />
62
90<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: 90 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set<br />
Date: 1940<br />
Price: £11 0s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extra<br />
Price change April 1940 £11 10s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extra<br />
Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £14 7s 6d plus Purchase Tax<br />
(DC/AC £15 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax)<br />
63
A90C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A90C All wave AC Superhet Console<br />
Date: 1940<br />
Price: £18 0s 0d<br />
Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £22 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax<br />
64
90RG<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: 90RG All wave AC<br />
Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<br />
Date: 1940<br />
Price: £26 0s 0d, DC/AC £1<br />
10s 0d extra. Purchase Tax<br />
payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940.<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943<br />
£32 10s 0d plus Purchase<br />
Tax. DC/AC £34 7s 6d plus<br />
purchase tax.<br />
65
AD94<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: AD94 AC/DC Superhet Table Set. Moulded <strong>Cabinet</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first bakelite (black) cabinet (moulding by de la Rue) and<br />
final new set <strong>of</strong> the year. <strong>The</strong> black and white motif is provided<br />
by the highlights, scale, speaker silk and knobs.<br />
Date: 1940<br />
Price: £9 10s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940<br />
Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £11 17s 6d plus Purchase Tax,<br />
66
A96<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A96 AC Superhet Table Set with short and medium waves<br />
only. B96 Battery Superhet Table Model (issued 1945).<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Moulded black bakelite (moulding by De la Rue).<br />
Date: 1943<br />
Prices: A96 and B96 both £15 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax.<br />
67
War-time Civilian Receiver<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: War-time Civilian Receiver (Government Industry Specification)<br />
Date: 1944<br />
Prices: AC Mains Model £10 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.<br />
Battery Model £9 0s 0d<br />
68
A98 and B97<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A98 AC Superhet Table Set for long, medium and short<br />
waves. Moulded <strong>Cabinet</strong>. B97 Battery model.<br />
Date: 1945<br />
Price: A98 £18 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.<br />
B97 £15 17s 0d plus Purchase Tax.<br />
69
SAD94S and SAD 94L<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: SAD94S AC/DC Superhet Table Set with short and medium<br />
waves only. SAD94L with long and medium waves only.<br />
Date: 1945<br />
Price: £12 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.<br />
70
V86CA<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R.D. Russell<br />
Model: AC Television Console. Picture Size 10 in. x 8 in.<br />
Date: 1946<br />
Price: £67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.<br />
71
V114<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. Russell<br />
Model: V114 AC Table Model Television. Picture Size 8 in. x 6½ in.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Rosewood <strong>to</strong>p and front. <strong>The</strong> lower part, veneered in<br />
mahogany and carrying speaker and controls, is set back. <strong>The</strong><br />
speaker bars are splayed outwards from the centre, backed by a<br />
plain gold rayon fabric.<br />
Date: 1946<br />
Price: £67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.<br />
72
73<br />
TA92 & TU92<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: TA92 Special<br />
short wave performance,<br />
AC Superhet Table Set,<br />
with press but<strong>to</strong>n tuning on<br />
Short Wave. TU92 AC/DC<br />
model.<br />
Date: 1947<br />
Price: £25 0s 0d plus<br />
Purchase Tax<br />
TA92 from Mill Green<br />
Museum
A122<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A122 Table Model Baffle 4-Valve Superhet for AC long,<br />
medium and short waves.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: It has a rich mahogany finish. Its side members, <strong>of</strong> darker<br />
wood, extend sufficiently far <strong>to</strong> the rear <strong>to</strong> give it a firm “sit”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> speaker silk is gold. <strong>The</strong> l..w, m.w. and s.w. scales are<br />
separately illuminated; their station names are picked out in<br />
white and the wavelength figures in green.<br />
Date: 1947<br />
Price: £22 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax<br />
74
A122C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A122C Console version <strong>of</strong> the<br />
A122 baffle superhet.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: <strong>The</strong> <strong>to</strong>p <strong>of</strong> the Console and the<br />
central panel are veneered in a<br />
nicely figured mahogany <strong>of</strong> warm,<br />
golden colour. <strong>The</strong> legs are <strong>of</strong><br />
laminated wood. Speaker silk is<br />
gold.<br />
Date: 1947<br />
Price: £27 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax<br />
75
TA126<br />
<strong>The</strong> first purpose designed export model.<br />
Pho<strong>to</strong>graph: David Grant<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: TA126 Table Model 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for use<br />
with AC mains. Eight wavebands – Medium, Short and 6<br />
bandspread shortwave bands. Also TU126 for DC mains and<br />
TB125/7 for accumula<strong>to</strong>r operation.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Bakelite with cream painted front.<br />
Date: 1947<br />
Price: £19 10s 0d<br />
76
V116<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R.D.Russell<br />
Model: V116C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 10” × 8”.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Sides and doors in mahogany, <strong>to</strong>p in blistered mahogany.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are no handles on the doors: opening is effected by<br />
pulling on a “finger-hold” at the <strong>to</strong>p. <strong>The</strong> surround <strong>to</strong> the<br />
screen and speaker is <strong>of</strong> straight-grained continental elm,<br />
finished in a lighter shade than the main carcase.<br />
Date: 1947<br />
Price: £80 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax<br />
77
A146C<br />
<strong>The</strong> first ‘<strong>Murphy</strong>’ baffle console.<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: R.D.Russell<br />
Model: A146C Console Model Baffle 6 Valve + Rectifier<br />
Superhet for use with AC mains. Two wavebands – Long<br />
& Medium.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Floor model baffle in walnut. Front in halved and matched<br />
figured walnut.<br />
Date: 1949<br />
Price: £28 12s 9d plus Purchase Tax<br />
79
A122M<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: A122M Table Model Baffle 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for<br />
use with<br />
AC mains. Three wavebands – Long, Medium & Short.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Square treatment <strong>of</strong> cabinet, scale and speaker opening gives<br />
a more massive appearance than its predecessors. Main panel<br />
is veneered in African rosewood, Ends and <strong>to</strong>p in walnut.<br />
Speaker fabric is gold.<br />
Date: 1949<br />
Price: £22 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax<br />
80
V134/6C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: V134C and V136C AC Console Model Television. Picture size<br />
7½” × 6”. <strong>The</strong> V134C was intended for reception only within<br />
12-15 miles <strong>of</strong> Alexandra Palace, the V136C had a greater range.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: In attractive walnut veneer, straight grained for the body <strong>of</strong> the<br />
cabinet, with figured <strong>to</strong>p, doors and speaker apron. Legs <strong>of</strong> dark<br />
walnut fitted with Domes <strong>of</strong> Silence. Edges <strong>of</strong> speaker and screen<br />
openings and door edges are cross-banded in veneer, not painted.<br />
Minn’s original curved leg design (inset) was replaced by straight<br />
legs in the production model.<br />
Date: 1948<br />
Price: V134C £67 16s 8d including £12 16s 8d Purchase Tax<br />
V136C £70 12s 2d including £13 7s 2d Purchase Tax<br />
81
V176C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: V176C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 12½” × 10”.<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: <strong>The</strong> cabinet is <strong>of</strong> an exceptionally attractive walnut finish. It is<br />
fitted with doors. <strong>The</strong> instrument panel matches the main cabinet,<br />
also being <strong>of</strong> walnut. Felt lining <strong>of</strong> the interior prevents distracting<br />
reflections.<br />
Date: <strong>1950</strong><br />
Price: £128 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax<br />
This model was announced in the Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1949 edition <strong>of</strong> the<br />
‘<strong>Murphy</strong> News’ but wasn’t available until April <strong>of</strong> the following<br />
year.<br />
82
V180C<br />
<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden Minns<br />
Model: V180C AC Console Model Television. 12” tube. A successor <strong>to</strong><br />
the V120C (not shown in this guide).<br />
<strong>Cabinet</strong>: An emphasis on vertical lines is made by pillars which curve out<br />
from the side panels for a wider front aspect, and easier adjustment<br />
<strong>of</strong> the set position with one hand. <strong>The</strong> <strong>to</strong>p, shaped at the front, is in<br />
figured medium-<strong>to</strong>ne walnut, edged by darker bands running around<br />
the sides and back. Walnut instrument panel with crossbanded<br />
veneer edge. <strong>The</strong> controls (brown bakelite with gold rings) have a<br />
broad fluting that is pleasant <strong>to</strong> handle. Gold striped rayon speaker<br />
silk. Fitted with large cas<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
Date: <strong>1950</strong><br />
Price: £75 0s 0d including Purchase Tax<br />
83
AFTERWORD<br />
Although we were unable <strong>to</strong> track down pho<strong>to</strong>graphs <strong>of</strong> every set<br />
produced from <strong>1930</strong>-<strong>1950</strong>, I hope that this book will be a useful<br />
reference for <strong>Murphy</strong> and design enthusiasts everywhere. Should<br />
more images be found they may be added <strong>to</strong> later editions <strong>of</strong> this<br />
electronic book.<br />
<strong>1950</strong> sees the end <strong>of</strong> this unique period in the design his<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>of</strong> one<br />
company. However, <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> continued this tradition <strong>of</strong> high<br />
quality design in production <strong>of</strong> audio and television in<strong>to</strong> the 1970s.<br />
84<br />
J.A.R. September 2007
<strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> stand at Olympia 1939*<br />
* date determined from models and prices on display<br />
85
Change language