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The Best of Murphy Cabinet Design 1930 to 1950 - Murphy Radio

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1<strong>The</strong> <strong>Best</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong><strong>Cabinet</strong> <strong>Design</strong><strong>1930</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>1950</strong>compiled byJames Reeve


3FOREWORDAs a school leaver aged 15, I began work in November 1940 at<strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> as a trainee in the design <strong>of</strong>fice in Bridge Road,Welwyn Garden City. During the war I worked on receivers andother electronic equipment for the military. In <strong>1950</strong>, I began workingfor Eden Minns, designing for the new post-war products. Icontinued <strong>to</strong> work in cabinet and graphic design for <strong>Murphy</strong> until1970, although in 1962 the company had been taken over by Rank-Bush.This catalogue is a tribute <strong>to</strong> the design work for <strong>Murphy</strong> by R. D.Russell and Eden Minns from <strong>1930</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>1950</strong>. During this uniqueperiod they brought <strong>to</strong>gether an integration <strong>of</strong> high quality furnituredesign and craft techniques with as near mass–production as waspossible at the time.<strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> the images <strong>of</strong> the sets are taken from contemporarypho<strong>to</strong>graphic glass plates which were rescued from a pile <strong>of</strong> scrapdiscarded by the firm in 1962. <strong>The</strong> text and other images (for whichwe had no plates) are derived from a combination <strong>of</strong> contemporary<strong>Murphy</strong> sales literature and <strong>Murphy</strong> News articles plus two modernimages <strong>of</strong> surviving sets.I would like <strong>to</strong> thank Derek Dewey-Leader for scanning the glassplates and my son Nigel Reeve for producing this electroniccatalogue. Thanks also <strong>to</strong> the staff <strong>of</strong> Mill Green Museum whoallowed us access <strong>to</strong> their <strong>Murphy</strong> collection and David Grant whokindly contributed several images, a good deal <strong>of</strong> additionalinformation and very helpful peer review during the project.© James ReeveSeptember 2007


Biographies and pho<strong>to</strong>graphs from <strong>Murphy</strong> News February 19484EDEN MINNS F.S.I.A.: Head <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cabinet</strong> <strong>Design</strong>Department. Trained as an architect, he subsequentlyjoined the famous furniture firm <strong>of</strong> Gordon Russell Ltd<strong>of</strong> Broadway, Worcestershire, with whom he wasengaged on furniture designing. From 1936 <strong>to</strong> 1939 hewas designing <strong>Murphy</strong> cabinets for R. D. Russell inLondon. His first <strong>Murphy</strong> design was the B33. He wasresponsible for such outstanding cabinets as the A40C,A40RG, A42V, and others. Later he came <strong>to</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong><strong>Radio</strong> and designed many <strong>of</strong> the early war-periodcabinets. War service in the Fleet Air Arm and inaircraft carriers. Returned <strong>to</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong> radio on the lastday <strong>of</strong> 1945, and quickly added <strong>to</strong> his alreadyconsiderable reputation in the field <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> industrialdesign by the evolution <strong>of</strong> cabinets <strong>of</strong> such widelydiffering styles as the A122, the A122 Console, andthe TA126 export set.His interest in architecture still remains. His interest inradio is mainly in the part it plays as furniture. Age 42.Married: one child. Lives in a flat in Kensing<strong>to</strong>n.R. D. RUSSELL, R.D.I., F.S.I.A.: Outside consultant on<strong>Cabinet</strong> <strong>Design</strong>. Is younger brother <strong>of</strong> Gordon Russell,founder <strong>of</strong> the furntiure concern <strong>of</strong> Broadway,Worcestershire. He began designing <strong>Murphy</strong> cabinets aslong ago as 1931, his first being the famous A3. Early<strong>Murphy</strong> cabinets were designed at Broadway but as therange expanded an <strong>of</strong>fice was opened in London <strong>to</strong> handlethe increased amount <strong>of</strong> work, and R.D.R was on the staff <strong>of</strong><strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> until 1939. Like Eden Minns, he saw warservice in the Navy. Afterwards he resumed active designwork for <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> in capacity <strong>of</strong> outside consultant. Hehas been responsible for the two post-war televisionreceivers, the V114 and V116, and the innovationsintroduced by the latter were described in an article by himin THE NEWS <strong>of</strong> April last year. Age: 44. Married: threechildren. Lives in a country house at Earls Colne in Essex,and has an <strong>of</strong>fice in central London.


6B4<strong>Design</strong>er: Ercolani, cabinet manufacturer. Feet and loudspeakerfretwork modified by R. D. RussellModel:B4 4 Valve Battery portable ‘Straight’ receiver.Two wavebands – Long & Medium.Date: 1932Price: £15 15s 0d reduced in November <strong>to</strong> £12 10s 0d.


8<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A4A4 AC Superhet Table SetD4 DC Superhet Table setB5 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1933Price: £14 10s 0d


10<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:Date: 1934Price: £17 0s 0dA24CA24 AC Superhet ConsoleD24 DC Superhet Console


11<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A24RG and A26RG<strong>The</strong> first ‘<strong>Murphy</strong>’radiogram.A24RG & A26RG AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gramD24RG & D26RG DC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gramDate: 1934 (A26RG, 1935)Prices:A24RG £24 0s 0d, D24RG £25 0s 0d.,A26RG £24 0s 0d, D26RG £25 15s 0d.


12<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A26A26 AC Superhet Table SetD26 DC/AC Superhet Table setB25 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1935Prices: A26 £11 0s 0d, D26 £11 5s 0d, B25 £13 0s 0d


13`<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A26CA26C AC Superhet ConsoleD26C DC/AC Superhet ConsoleDate: 1935Price: A26C £14 15s 0d , D26C £15 0s 0d


14<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A28CA28C AC and D28C DC, Superhet Consolewith au<strong>to</strong>matic tuning correction.Date: 1935Price: £21 15s 0d


15<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A28RGA28RG AC and D28RG DC, Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram withau<strong>to</strong>matic tuning correctionDate: 1935Prices: A28RG £33 10s 0d, D28RG £34 10s 0d


16B23<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: B23 Straight Battery Table SetDate: 1936Price: £6 7s 6d


17B27<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: B27 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1936Price: £9 17s 6d


18A30<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A30 AC Superhet Table SetD30 DC Superhet Table Set<strong>Cabinet</strong>:In matt finished walnut with a band <strong>of</strong> zebrano acrossthe frontDate: 1936Prices: A30 £9 17s 6d, D30 £10 2s 6d,


19<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A30CA30C AC Superhet ConsoleD30C DC Superhet ConsoleDate: 1936Prices: A30C £13 10s 0d, D30C £13 15s 0d,


20<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A30RGA30RG AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gramD30RG DC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gramDate: 1936Prices: A30RG £24 0s 0d, D30RG £24 0s 0d,


21B31<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: B31 Straight Battery table Set<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished walnut with polished black sidesDate: 1937Price: £6 10s 0d


22B33<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: B33 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1937Price: £10 15s 0d


23AD32<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: AD32 AC/DC Superhet table SetDate: 1937Price: £8 5s 0d


24<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel:A34A34 AC Superhet table SetD34 DC/AC Superhet Table SetDate: 1937Price: £11 10s 0d


25<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A36A36 Special S.W. performance AC Superhet Table SetD36 Special S.W. performance DC/AC Superhet Table SetDate: 1937Price: £15 10s 0d


26A38C<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A38C AC and D38C DC/AC Superhet Console withspecial quality reproduction<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished figured walnut and straight-grained elmDate: 1937Price: £17 10s 0d


27A42V<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A42V AC Televisionreceiver. <strong>The</strong> first <strong>Murphy</strong>television. A luxury product.A reversed screen image wasviewed via a mirror in the lid.Picture size 9in x 7 in<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Bombay rosewood &impregnated black pearwood.Date: 1937Price: £65 0s 0d


28A34RG<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A34RG AC andD34RG DC/AC Superhet<strong>Radio</strong>gram.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished black walnutand French light walnutDate: 1937Prices: A34RG £24 0s 0d,D34RG £25 0s 0d.


29A40C<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A40C AC Superhet Console with outstanding quality <strong>of</strong>reproduction, special S.W. performance and au<strong>to</strong>matic tuningcorrection.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Bombay rosewood and thuya burrDate: 1937Price: £35 0s 0d


30A40RG<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A40RG AC Superhet<strong>Radio</strong>gram with outstandingquality <strong>of</strong> reproduction, specialS.W. performance andau<strong>to</strong>matic tuning correction. InBombay rosewood andBubinga. <strong>The</strong> lining <strong>of</strong> the lidis pale grey felt with a whitetrellis – a luxury set.Date: 1937Price: £85 0s 0d


31B45<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: Straight Battery Table Set<strong>Cabinet</strong>:Date: 1938Price: £7 0s 0dPolished black walnut with a narrow white rimsurrounding the loudspeaker.


32A46<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A46 All wave AC Superhet Table SetD46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Contrasting French walnut and black walnut veneers.Loudspeaker opening has a narrow white surround.Date: 1938Prices: A46 £9 10s 0d, D46 £9 15s 0d.


33A46C<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A46 All wave AC Superhet ConsoleD46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Console<strong>Cabinet</strong>:Dark and medium-<strong>to</strong>ned walnut. <strong>The</strong> controls are set on asloping <strong>to</strong>p panel <strong>of</strong> feather-grained walnut for easy operationwhether standing or seated.Date: 1938Prices: A46C £13 15s 0d, D46C £14 0s 0d


34A46RG<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A46RG All wave AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gramD46RG All wave DC/AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark walnut with light horizontal lines on the upper front panel.Date: 1938Prices: A46RG £20 0s 0d, D46RG £22 0s 0d


35B47<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: All wave Battery Superhet Table Set<strong>Cabinet</strong>:Dark polished walnut with front panel carrying theconcentric controls.Date: 1938Price: £11 10s 0d


36B47C<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: All wave Battery Superhet Console<strong>Cabinet</strong>:Date: 1938Price: £14 5s 0dDark and medium-<strong>to</strong>ned walnut with contrasting plinth.<strong>The</strong> controls are placed on the sloping <strong>to</strong>p for easyhandling.


37A48<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A48 All wave AC Superhet Table SetD48 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set<strong>Cabinet</strong>: French walnut, contrasting with dark-figured walnut.Date: 1938Prices: A48 £12 0s 0d, D48 £12 5s 0d


38A48RG<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A48RG All wave AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gramwith Au<strong>to</strong>matic Record Changer.D48RG DC/AC model.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Polished black walnut and French walnut veneer.Flush mo<strong>to</strong>r-board and slightly inset lid for easy lifting.Date: 1938Prices: A48RG £30 0s 0d, D48RG £32 0s 0d


39A50<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A50 All wave AC Superhet Table SetD50 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set<strong>Design</strong>ed for good quality reproduction<strong>Cabinet</strong>:Venereed in righ-figured Honduras mahogany with controlpanel in dark grey-silvered glass.Date: 1938Prices: A50 £16 0s 0d, D50 £16 5s 0d


40A50C<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A50C All wave AC Superhet ConsoleD50C All wave DC/AC Superhet Console<strong>Design</strong>ed for good quality reproduction.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Walnut and rose zebrano. Tilted <strong>to</strong>p suited <strong>to</strong> armchair operation.Date: 1938Prices: A50C £21 0s 0d, D50C £21 5s 0d


41<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:A52A52 AC Push But<strong>to</strong>n Table Set with special S.W. perfomance.7 valve (plus rectifier) double Superhet with mo<strong>to</strong>rised tuning.Date: 1938Price: £18 10s 0d


42A56V<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A56V AC Television Receiver. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.Date: 1938Price: £30 0s 0d


43<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:Date: 1938Price: £45 0s 0dA58VA58V AC Television and <strong>Radio</strong> Receiver. CombiningTelevision and reception on short, medium and longwaves withgood quality reproduction. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.


44B81<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: B81 All purpose Battery Portable<strong>Cabinet</strong>: “All weather” finish <strong>of</strong> black rexine piped with greenleather with greeen plastic knobs and dial opening.Date: 1939Price: £8 15s 0dPrice change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £9 0s 0d


45B69<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: B69 All wave Battery Table Set.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark walnut with a light walnut <strong>to</strong>p, Similar design <strong>to</strong> the 70mains table model but without “feet” and the tuning scale isblack on white rather than three colours.Date: 1939Price: £9 0s 0d


A72/B71<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A72 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set,B71 battery model. D72A (DC only) & B71ASpecial 4-way band models.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Light and dark polished walnut with agold surround <strong>to</strong> the speaker and scale openings.Date: 1939Price: A72, £12 10s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra, D72A £13 10s 0d. Price changeOc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £13 0s 0d DC/AC 10/- extra. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/-extra. Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra. B71 £11 0s0d, B71A £12 5s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £12 0s 0d.46


4770<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: 70 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Two <strong>to</strong>nes <strong>of</strong> polished dark walnut withlight walnut <strong>to</strong>p. Tapered speaker opening with agold finished scale surround surrounded byinlaid white line. Tuning scale in 3 colours.Date: 1939Price: £10 5s 0d DC/AC 5/- extra.Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extraRemote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra


48A74<strong>Design</strong>er: <strong>Cabinet</strong> R. D. Russell,knobs by Eden MinnsModel: A74 All wave AC Table Set withexcellent quality reproduction.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: In contrasting shades <strong>of</strong> walnut “V”grain side and dark walnut.Date: 1939Price: £16 0s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939£16 15s 0d. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extraRemote control unit £3 10s 0d extra


49A76<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A76 All wave AC Table Set,special Short Wave performance<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Brown figures mahogany andbeech with a highly polished finish.Date: 1939Price: £16 10s 0dPrice change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £17 10s 0dPress but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extraRemote control unit £3 10s 0d extra


70C<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: 70C All wave Mains ConsoleDate: 1939Price: £14 15s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extraPrice change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £15 10s 0d,DC/AC 5/- extra. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/-extra. Remote control unit (AC only)£3 10s 0d extra50


51A74C<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A74C All wave AC Console, withexcellent quality reproductionDate: 1939Price: £21 0s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber1939 £22 0s 0d. Press but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extraRemote control unit £3 10s 0d extra


52A78C<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A78C All wave AC Console, with outstanding qualityreproduction, special short wave performance and RemoteControl.Date: 1939Price: £40 0s 0d. Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £42 0s 0dPurchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £52 10s 0d plus P.T.


5370RG<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: 70RG All wave Mains <strong>Radio</strong>gram<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Medium and light <strong>to</strong>ned walnut with light inlaid lines on thespeaker panel.Date: 1939Price: £22 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 0s 0d extraPrice change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939 £23 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 5s 0d extraPress but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extraRemote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra


54A72RG<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: A72RG All wave ACSuperhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram withau<strong>to</strong>matic record changer forup <strong>to</strong> eight 10 in. or 12 in.records<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Dark walnut withlighter contrasts on theexposed edges <strong>of</strong> the speakerpanel and cabinet <strong>to</strong>p.Date: 1939Price: £32 0s 0dPrice change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1939£33 10s 0dPress but<strong>to</strong>n unit 35/- extraRemote control unit (AC only)£3 10s 0d extra


55A78RG<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A78RG All wave AC Superhet <strong>Radio</strong>gram, with outstandingquality reproduction, special short wave performance, remotecontrol and with au<strong>to</strong>matic record changer, taking 10 in. or 12in. mixed records.Date: 1939Price: £90 0s 0d. Price change December 1939 £95 0s 0dPurchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra


56<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:Date: 1939Price: £29 0s 0dV84TV84T AC Table Model Television Receiver.Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.


57V84C<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: V84C AC Television Console. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.Date: 1939Price: £33 0s 0d


58<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel:Date: 1939Price: £40 0s 0dV86CV86C AC Television Console, with high qualityperformance. Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.


59V88C<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: V88C ACTelevision and all wave<strong>Radio</strong> Console.Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.Date: 1939Price: £50 0s 0d


60B93<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: B93 Battery Superhet Portable<strong>Cabinet</strong>:Black rexine. <strong>The</strong> white line around the front panel is the whiterubber “grommet”, the speaker silk is black and white striped,the scale has black lettering on a white ground, and the knobsand dial opening are black plastic.Date: 1940Price: £10 0s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940.Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £12 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax


61B89<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: B89 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1940Price: £7 15s 0dPrice change September 1940 £8 10s 0dPurchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £10 12s 6d plus Purchase Tax


62A92 and B91<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A92 Mains Special Short Wave Performance AC SuperhetTable Set with press but<strong>to</strong>n tuning on Short Wave.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Warm brown oak with a black bakelite front. B91 (batterymodel) has a white tuning scale because the dial is notilluminated; saving battery power.Date: 1940Price: A92 £15 15s 0d, B91 £14 10s 0dPurchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 A92 £19 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax,B91 £18 2s 6d plus Purchase Tax


6390<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: 90 All wave Mains Superhet Table SetDate: 1940Price: £11 0s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extraPrice change April 1940 £11 10s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extraPurchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £14 7s 6d plus Purchase Tax(DC/AC £15 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax)


64A90C<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A90C All wave AC Superhet ConsoleDate: 1940Price: £18 0s 0dPurchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £22 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax


90RG<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: 90RG All wave ACSuperhet <strong>Radio</strong>gramDate: 1940Price: £26 0s 0d, DC/AC £110s 0d extra. Purchase Taxpayable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940.Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943£32 10s 0d plus PurchaseTax. DC/AC £34 7s 6d pluspurchase tax.65


66<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel:AD94AD94 AC/DC Superhet Table Set. Moulded <strong>Cabinet</strong>.<strong>The</strong> first bakelite (black) cabinet (moulding by de la Rue) andfinal new set <strong>of</strong> the year. <strong>The</strong> black and white motif is providedby the highlights, scale, speaker silk and knobs.Date: 1940Price: £9 10s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1940Price change Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1943 £11 17s 6d plus Purchase Tax,


67A96<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A96 AC Superhet Table Set with short and medium wavesonly. B96 Battery Superhet Table Model (issued 1945).<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Moulded black bakelite (moulding by De la Rue).Date: 1943Prices: A96 and B96 both £15 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax.


68War-time Civilian Receiver<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: War-time Civilian Receiver (Government Industry Specification)Date: 1944Prices: AC Mains Model £10 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.Battery Model £9 0s 0d


69A98 and B97<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A98 AC Superhet Table Set for long, medium and shortwaves. Moulded <strong>Cabinet</strong>. B97 Battery model.Date: 1945Price: A98 £18 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.B97 £15 17s 0d plus Purchase Tax.


70<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel:SAD94S and SAD 94LSAD94S AC/DC Superhet Table Set with short and mediumwaves only. SAD94L with long and medium waves only.Date: 1945Price: £12 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.


71V86CA<strong>Design</strong>er: R.D. RussellModel: AC Television Console. Picture Size 10 in. x 8 in.Date: 1946Price: £67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.


72V114<strong>Design</strong>er: R. D. RussellModel: V114 AC Table Model Television. Picture Size 8 in. x 6½ in.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Rosewood <strong>to</strong>p and front. <strong>The</strong> lower part, veneered inmahogany and carrying speaker and controls, is set back. <strong>The</strong>speaker bars are splayed outwards from the centre, backed by aplain gold rayon fabric.Date: 1946Price: £67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.


73TA92 & TU92<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: TA92 Specialshort wave performance,AC Superhet Table Set,with press but<strong>to</strong>n tuning onShort Wave. TU92 AC/DCmodel.Date: 1947Price: £25 0s 0d plusPurchase TaxTA92 from Mill GreenMuseum


74A122<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: A122 Table Model Baffle 4-Valve Superhet for AC long,medium and short waves.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: It has a rich mahogany finish. Its side members, <strong>of</strong> darkerwood, extend sufficiently far <strong>to</strong> the rear <strong>to</strong> give it a firm “sit”.<strong>The</strong> speaker silk is gold. <strong>The</strong> l..w, m.w. and s.w. scales areseparately illuminated; their station names are picked out inwhite and the wavelength figures in green.Date: 1947Price: £22 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax


75<strong>Design</strong>er:Model:<strong>Cabinet</strong>:A122CEden MinnsA122C Console version <strong>of</strong> theA122 baffle superhet.<strong>The</strong> <strong>to</strong>p <strong>of</strong> the Console and thecentral panel are veneered in anicely figured mahogany <strong>of</strong> warm,golden colour. <strong>The</strong> legs are <strong>of</strong>laminated wood. Speaker silk isgold.Date: 1947Price: £27 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax


76<strong>Design</strong>er:Model:TA126<strong>The</strong> first purpose designed export model.Eden MinnsTA126 Table Model 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for usewith AC mains. Eight wavebands – Medium, Short and 6bandspread shortwave bands. Also TU126 for DC mains andTB125/7 for accumula<strong>to</strong>r operation.Bakelite with cream painted front.<strong>Cabinet</strong>:Date: 1947Price: £19 10s 0dPho<strong>to</strong>graph: David Grant


77V116<strong>Design</strong>er: R.D.RussellModel: V116C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 10” × 8”.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: Sides and doors in mahogany, <strong>to</strong>p in blistered mahogany.<strong>The</strong>re are no handles on the doors: opening is effected bypulling on a “finger-hold” at the <strong>to</strong>p. <strong>The</strong> surround <strong>to</strong> thescreen and speaker is <strong>of</strong> straight-grained continental elm,finished in a lighter shade than the main carcase.Date: 1947Price: £80 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax


79<strong>Design</strong>er:Model:<strong>Cabinet</strong>:A146C<strong>The</strong> first ‘<strong>Murphy</strong>’ baffle console.R.D.RussellA146C Console Model Baffle 6 Valve + RectifierSuperhet for use with AC mains. Two wavebands – Long& Medium.Floor model baffle in walnut. Front in halved and matchedfigured walnut.Date: 1949Price: £28 12s 9d plus Purchase Tax


80<strong>Design</strong>er:Model:<strong>Cabinet</strong>:A122MEden MinnsA122M Table Model Baffle 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet foruse withAC mains. Three wavebands – Long, Medium & Short.Square treatment <strong>of</strong> cabinet, scale and speaker opening givesa more massive appearance than its predecessors. Main panelis veneered in African rosewood, Ends and <strong>to</strong>p in walnut.Speaker fabric is gold.Date: 1949Price: £22 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax


81V134/6C<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: V134C and V136C AC Console Model Television. Picture size7½” × 6”. <strong>The</strong> V134C was intended for reception only within12-15 miles <strong>of</strong> Alexandra Palace, the V136C had a greater range.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: In attractive walnut veneer, straight grained for the body <strong>of</strong> thecabinet, with figured <strong>to</strong>p, doors and speaker apron. Legs <strong>of</strong> darkwalnut fitted with Domes <strong>of</strong> Silence. Edges <strong>of</strong> speaker and screenopenings and door edges are cross-banded in veneer, not painted.Minn’s original curved leg design (inset) was replaced by straightlegs in the production model.Date: 1948Price: V134C £67 16s 8d including £12 16s 8d Purchase TaxV136C £70 12s 2d including £13 7s 2d Purchase Tax


82V176C<strong>Design</strong>er: Eden MinnsModel: V176C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 12½” × 10”.<strong>Cabinet</strong>: <strong>The</strong> cabinet is <strong>of</strong> an exceptionally attractive walnut finish. It isfitted with doors. <strong>The</strong> instrument panel matches the main cabinet,also being <strong>of</strong> walnut. Felt lining <strong>of</strong> the interior prevents distractingreflections.Date: <strong>1950</strong>Price: £128 0s 0d plus Purchase TaxThis model was announced in the Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1949 edition <strong>of</strong> the‘<strong>Murphy</strong> News’ but wasn’t available until April <strong>of</strong> the followingyear.


83<strong>Design</strong>er:Model:<strong>Cabinet</strong>:V180CEden MinnsV180C AC Console Model Television. 12” tube. A successor <strong>to</strong>the V120C (not shown in this guide).An emphasis on vertical lines is made by pillars which curve outfrom the side panels for a wider front aspect, and easier adjustment<strong>of</strong> the set position with one hand. <strong>The</strong> <strong>to</strong>p, shaped at the front, is infigured medium-<strong>to</strong>ne walnut, edged by darker bands running aroundthe sides and back. Walnut instrument panel with crossbandedveneer edge. <strong>The</strong> controls (brown bakelite with gold rings) have abroad fluting that is pleasant <strong>to</strong> handle. Gold striped rayon speakersilk. Fitted with large cas<strong>to</strong>rs.Date: <strong>1950</strong>Price: £75 0s 0d including Purchase Tax


84AFTERWORDAlthough we were unable <strong>to</strong> track down pho<strong>to</strong>graphs <strong>of</strong> every setproduced from <strong>1930</strong>-<strong>1950</strong>, I hope that this book will be a usefulreference for <strong>Murphy</strong> and design enthusiasts everywhere. Shouldmore images be found they may be added <strong>to</strong> later editions <strong>of</strong> thiselectronic book.<strong>1950</strong> sees the end <strong>of</strong> this unique period in the design his<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>of</strong> onecompany. However, <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> continued this tradition <strong>of</strong> highquality design in production <strong>of</strong> audio and television in<strong>to</strong> the 1970s.J.A.R. September 2007


85<strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Radio</strong> stand at Olympia 1939** date determined from models and prices on display

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