EKCO

History
The EKCO brand was derived from its founder’s name – Eric Kirkham Cole, who began making valve radios in the 1930s. In the ’30s and ’40s EKCO received the honour of being the only reference tuner used by the BBC, known for advanced noise suppressor controls and stunning Bakelite cabinet designs.
The current EKCO range includes a variety of CD players, Integrated, Power and Monobloc amplifiers. Each offer not just superior realism in sound production, but extraordinary high quality in craftsmanship too.
Timeline
1901
Birth of Eric Kirkham Cole at 14th July.
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1922
Cole started a small business manufacturing wireless “sets” of valve receivers at a production rate of 6 per week.
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1924
Cole Devised and patented H.T. Eliminator.
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1925
Cole started a partnership with Mr. W.S. Verrells which was a customer being extremely interested in the H.T. Eliminator.
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1927
First (50-100 men) factory was build behind London Road – Leigh on Sea to accommodate the rapid growth.
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1930
Start of using Bakelite and a new Factory in Priory Crescent in Southend and expanded shortly after.
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1931
Compression-moulding presses were installed at the Southend factory.
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1937
Introduction of the add-on television unit which was to be used in combination with existing radio receivers.
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1939
EKCO entered the electric lamp market.
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1939
The outbreak of the war caused EKCO to open a ‘shadow’ factory in Malmesbury. The resources were used for the development of standard Air Interception (AI) and the Anti-Surface Vessel (ASV).
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1940
Opening of multiple ‘Shadow’ factories in Aylesbury, Woking and Rutherglen in Scotland.
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1945
Southend started producing for the domestic market again, but EKCO continued the production of telecommunications, radar, electronic and nucleonic equipment at the other factories.
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1949
Essex’s plant the Hadleigh started radio production. EKCO also started national production in India of radio receivers, components and electric devices.
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1953
EKCO’s expanding activities resulted in another formation of a new subsidiary; EKCO Electronics Ltd. which took care of the marketing of radars, VHF radio, nucleonic equipment, etc.
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1955
Increasing demand for radio and television receivers caused the Southend factory to expand to 30.000 square feet.
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1955
The plastics division, which is now one of the biggest producers of industrial mouldings and plastic domestic ware, installed vacuum sheet forming presses.
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1955
A controlling interest was acquired in Dynatron Radio Ltd. which produced high-grade radio, radiograms, television and electronic equipment.
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1956
ECKO introduced world’s first main/battery portable television receiver.
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1957
The millionth television receiver left the ECKO factory. Ferranti Radio and Television Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary started selling receivers under the Ferranti trademark.
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1958
The EKCO heating equipment was being expanded with the complete range of domestic reflector fires and ‘Warmglow’ electric blankets.
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1958
The EKCO car radio was being used by the most leading car brands and the ‘Superbath’ got awarded the Gold Seal for the Design of the Year Award by the Council of Industrial Design.
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1958
Eric Cole received the CBE from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
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1959
The 1959 Radio Show experienced the Introduction of the slimmest television ever – the ‘Ekcovision’ portable.
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1959
Extension of EKCO Plastics moulding shop was completed and so included the largest injection press which enabled the production of the first moulded refrigerator liners.
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1960
Domestic manufacture encompassed mains and portable TV’s, mains and portable radios, radiograms, tape recorders, car radio’s electric heaters, thermotubes, electric blankets, plastic toilet seats, various plastic utensils, plastic bathroom fittings and ‘Superbath’ baby-baths.
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1961
Resignation of Eric Cole and his son Derek Cole from the joint and the separate EKCO board.
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1963
Start of developing colour television. Black and White television faced a strong decline in sales.
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1964
The 625 line standard TV sets enter production in anticipation of launch of BBC-2.
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1965
In this year, EKCO won the contract to develop the weather radar for Concorde.
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1966
Death of Eric Kirkham Cole.
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1967
Philips Electronics Industries emerged as the new owner of the business.
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2005
International Audio Group Ltd. (IAG) acquired the trademark EKCO and it was added to it’s portfolio of British and Japanese consumer audio brands including Wharfedale, Audiolab, Quad, Mission and Luxman to name but a few.
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2008
International Audio Group Ltd (IAG) begin to develop strategies for the relaunch of the EKCO brand. Utilisig their own expertise of audio equipment manufacturing and understanding the success of the ‘golden age’ of Ekco’s early Bakelite radios, a plan was to develop a new consumer audio product range influenced by the retro charm of Eric Cole’s original designs with a focus on high quality, enjoyable sound reproduction.