The Best of Murphy Cabinet Design 1930 to compiled by James Reeve

Transcription

1 1 The Best of Murphy Cabinet Design 1930 to 1950 compiled by James Reeve

2 2

3 3 FOREWORD As a school leaver aged 15, I began work in November 1940 at Murphy Radio as a trainee in the design office in Bridge Road, Welwyn Garden City. During the war I worked on receivers and other electronic equipment for the military. In 1950, I began working for Eden Minns, designing for the new post-war products. I continued to work in cabinet and graphic design for Murphy until 1970, although in 1962 the company had been taken over by Rank- Bush. This catalogue is a tribute to the design work for Murphy by R. D. Russell and Eden Minns from 1930 to During this unique period they brought together an integration of high quality furniture design and craft techniques with as near mass production as was possible at the time. The majority of the images of the sets are taken from contemporary photographic glass plates which were rescued from a pile of scrap discarded by the firm in The text and other images (for which we had no plates) are derived from a combination of contemporary Murphy sales literature and Murphy News articles plus two modern images of surviving sets. I would like to thank Derek Dewey-Leader for scanning the glass plates and my son Nigel Reeve for producing this electronic catalogue. Thanks also to the staff of Mill Green Museum who allowed us access to their Murphy collection and David Grant who kindly contributed several images, a good deal of additional information and very helpful peer review during the project. James Reeve September 2007

4 Biographies and photographs from Murphy News February EDEN MINNS F.S.I.A.: Head of Cabinet Design Department. Trained as an architect, he subsequently joined the famous furniture firm of Gordon Russell Ltd of Broadway, Worcestershire, with whom he was engaged on furniture designing. From 1936 to 1939 he was designing Murphy cabinets for R. D. Russell in London. His first Murphy design was the B33. He was responsible for such outstanding cabinets as the A40C, A40RG, A42V, and others. Later he came to Murphy Radio and designed many of the early war-period cabinets. War service in the Fleet Air Arm and in aircraft carriers. Returned to Murphy radio on the last day of 1945, and quickly added to his already considerable reputation in the field of of industrial design by the evolution of cabinets of such widely differing styles as the A122, the A122 Console, and the TA126 export set. His interest in architecture still remains. His interest in radio is mainly in the part it plays as furniture. Age 42. Married: one child. Lives in a flat in Kensington. R. D. RUSSELL, R.D.I., F.S.I.A.: Outside consultant on Cabinet Design. Is younger brother of Gordon Russell, founder of the furntiure concern of Broadway, Worcestershire. He began designing Murphy cabinets as long ago as 1931, his first being the famous A3. Early Murphy cabinets were designed at Broadway but as the range expanded an office was opened in London to handle the increased amount of work, and R.D.R was on the staff of Murphy Radio until Like Eden Minns, he saw war service in the Navy. Afterwards he resumed active design work for Murphy Radio in capacity of outside consultant. He has been responsible for the two post-war television receivers, the V114 and V116, and the innovations introduced by the latter were described in an article by him in THE NEWS of April last year. Age: 44. Married: three children. Lives in a country house at Earls Colne in Essex, and has an office in central London.

5 5 A3 The first Murphy mains powered radio. Designer: R. D. Russell A3 Table Model 3 Valve + Rectifier Straight receiver for use with AC mains. Two wavebands Long & Medium. Cabinet: In solid walnut. Speaker fabric is silver. The first well designed mains radio cabinet to be quantity-produced in England s 0d reduced to 17 17s 0d in 1932 Note: In 1932, the cabinet was enlarged to accommodate the A3A chassis. This cabinet was manufactured from walnut veneered plywood this was the first use of this material in a mass produced radio in Britain s 0d reduced to 13 10s 0d in November.

6 6 B4 Designer: Ercolani, cabinet manufacturer. Feet and loudspeaker fretwork modified by R. D. Russell B4 4 Valve Battery portable Straight receiver. Two wavebands Long & Medium s 0d reduced in November to 12 10s 0d.

7 7 A8 The first Murphy superhet receiver. Designer: R.D.Russell A8 Table Model 8 Valve + Rectifier superhet AC mains Cabinet: receiver. Two wavebands Long & Medium. In walnut veneered plywood. Speaker fabric is silver with diagonal blue & black stripes. This was the first (of many) radio cabinet made in Britain to have a landscape profile s 0d. In November 1932 the price was reduced to 24 0s 0d simply by omitting the matching stand.

8 8 Designer: R. D. Russell A4 A4 AC Superhet Table Set D4 DC Superhet Table set B5 Battery Superhet Table Set s 0d

9 9 Designer: R. D. Russell A24 A24 AC Superhet Table Set D24 DC Superhet Table set B24 Battery Superhet Table Set s 0d

10 10 Designer: R. D. Russell s 0d A24C A24 AC Superhet Console D24 DC Superhet Console

11 11 Designer: R. D. Russell A24RG and A26RG The first Murphy radiogram. A24RG & A26RG AC Superhet Radiogram D24RG & D26RG DC Superhet Radiogram 1934 (A26RG, 1935) Prices: A24RG 24 0s 0d, D24RG 25 0s 0d., A26RG 24 0s 0d, D26RG 25 15s 0d.

12 12 A26 Designer: R. D. Russell A26 AC Superhet Table Set D26 DC/AC Superhet Table set B25 Battery Superhet Table Set 1935 Prices: A s 0d, D s 0d, B s 0d

13 13 ` A26C Designer: R. D. Russell A26C AC Superhet Console D26C DC/AC Superhet Console 1935 A26C 14 15s 0d, D26C 15 0s 0d

14 14 A28C Designer: R. D. Russell A28C AC and D28C DC, Superhet Console with automatic tuning correction s 0d

15 15 A28RG Designer: R. D. Russell A28RG AC and D28RG DC, Superhet Radiogram with automatic tuning correction 1935 Prices: A28RG 33 10s 0d, D28RG 34 10s 0d

16 16 B23 Designer: R. D. Russell B23 Straight Battery Table Set s 6d

17 17 B27 Designer: R. D. Russell B27 Battery Superhet Table Set s 6d

18 18 A30 Designer: R. D. Russell A30 AC Superhet Table Set D30 DC Superhet Table Set Cabinet: In matt finished walnut with a band of zebrano across the front 1936 Prices: A s 6d, D s 6d,

19 19 A30C Designer: R. D. Russell A30C AC Superhet Console D30C DC Superhet Console 1936 Prices: A30C 13 10s 0d, D30C 13 15s 0d,

20 20 A30RG Designer: R. D. Russell A30RG AC Superhet Radiogram D30RG DC Superhet Radiogram 1936 Prices: A30RG 24 0s 0d, D30RG 24 0s 0d,

21 21 B31 Designer: Cabinet: R. D. Russell B31 Straight Battery table Set Polished walnut with polished black sides s 0d

22 22 B33 Designer: Eden Minns B33 Battery Superhet Table Set s 0d

23 23 AD32 Designer: R. D. Russell AD32 AC/DC Superhet table Set s 0d

24 24 A34 Designer: Eden Minns A34 AC Superhet table Set D34 DC/AC Superhet Table Set s 0d

25 25 A36 Designer: R. D. Russell A36 Special S.W. performance AC Superhet Table Set D36 Special S.W. performance DC/AC Superhet Table Set s 0d

26 26 A38C Designer: R. D. Russell A38C AC and D38C DC/AC Superhet Console with special quality reproduction Cabinet: Polished figured walnut and straight-grained elm s 0d

27 27 A42V Designer: Eden Minns A42V AC Television receiver. The first Murphy television. A luxury product. A reversed screen image was viewed via a mirror in the lid. Picture size 9in x 7 in Cabinet: Bombay rosewood & impregnated black pearwood s 0d

28 28 A34RG Designer: Eden Minns A34RG AC and D34RG DC/AC Superhet Radiogram. Cabinet: Polished black walnut and French light walnut 1937 Prices: A34RG 24 0s 0d, D34RG 25 0s 0d.

29 29 A40C Designer: Eden Minns A40C AC Superhet Console with outstanding quality of reproduction, special S.W. performance and automatic tuning correction. Cabinet: Bombay rosewood and thuya burr s 0d

30 30 A40RG Designer: Eden Minns A40RG AC Superhet Radiogram with outstanding quality of reproduction, special S.W. performance and automatic tuning correction. In Bombay rosewood and Bubinga. The lining of the lid is pale grey felt with a white trellis a luxury set s 0d

31 31 B45 Designer: R. D. Russell Straight Battery Table Set Cabinet: Polished black walnut with a narrow white rim surrounding the loudspeaker s 0d

32 32 A46 Designer: R. D. Russell A46 All wave AC Superhet Table Set D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set Cabinet: Contrasting French walnut and black walnut veneers. Loudspeaker opening has a narrow white surround Prices: A s 0d, D s 0d.

33 33 A46C Designer: R. D. Russell A46 All wave AC Superhet Console D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Console Cabinet: Dark and medium-toned walnut. The controls are set on a sloping top panel of feather -grained walnut for easy operation whether standing or seated Prices: A46C 13 15s 0d, D46C 14 0s 0d

34 34 A46RG Designer: R. D. Russell A46RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram D46RG All wave DC/AC Superhet Radiogram Cabinet: Dark walnut with light horizontal lines on the upper front panel Prices: A46RG 20 0s 0d, D46RG 22 0s 0d

35 35 B47 Designer: R. D. Russell All wave Battery Superhet Table Set Cabinet: Dark polished walnut with front panel carrying the concentric controls s 0d

36 36 B47C Designer: R. D. Russell All wave Battery Superhet Console Cabinet: Dark and medium-toned walnut with contrasting plinth. The controls are placed on the sloping top for easy handling s 0d

37 37 A48 Designer: R. D. Russell A48 All wave AC Superhet Table Set D48 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set Cabinet: French walnut, contrasting with dark-figured walnut Prices: A s 0d, D s 0d

38 38 A48RG Designer: R. D. Russell A48RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram with Automatic Record Changer. D48RG DC/AC model. Cabinet: Polished black walnut and French walnut veneer. Flush motor-board and slightly inset lid for easy lifting Prices: A48RG 30 0s 0d, D48RG 32 0s 0d

39 39 A50 Designer: R. D. Russell A50 All wave AC Superhet Table Set D50 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set Designed for good quality reproduction Cabinet: Venereed in righ-figured Honduras mahogany with control panel in dark grey-silvered glass Prices: A s 0d, D s 0d

40 40 A50C Designer: Eden Minns A50C All wave AC Superhet Console D50C All wave DC/AC Superhet Console Designed for good quality reproduction. Cabinet: Walnut and rose zebrano. Tilted top suited to armchair operation Prices: A50C 21 0s 0d, D50C 21 5s 0d

41 41 A52 Designer: R. D. Russell A52 AC Push Button Table Set with special S.W. perfomance. 7 valve (plus rectifier) double Superhet with motorised tuning s 0d

42 42 A56V Designer: R. D. Russell A56V AC Television Receiver. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in s 0d

43 43 A58V Designer: R. D. Russell A58V AC Television and Radio Receiver. Combining Television and reception on short, medium and longwaves with good quality reproduction. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in s 0d

44 44 B81 Designer: Eden Minns B81 All purpose Battery Portable Cabinet: All weather finish of black rexine piped with green leather with greeen plastic knobs and dial opening s 0d Price change October s 0d

45 45 B69 Designer: Eden Minns B69 All wave Battery Table Set. Cabinet: Dark walnut with a light walnut top, Similar design to the 70 mains table model but without feet and the tuning scale is black on white rather than three colours s 0d

46 46 A72/B71 Designer: R. D. Russell A72 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set, B71 battery model. D72A (DC only) & B71A Special 4-way band models. Cabinet: Light and dark polished walnut with a gold surround to the speaker and scale openings A72, 12 10s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra, D72A 13 10s 0d. Price change October s 0d DC/AC 10/- extra. Press button unit 35/extra. Remote control unit (AC only) 3 10s 0d extra. B s 0d, B71A 12 5s 0d. Price change October s 0d.

47 47 70 Designer: Eden Minns 70 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set Cabinet: Two tones of polished dark walnut with light walnut top. Tapered speaker opening with a gold finished scale surround surrounded by inlaid white line. Tuning scale in 3 colours s 0d DC/AC 5/- extra. Press button unit 35/- extra Remote control unit (AC only) 3 10s 0d extra

48 48 A74 Designer: Cabinet R. D. Russell, knobs by Eden Minns A74 All wave AC Table Set with excellent quality reproduction. Cabinet: In contrasting shades of walnut V grain side and dark walnut s 0d. Price change October s 0d. Press button unit 35/- extra Remote control unit 3 10s 0d extra

49 49 A76 Designer: Eden Minns A76 All wave AC Table Set, special Short Wave performance Cabinet: Brown figures mahogany and beech with a highly polished finish s 0d Price change October s 0d Press button unit 35/- extra Remote control unit 3 10s 0d extra

50 50 70C Designer: R. D. Russell 70C All wave Mains Console s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra Price change October s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra. Press button unit 35/extra. Remote control unit (AC only) 3 10s 0d extra

51 51 A74C Designer: R. D. Russell A74C All wave AC Console, with excellent quality reproduction s 0d. Price change October s 0d. Press button unit 35/- extra Remote control unit 3 10s 0d extra

52 52 A78C Designer: Eden Minns A78C All wave AC Console, with outstanding quality reproduction, special short wave performance and Remote Control s 0d. Price change October s 0d Purchase Tax payable from October 1940 Price change October s 0d plus P.T.

53 53 70RG Designer: R. D. Russell 70RG All wave Mains Radiogram Cabinet: Medium and light toned walnut with light inlaid lines on the speaker panel s 0d, DC/AC 2 0s 0d extra Price change October s 0d, DC/AC 2 5s 0d extra Press button unit 35/- extra Remote control unit (AC only) 3 10s 0d extra

54 54 A72RG Designer: R. D. Russell A72RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram with automatic record changer for up to eight 10 in. or 12 in. records Cabinet: Dark walnut with lighter contrasts on the exposed edges of the speaker panel and cabinet top s 0d Price change October s 0d Press button unit 35/- extra Remote control unit (AC only) 3 10s 0d extra

55 55 A78RG Designer: Eden Minns A78RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram, with outstanding quality reproduction, special short wave performance, remote control and with automatic record changer, taking 10 in. or 12 in. mixed records s 0d. Price change December s 0d Purchase Tax payable from October 1940 Remote control unit (AC only) 3 10s 0d extra

56 56 V84T Designer: R. D. Russell V84T AC Table Model Television Receiver. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in s 0d

57 57 V84C Designer: R. D. Russell V84C AC Television Console. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in s 0d

58 58 V86C Designer: R. D. Russell V86C AC Television Console, with high quality performance. Picture size 10 in. x 8 in s 0d

59 59 V88C Designer: R. D. Russell V88C AC Television and all wave Radio Console. Picture size 10 in. x 8 in s 0d

60 60 B93 Designer: Eden Minns B93 Battery Superhet Portable Cabinet: Black rexine. The white line around the front panel is the white rubber grommet, the speaker silk is black and white striped, the scale has black lettering on a white ground, and the knobs and dial opening are black plastic s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from October Price change October s 0d plus Purchase Tax

61 61 B89 Designer: Eden Minns B89 Battery Superhet Table Set s 0d Price change September s 0d Purchase Tax payable from October 1940 Price change October s 6d plus Purchase Tax

62 62 A92 and B91 Designer: Eden Minns A92 Mains Special Short Wave Performance AC Superhet Table Set with press button tuning on Short Wave. Cabinet: Warm brown oak with a black bakelite front. B91 (battery model) has a white tuning scale because the dial is not illuminated; saving battery power A s 0d, B s 0d Purchase Tax payable from October 1940 Price change October 1943 A s 0d plus Purchase Tax, B s 6d plus Purchase Tax

63 63 90 Designer: Eden Minns 90 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extra Price change April s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extra Purchase Tax payable from October 1940 Price change October s 6d plus Purchase Tax (DC/AC 15 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax)

64 64 A90C Designer: Eden Minns A90C All wave AC Superhet Console s 0d Purchase Tax payable from October 1940 Price change October s 0d plus Purchase Tax

65 65 90RG Designer: Eden Minns 90RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram s 0d, DC/AC 1 10s 0d extra. Purchase Tax payable from October Price change October s 0d plus Purchase Tax. DC/AC 34 7s 6d plus purchase tax.

66 66 AD94 Designer: Eden Minns AD94 AC/DC Superhet Table Set. Moulded Cabinet. The first bakelite (black) cabinet (moulding by de la Rue) and final new set of the year. The black and white motif is provided by the highlights, scale, speaker silk and knobs s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from October 1940 Price change October s 6d plus Purchase Tax,

67 67 A96 Designer: Eden Minns A96 AC Superhet Table Set with short and medium waves only. B96 Battery Superhet Table Model (issued 1945). Cabinet: Moulded black bakelite (moulding by De la Rue) Prices: A96 and B96 both 15 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

68 68 War-time Civilian Receiver Designer: Prices: Eden Minns War-time Civilian Receiver (Government Industry Specification) 1944 AC Mains Model 10 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax. Battery Model 9 0s 0d

69 69 A98 and B97 Designer: Eden Minns A98 AC Superhet Table Set for long, medium and short waves. Moulded Cabinet. B97 Battery model A s 0d plus Purchase Tax. B s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

70 70 SAD94S and SAD 94L Designer: Eden Minns SAD94S AC/DC Superhet Table Set with short and medium waves only. SAD94L with long and medium waves only s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

71 71 V86CA Designer: R.D. Russell AC Television Console. Picture Size 10 in. x 8 in s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

72 72 V114 Designer: R. D. Russell V114 AC Table Model Television. Picture Size 8 in. x 6½ in. Cabinet: Rosewood top and front. The lower part, veneered in mahogany and carrying speaker and controls, is set back. The speaker bars are splayed outwards from the centre, backed by a plain gold rayon fabric s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

73 73 TA92 & TU92 Designer: Eden Minns TA92 Special short wave performance, AC Superhet Table Set, with press button tuning on Short Wave. TU92 AC/DC model s 0d plus Purchase Tax TA92 from Mill Green Museum

74 74 A122 Designer: Eden Minns A122 Table Model Baffle 4-Valve Superhet for AC long, medium and short waves. Cabinet: It has a rich mahogany finish. Its side members, of darker wood, extend sufficiently far to the rear to give it a firm sit. The speaker silk is gold. The l..w, m.w. and s.w. scales are separately illuminated; their station names are picked out in white and the wavelength figures in green s 0d plus Purchase Tax

75 75 A122C Designer: Eden Minns A122C Console version of the A122 baffle superhet. Cabinet: The top of the Console and the central panel are veneered in a nicely figured mahogany of warm, golden colour. The legs are of laminated wood. Speaker silk is gold s 0d plus Purchase Tax

76 76 Photograph: David Grant TA126 The first purpose designed export model. Designer: Eden Minns TA126 Table Model 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for use with AC mains. Eight wavebands Medium, Short and 6 bandspread shortwave bands. Also TU126 for DC mains and TB125/7 for accumulator operation. Cabinet: Bakelite with cream painted front s 0d

77 77 V116 Designer: R.D.Russell V116C AC Console Model Television. Picture size Cabinet: Sides and doors in mahogany, top in blistered mahogany. There are no handles on the doors: opening is effected by pulling on a finger-hold at the top. The surround to the screen and speaker is of straight-grained continental elm, finished in a lighter shade than the main carcase s 0d plus Purchase Tax

78 78

79 79 A146C The first Murphy baffle console. Designer: R.D.Russell A146C Console Model Baffle 6 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for use with AC mains. Two wavebands Long & Medium. Cabinet: Floor model baffle in walnut. Front in halved and matched figured walnut s 9d plus Purchase Tax

80 80 A122M Designer: Eden Minns A122M Table Model Baffle 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for use with AC mains. Three wavebands Long, Medium & Short. Cabinet: Square treatment of cabinet, scale and speaker opening gives a more massive appearance than its predecessors. Main panel is veneered in African rosewood, Ends and top in walnut. Speaker fabric is gold s 0d plus Purchase Tax

81 81 V134/6C Designer: Eden Minns V134C and V136C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 7½ 6. The V134C was intended for reception only within miles of Alexandra Palace, the V136C had a greater range. Cabinet: In attractive walnut veneer, straight grained for the body of the cabinet, with figured top, doors and speaker apron. Legs of dark walnut fitted with Domes of Silence. Edges of speaker and screen openings and door edges are cross-banded in veneer, not painted. Minn s original curved leg design (inset) was replaced by straight legs in the production model V134C 67 16s 8d including 12 16s 8d Purchase Tax V136C 70 12s 2d including 13 7s 2d Purchase Tax

82 82 V176C Designer: Eden Minns V176C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 12½ 10. Cabinet: The cabinet is of an exceptionally attractive walnut finish. It is fitted with doors. The instrument panel matches the main cabinet, also being of walnut. Felt lining of the interior prevents distracting reflections s 0d plus Purchase Tax This model was announced in the October 1949 edition of the Murphy News but wasn t available until April of the following year.

83 83 V180C Designer: Eden Minns V180C AC Console Model Television. 12 tube. A successor to the V120C (not shown in this guide). Cabinet: An emphasis on vertical lines is made by pillars which curve out from the side panels for a wider front aspect, and easier adjustment of the set position with one hand. The top, shaped at the front, is in figured medium-tone walnut, edged by darker bands running around the sides and back. Walnut instrument panel with crossbanded veneer edge. The controls (brown bakelite with gold rings) have a broad fluting that is pleasant to handle. Gold striped rayon speaker silk. Fitted with large castors s 0d including Purchase Tax

84 84 AFTERWORD Although we were unable to track down photographs of every set produced from , I hope that this book will be a useful reference for Murphy and design enthusiasts everywhere. Should more images be found they may be added to later editions of this electronic book sees the end of this unique period in the design history of one company. However, Murphy Radio continued this tradition of high quality design in production of audio and television into the 1970s. J.A.R. September 2007

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