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Old 16th Nov 2012, 1:18 pm   #1
Gridleak
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Default History of the CODAR Company

Could anyone give me a brief History lesson about the CODAR company ?

In my mid fifties now, and only just able to find time and cash to pick up a couple of Codar bits I saw advertized as a young fella, but could never afford.

Would love to know such as who was the company founder? was it an single person a Ham or SWL.

And where did they go?

Regards,
Paul G4HDS (Gridleak)
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Old 16th Nov 2012, 2:02 pm   #2
dave walsh
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

I think we've done this one before Paul without major success. Quite a lot of people commented on a lack of info overall. There are a number of threads re the Mini Clipper/66/70A etc if you do a search. The 66 thread started by gezza123 has my comments and bits of info, adverts etc., are on others but I don't think there was any response from anybody who lived around or worked at Codar in Southwick or Lancing.

This seemed to be the only way to locate the founders but it may have be a very small operation. I was for some reason surprised to find that the company had bases not too far from my Bexhill location.

I was going to ask around further at one point, maybe in Southwick, but it didn't happen.

Hope this helps you.

Dave W

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Old 16th Nov 2012, 2:27 pm   #3
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

According to an advert in the November 1966 edition of Practical Wireless G3IRE and G3HGQ were associated with the company. There was also a Canadian branch in Tweed Ontario.

Callbooks show G3IRE as being R. E, Ireland and G3HGQ as F Fennell both with addresses in Brighton.

A study of adverts in PW and Radcom should give you start and end dates for trading.

The Companies House website may have some information if Codar was a liimited company.

EDIT. www.qrz.com has an entry for G3HGQ. Still in Brighton.
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Old 16th Nov 2012, 2:49 pm   #4
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

Just some other snippets from Googling

Address in 1971, Unit 1 Meadow Road Ind.Estate, East Worthing. Area looks as if it's been redeveloped - street is now (and then? is Dale Road)

On the design staff call-signs G3SZM, G3IRE and G8BBI. I'm not an amateur radio person so don't know if you could look these up from old call-sign books or whatever.

One of the websites has an entry (Graham's posted as I write) for G3HGQ.

I've checked Companies House, zip all.

Andrew
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Old 16th Nov 2012, 2:55 pm   #5
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

Another address. Bank House, Southwick Square, Southwick, Sussex.

G3SZM and G8BBI both shown on qrz.com as living on the south coast.

I think we've given Gridleak plenty of possible leads.
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Old 16th Nov 2012, 4:08 pm   #6
G4XWDJim
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

I believe Dave G3UUR wrote a series of articles a few years ago about various British companies including Codar in the US magazine, Electric Radio.

Someone will know of it I should think.

Jim
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Old 16th Nov 2012, 7:52 pm   #7
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

Here's a photo of a full-page Codar advertisement from the May-1967 edition of Practical wireless:
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Old 16th Nov 2012, 8:57 pm   #8
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

I went looking for their shop in Southwick Square back in the mid-60's when I was a "Sparks" on a collier visiting Shoreham Power Station - but nothing. I guess that "Bank House" was just a postal address.
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Old 19th Nov 2012, 11:45 am   #9
Gridleak
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

Thanks for all the comments and the hints, I shall continue to try and follow up some of these suggestions, perhaps a hand written letter may be needed, to one or more of the callsigns given.

Thanks Fellas

Regards Paul (Gridleak)
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Old 19th Nov 2012, 4:13 pm   #10
dave walsh
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

Please let us know if you get any response Paul. Thanks for the link to the 66 post mods but it's the wrong one. I'm sure I'd said that it was March 2009. I'd been just about to give up when it surfaced. I think it was a split off something else. I've searched again this afternoon but it doesn't seem to be there now...strange-perhaps it's me.
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Old 20th Nov 2012, 10:04 am   #11
Gridleak
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

Hello Dave & Boy's
Yes if I get any feedback I will post the results, the only thing that worries me is, of all the G3's I knew from my radio club when K was a kid, only two remain alive, and one of them has Memory problems I.E. Alzheimer’s Disease !!!, So it's a long shot that any particular callsign I contact is in fair health. I really dont want to upset anyone.
But it's take the risk or possibly lose any information that may have been obtained. Perhaps a Xmas card and letter will think on it.

Regards Paul.
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Old 20th Nov 2012, 2:30 pm   #12
Alan Stepney
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Default Re: History of the CODAR Company

It might be worth contacting Worthing club (*), as G8BBI used to be a member there. (I seem to recall that he was the Chairman at one time.)

(*Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club)
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