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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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15th Jan 2022, 7:42 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,883
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Norman parts and components...
Hello,
This is one of those things I’ve been meaning to ask for a while. I remember my local component shop the Radio constructor Centre, Southend, Essex stocking Norman parts and components in the 60's and 70's. These were usually pots, switches, resistors, and fuses etc. Of late I’ve also encountered a Norman branded amplifier using TUAC amplifier modules. I’m curious as I remember the parts and see them crop-up at swapmeets etc. Does anyone remember this company and know anything about them and their history? The name Norman Rose comes to mind? I’ve attached three phots of a pot, switch and the TUAC based amplifier. Regards Terry |
15th Jan 2022, 7:55 pm | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I've not come across them, so were they a regional firm?
David
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15th Jan 2022, 8:13 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I remember their components, scroll down for the morse key:
https://www.brundrit.co.uk/british-civilian-keys Lawrence. |
15th Jan 2022, 8:59 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,883
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Re: Norman parts and components...
Hi,
Wow that's an impressive collection of Morse Keys. It shows Norman Rose (Electrical) Ltd, so my intuitions were right. The address is shown as London, so their 'area' may have been London and the South East? I also noticed DULCI. I have a pair of their 5-10 amplifiers, this would have been no doubt made when they were taken over by Lee Products. Ah, ELPICO brand, my Late Dad had an ELPICO tape recorder. Terry |
15th Jan 2022, 9:02 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Norman parts and components...
They were basically distributors to the trade, they had a depot in Manchester when I worked around there.
Lawrence. |
15th Jan 2022, 9:02 pm | #6 |
Hexode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sandiway, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 327
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I worked as a radio and TV service engineer in the late 50's and early 60's and one of the suppliers we purchased valves and other spares was Norman Rose in Manchester (I cannot remember the actual address but it was nor far from our other go-to emporium, Holiday & Hemerdinger who were located in Ardwick Green.
I'm sure I still have some bits and pieces of Norman branded parts but none in original packaging. Ian |
15th Jan 2022, 9:05 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I remember Normal amplifier adverts.
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15th Jan 2022, 9:30 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
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Re: Norman parts and components...
Certainly Norman stuff was available in London in the 60s. I remember buying Norman “White Box” magnetic tapes from the shop near the Bell Pub in Walthamstow.
Still have a sealed one here now. Peter |
15th Jan 2022, 9:37 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 1,082
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I have a Norman pa amplifier in my collection Very basic but very honest Based on Tuac technology!
I would say 40 years old but still works well I have many times stated I like amplifiers with driver transformers Trev |
15th Jan 2022, 9:44 pm | #10 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 397
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I remember Norman Rose, they supplied all sorts of components,volume controls,switches ,knobs etc . They also supplied the Radio and TV repair books published by Norman Price. The rep in North London was a gentleman called Harry Blackburn.
Reel man I think that the shop you are referring to in Walthamstow is Radio Unlimited in Hoe Street. Dave |
15th Jan 2022, 10:21 pm | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 989
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I remember that ‘Norman’ emblem on disco equipment on the 80’s. Specifically sound to light units etc!
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15th Jan 2022, 10:39 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I've only known Norman Rose from a copy of their publication "Radio Inside Out" that's been with me for decades: a slim volume on repair techniques, issued in updated versions at least from 1940 to '45, which ends with some pages of the valve complements of domestic receivers of the day. World Radio History has a PDF of the '45 version -
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...9X4jdfi0qXZEvQ Paul |
16th Jan 2022, 12:36 am | #13 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 210
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Re: Norman parts and components...
Trader year book 1978/9 gives the following addresses,St Chad's Place,London,--Crego Street Birmingham,--Harkness Street, Manchester,--Sackville Street,Bradford. Precise locations are available if anybody wants them. I remember dealing with them at this time but have no idea what happened to the company as I moved into another branch of the industry. Peter.
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16th Jan 2022, 6:35 am | #14 |
Moderator
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Re: Norman parts and components...
Ah, 78/79 is a few years after I moved Northwards out of Yorkshire so it looks like I shifted ahead of their expansion.
David
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16th Jan 2022, 10:03 am | #15 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK.
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I remember them too. I got mine from a surplus electronics shop in Ipswich. There must be a few still about!
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Dave G1AGK. My perception is my reality! Last edited by davidw; 16th Jan 2022 at 10:05 am. Reason: addition |
16th Jan 2022, 10:46 am | #16 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK.
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Re: Norman parts and components...
A favourite tool at our Uni radio station was "Norman EasiSplice". (sp?)
Graham PS just uncovered a (not "Norman") EASYSPLICE, Patent number 815333
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16th Jan 2022, 11:27 am | #17 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
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Re: Norman parts and components...
Quote:
https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/ID...rman%20rose%22 Lawrence. |
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16th Jan 2022, 11:42 am | #18 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 210
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Re: Norman parts and components...
I should have said in post #13 that I only have the Trader year book for that year so can't say when they expanded however a quick search of Companies House shows that they were formed in 1947 and voluntarily liquidated in 2010 leaving no debts and paying out to shareholders. Quite a good track record I think. Peter.
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16th Jan 2022, 11:43 am | #19 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,883
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Re: Norman parts and components...
Hi,
Fantastic, many thanks for all the replies, it’s really brought a big smile to my face From the Radio Inside Out publication to ‘branded’ PA and Disco equipment. Taking a closer look at the TUAC amplifier in the Norman amplifier I noticed it uses Norman branded wire wound resistors. I suppose TUAC also supplied the 'Norman' Disco sound to light units? I suppose they shared the market with the likes of RS, supplying the shops and the trade with stock and spares respectively. I suppose with the changes in the Radio and TV trade, and industry RS refocused their operation and is still in business today. I reckon back in the day it was quite a big market supplying the Radio and TV trade, component shops, and small and medium sized manufacturing with parts etc. Norman would have been a wholesaler in between the manufacturers and the retail sector and the trade. Regards Terry |
16th Jan 2022, 11:54 am | #20 | |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rayleigh near Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,883
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Re: Norman parts and components...
Hi,
I suppose it would have been a costly exercise to reconfigure the company to keep up with the marketplace, and maybe coupled with the age of the folks that ran the company, they did the gentlemanly thing and paid everyone up and called it day leaving no debt Regards Terry Quote:
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