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Old 19th Jan 2023, 11:02 am   #1
stevehertz
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Default Decca's manufacturing side

Given that it's a record label and also has a string of technological innovations as long as your arm to its name, I've always been a little bit confused by Decca's operations. Looking at Wikipedia, I'm not really any the wiser. It seems they are, primarily a record company. Yet 'the company' designed (and made?) high quality cartridges, ribbon tweeters, digital recorders and so on. Where was this stuff manufactured? Or were Decca 'just' a design house and employed CEMs to manufacture them? I can't seem to find much information about the manufacturing side. How linked were the two sides?

Late addition, I've just found this, seems they were into radar too: http://www.jproc.ca/hyperbolic/decca_buildings.html
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 11:13 am   #2
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Decca produced an enormous range of equipment over a long period of time, Radio, TV, hi fi Radar and the famous Decca Navigator to name but a few.

One thing they didn`t produce at least in their heyday was any form of Tape Machine, being so heavily involved in records.

They had a factory in Battersea and the Decca radar plant on the Decca roundabout in New Malden on the A3, no doubt other factories as well.
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 11:33 am   #3
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

If you've got £11 million down the back of the sofa, you can save the Decca studio from the developers (assuming it's not too late...): https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properti...hannel=COM_BUY

If you perform an Internet search, you'll find various photos of it being used in its heyday.

If you look inside the AES phonographic anthology, you'll see plenty of research that was performed by Decca, most notably by Jean / John Walton (I reference it regularly).

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=191799

As Ted intimates in the above thread, sexism is still rife in the audio game up to this day. There are organisations such as 'Women's Audio Mission' and 'Women in Vinyl' that've been set up to try and redress the balance.

(Sorry for the OT - but Walton is such a pioneer I felt it had to be mentioned. Every time you use a modern cartridge, you are enjoying Walton's work)
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 11:51 am   #4
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

It's information on the manufacturing side that I'd like to know more about. I am well aware of the breadth of Decca's operations. Cheers.
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:03 pm   #5
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

From my researches over many years:

Decca Communications Ltd (in 1976 & 1978). Sevenoaks, Kent.

Decca Navigator Ltd, 80 Bushey Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 (in 1965 & 69).

Decca Navigator Company (The) Ltd, 247 Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey (in 1966 & 69). In the mid-50’s, gramophone records were also produced at this site.

Decca Navigator Company Ltd, Spur Road, Feltham, Middx (in 1978).

Decca Radar Ltd was set up in 1949, at 7 Beverley Way, Shannon Corner, Kingston By Pass, New Malden, Surrey (previously a Reid and Sigrist location) and in 1955 was at/also at 2 Tolworth Rise, Surbiton, Surrey. In 1965, the service department moved to Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey. In 1965, also at 9 Davis Road, Chessington, Surrey. In 1968, the instrument division was at Lyon Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (e.g. klystron power supply unit). In 1972, also at Decca House, Albert Embankment, London, SE1. In 1965, Plessey bought parts of the company – ground radar and data handling divisions - at Tolworth and the Isle of Wight.

Decca Radio & Television Ltd (in 1970). Consumer electronic products. In 1959, the company relocated from Brixton Road, London, to Ingate Place, Queenstown Road, London, SW8. The radio & TV division was set up as a limited company by Decca in 1938 (W.World Oct 69, p494), at 1-3 Brixton Road. Decca moved production of their colour TVs to the former RGD/AT&E/Plessey factory at Pale Meadow Works, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, circa 1970. This closed a couple of years after Tatung of Taiwan bought the Bridgnorth TV factory from Decca's new owner - Racal in 1980 and moved production to a new factory in Telford.

Decca Radio & Television Ltd, Golf Course Lane, Hinckley Road, Leicester (in 1973). Audio and radio design and manufacturing centre. This location was originally occupied by Reid & Sigrist Ltd, a company acquired by Decca in 1954.

Decca Record Company Ltd, Burlington House, Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey (in 1978). Electronics dept of Decca Records – test equipment for LP records.

Decca Special Products Division. In the 1960’s and 70’s, made Decca Deram pickups, cartidges, speakers, etc. Still going in 1982, after the Racal takeover, but located at Whyteleafe, Surrey (vice Battersea, London). (W.World, Mar 82, p 72)

Setpoint Ltd. In 1966, Decca acquired Setpoint Ltd, which made monitoring and control equipment for ships and was subsequently marketed through Decca Radar Ltd.

Weyrad of Weymouth (originally, The Weymouth Radio Manufacturing Co. Ltd). Their wound products were used extensively by Decca in the 1970’s, to make their TVs. I think they may have even been taken over by Decca, since they were later sold by Racal, which bought Decca circa 1980.
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:12 pm   #6
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

There are a few snippets here of factories

http://www.jproc.ca/hyperbolic/decca_buildings.html
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:27 pm   #7
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Just as a matter of interest, who owns the Manufacturer rights for the Decca name?
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:28 pm   #8
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Apologies for that, Steve (am a bit addled, post dental work this morning).

Having owned quite a bit of Decca-branded audio and TV over the years, I hadn’t given thought to how diverse the operation was. It would be interesting to see a ‘family tree’ of UK manufacturers, tying Decca / Pye / EMI etc. together.
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:35 pm   #9
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Quote:
Originally Posted by electronicskip View Post
Just as a matter of interest , who owns the Manufacturer rights for the Decca name?
A casual search at the UK registry throws up 13 pages, but it does suggest that Thales currently holds the trademark for the electronics category (unsurprisingly).
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:37 pm   #10
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Quote:
Originally Posted by dazzlevision View Post
From my researches over many years:

Decca Communications Ltd (in 1976 & 1978). Sevenoaks, Kent.

Decca Navigator Ltd, 80 Bushey Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 (in 1965 & 69).

Decca Navigator Company (The) Ltd, 247 Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey (in 1966 & 69). In the mid-50’s, gramophone records were also produced at this site.

Decca Navigator Company Ltd, Spur Road, Feltham, Middx (in 1978).

Decca Radar Ltd was set up in 1949, at 7 Beverley Way, Shannon Corner, Kingston By Pass, New Malden, Surrey (previously a Reid and Sigrist location) and in 1955 was at/also at 2 Tolworth Rise, Surbiton, Surrey. In 1965, the service department moved to Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey. In 1965, also at 9 Davis Road, Chessington, Surrey. In 1968, the instrument division was at Lyon Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (e.g. klystron power supply unit). In 1972, also at Decca House, Albert Embankment, London, SE1. In 1965, Plessey bought parts of the company – ground radar and data handling divisions - at Tolworth and the Isle of Wight.

Decca Radio & Television Ltd (in 1970). Consumer electronic products. In 1959, the company relocated from Brixton Road, London, to Ingate Place, Queenstown Road, London, SW8. The radio & TV division was set up as a limited company by Decca in 1938 (W.World Oct 69, p494), at 1-3 Brixton Road. Decca moved production of their colour TVs to the former RGD/AT&E/Plessey factory at Pale Meadow Works, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, circa 1970. This closed a couple of years after Tatung of Taiwan bought the Bridgnorth TV factory from Decca's new owner - Racal in 1980 and moved production to a new factory in Telford.

Decca Radio & Television Ltd, Golf Course Lane, Hinckley Road, Leicester (in 1973). Audio and radio design and manufacturing centre. This location was originally occupied by Reid & Sigrist Ltd, a company acquired by Decca in 1954.

Decca Record Company Ltd, Burlington House, Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey (in 1978). Electronics dept of Decca Records – test equipment for LP records.

Decca Special Products Division. In the 1960’s and 70’s, made Decca Deram pickups, cartidges, speakers, etc. Still going in 1982, after the Racal takeover, but located at Whyteleafe, Surrey (vice Battersea, London). (W.World, Mar 82, p 72)

Setpoint Ltd. In 1966, Decca acquired Setpoint Ltd, which made monitoring and control equipment for ships and was subsequently marketed through Decca Radar Ltd.

Weyrad of Weymouth (originally, The Weymouth Radio Manufacturing Co. Ltd). Their wound products were used extensively by Decca in the 1970’s, to make their TVs. I think they may have even been taken over by Decca, since they were later sold by Racal, which bought Decca circa 1980.
How could I have asked for more?! Thanks Dazzler!
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:40 pm   #11
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Quote:
Originally Posted by knobtwiddler View Post
Apologies for that, Steve (am a bit addled, post dental work this morning).

Having owned quite a bit of Decca-branded audio and TV over the years, I hadn’t given thought to how diverse the operation was. It would be interesting to see a ‘family tree’ of UK manufacturers, tying Decca / Pye / EMI etc. together.
Hey no worries!

Yes, a rock bands style family tree of radio/TV companies would be something of beauty. I did once foolishly say that I'd do one, but I doubt if I'll ever get a round tuit.
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:44 pm   #12
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Quote:
Originally Posted by knobtwiddler View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by electronicskip View Post
Just as a matter of interest , who owns the Manufacturer rights for the Decca name?
A casual search at the UK registry throws up 13 pages, but it does suggest that Thales currently holds the trademark for the electronics category (unsurprisingly).
Yes, since Racal took over Decca (for Decca's non-consumer electronics operations) and later merged with Thomson-CSF of France, to form Thales. Decca Radio & Television was soon sold to Tatung of Taiwan.

IIRC, The Decca music recording side was sold to Polygram (at that time, a Philips subsidiary) before Racal acquired the rest of Decca. The Decca "record" label is now part of the Universal Music Group.
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 12:54 pm   #13
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

There was also some sort of tie-up with Rowley Shears' KW Electronics. I have a KW 109 "Supermatch' antenna tuner branded Decca on the front panel. Early ones were marked KW, later ones Decca. It was a companion box to the KW2000 transceiver family.

KW was in Dartford, if I remember, but ended up as just a shop in Maidstone circa 1990.

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Old 19th Jan 2023, 1:42 pm   #14
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Quote:
Originally Posted by dazzlevision View Post
From my researches over many years:

Decca Communications Ltd (in 1976 & 1978). Sevenoaks, Kent.

Decca Navigator Ltd, 80 Bushey Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 (in 1965 & 69).

Decca Navigator Company (The) Ltd, 247 Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey (in 1966 & 69). In the mid-50’s, gramophone records were also produced at this site.

Decca Navigator Company Ltd, Spur Road, Feltham, Middx (in 1978).

Decca Radar Ltd was set up in 1949, at 7 Beverley Way, Shannon Corner, Kingston By Pass, New Malden, Surrey (previously a Reid and Sigrist location) and in 1955 was at/also at 2 Tolworth Rise, Surbiton, Surrey. In 1965, the service department moved to Purley Way, Croydon, Surrey. In 1965, also at 9 Davis Road, Chessington, Surrey. In 1968, the instrument division was at Lyon Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (e.g. klystron power supply unit). In 1972, also at Decca House, Albert Embankment, London, SE1. In 1965, Plessey bought parts of the company – ground radar and data handling divisions - at Tolworth and the Isle of Wight.

Decca Radio & Television Ltd (in 1970). Consumer electronic products. In 1959, the company relocated from Brixton Road, London, to Ingate Place, Queenstown Road, London, SW8. The radio & TV division was set up as a limited company by Decca in 1938 (W.World Oct 69, p494), at 1-3 Brixton Road. Decca moved production of their colour TVs to the former RGD/AT&E/Plessey factory at Pale Meadow Works, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, circa 1970. This closed a couple of years after Tatung of Taiwan bought the Bridgnorth TV factory from Decca's new owner - Racal in 1980 and moved production to a new factory in Telford.

Decca Radio & Television Ltd, Golf Course Lane, Hinckley Road, Leicester (in 1973). Audio and radio design and manufacturing centre. This location was originally occupied by Reid & Sigrist Ltd, a company acquired by Decca in 1954.

Decca Record Company Ltd, Burlington House, Burlington Road, New Malden, Surrey (in 1978). Electronics dept of Decca Records – test equipment for LP records.

Decca Special Products Division. In the 1960’s and 70’s, made Decca Deram pickups, cartidges, speakers, etc. Still going in 1982, after the Racal takeover, but located at Whyteleafe, Surrey (vice Battersea, London). (W.World, Mar 82, p 72)

Setpoint Ltd. In 1966, Decca acquired Setpoint Ltd, which made monitoring and control equipment for ships and was subsequently marketed through Decca Radar Ltd.

Weyrad of Weymouth (originally, The Weymouth Radio Manufacturing Co. Ltd). Their wound products were used extensively by Decca in the 1970’s, to make their TVs. I think they may have even been taken over by Decca, since they were later sold by Racal, which bought Decca circa 1980.
There was also Decca Survey based in Kingston Road, Leatherhead. They specialised in survey accuracy precise navigation systems such as Hifix, Seafix, Pulse 8 and others. I worked as an R&D engineer there in the 1970's
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 2:19 pm   #15
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Very large in this area. I remember we sold them a load of 400V Mullard mustard caps in an emergency. QCC crystals in the same New Malden road.

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Old 19th Jan 2023, 2:22 pm   #16
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

Here are a few Youtube clips of various Decca factories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPRye7sGqRA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmges0CCIc0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtPeMdDCiT4

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Old 19th Jan 2023, 2:42 pm   #17
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Wonderful footage, thank you.
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 4:33 pm   #18
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

It's interesting that Decca was primarily a manufacturing company, initially of course designing and making gramophones, including the very first portable gramophone. The recording company came later. Probably their greatest innovator at board level was Sir Edward Lewis whose achievements are well described in Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lewis_(Decca) . It was Lewis who was quoted as saying "a company manufacturing gramophones but not records is rather like one making razors but not consumable blades".

The Decca Navigator system is very comprehensively described elsewhere, but it's fascinating that its brilliant developer Harvey Schwartz arrived in the company as a result of the pre-war acquisition of Brunswick in the USA. In his 'spare' time, Schwartz developed the post-war range of XMS magnetic pickup heads, the Decola and Deccalian in order to do justice to the quality of FFRR discs, followed by the first British LPs. Were the Decola and Deccalian assembled at New Malden alongside the Navigator electronics? Maybe - I don't have any evidence.

More recently, in the late 1970s-early 80s Decca were pioneering innovators in digital recording technology. I recall working with the affable Tony Griffiths when he was developing Decca's first A/D converters for their first digital recordings when we were developing digital mixing desks. AFAIK, however, no Decca digital hardware was sold on the general market.

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Old 19th Jan 2023, 4:47 pm   #19
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

I recall that Decca used to produce records in part of the former Royal Naval Cordite Factoy at Holton Heath - pressing vinyl instead of cordite!
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Old 19th Jan 2023, 5:09 pm   #20
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Default Re: Decca's manufacturing side

As well as domestic TV manufacture, Decca also produced some professional TV equipment, such as the RU 4011 which was an off-air receiver, rack mountable. This had baseband video & also audio at 600ohms balanced. These were used for re-broadcasting & wired networks systems.

It's all a long while ago, but I recall that the pro division was headed up by Max Thom.

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