McMichael Radio



of Slough
1920 Company founded by Leslie McMichael and Rene Klein
1922 Private company incorporated: L. McMichael Ltd
1932 McMichael Radio was incorporated as a public company to develop the business of L. McMichael Ltd[1]. The company bought the freehold of its site, some two acres of an area bordering Wexham Road and the spur of the Grand Union Canal.
1936 Started to manufacture televisions on a small scale
WWII wartime work on wireless sets, IFF equipment, magnetic mine detection and detonation
Post-WWII Recommenced production of domestic radio and television receivers whilst continuings with military work, producing sonar buoys
1953 Manufacturer of TV sets [2]
1956 June. Radio and Allied Industries bought McMichael Radio, a small public company, for £345,000. Domestic radio and television production under the Sobell name, military equipment under McMichael Radio Ltd name
1957 Converted into a private company[3]
1958 90,000 sq ft factory at Wexham Road, Slough and and additional 30,000 sq ft on leasehold in Slough. [4]
1960 Produced equipment for British satellite UK1
1961 Designers and manufacturers of telecommunication radar and electronic equipment, and radio and television cabinets. 750 employees. [5]
1961 Radio and Allied Industries Ltd was bought by GEC. McMichael Radio Ltd operated as autonomous subsidiary of GEC
1963 McMichael Radio Ltd was incorporated[6]
1982 Name changed to Gecophone Ltd
1988 Became part of GEC Power Systems Ltd of Rugby
1989 Became part of GEC Alsthom
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Science Museum