William George Pye

William George Pye (1869-1949), Radio pioneer

1869 Born on 27 October in London, son of William Thomas Pye, Mathematical instrument maker, and his wife Elizabeth.

Trained at Elliott's scientific instruments makers in London

1892 Invited to work at the Cavendish Laboratory

1899 With his father, set up a scientific instrument business in Cambridge which became W. G. Pye and Co

1902 Left the Cavendish

1911 Scientific instrument manufacturer, living in Chesterton with Annie Eliza Pye 42, Donald Walter Pye 13, Marjorie Irene Pye 11, Harold John Pye 9

1930 retired from work and moved to Bexhill

Contributed to Senlac Metal Casements at Battle

1949 Finally retired fully but died in October.

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1950 Obituary

"WILLIAM GEORGE PYE was the founder of the radio business which bears his name.

He was born in 1869 and served a five years' apprenticeship with the Cambridge Instrument Co, on the conclusion of which in 1888 he joined the firm of Messrs. Elliott Brothers, Goolden and Company (now Evershed and Vignoles, Ltd., Acton, London, W.), for whom he was engaged as journeyman and leading hand for two years. He then became associated with the late Sir Joseph Thomson, O.M., F.R.S., in the capacity of chief mechanical assistant at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, his activities in this direction being closely concerned with the production of instruments and apparatus for educational and research purposes.

This association lasted for eleven years and during this period Mr. Pye established (in 1899) a business under the style of Messrs. W. G. Pye and Company, Granta Works, Cambridge, to manufacture scientific instruments. It is, perhaps, worthy of note that he, personally, not only carried out his own machine repairs and made special tools, but on occasion would, himself, construct machinery essential for the purposes of his business. Subsequently the firm also made wireless sets, and from this side of the business was developed Pye, Ltd. He retired from work at Cambridge in 1930 and went to live at Bexhill-on-Sea. His temperament would not, however, permit him to rest, and for some years, as chairman and managing director, he had taken a leading part in the activities of a firm at Battle, nearby, now known as Senlac Metal Casements, Ltd. Severe illness compelled him to finally retire in the early part of 1949, his death occurring at his home in Bexhill on the 13th October 1949. Mr. Pye had been a Member of the Institution since 1932."

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