Eric Kirkham Cole

Eric Kirkham Cole of E. K. Cole

1901 July 14th. Born at 14 Windsor Road, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, the son of Henry Cole, a dairyman, and his wife Alice Laura Kirkham

Educated at Southend High School for Boys.

Shortly after leaving school Eric Cole became interested in learning how to make radios

After serving a three-year apprenticeship, went into partnership with his father as an electrical engineer

1922 He started a small business in Leigh on Sea to manufacture wireless sets with his girl-friend, later wife, Muriel Bradshaw (1904–1965). These original two valve receivers complete with batteries and headphones sold for £6.1Os.0d and were made at the rate of six a week.

c1924 Eric Cole devised and patented the H.T. eliminator to replace the then expensive and short lived batteries

1925 July 15th. Married Muriel Bradshaw and they had two children, Derek and Anne

1925 Partnership was formed with W. S. Verrells, a customer who was very much impressed with the device.

1926 E. K. Cole Limited, was formed to take over the partnership and the brand name EKCO was launched.

1934 Article. 'One of the most enthusiastic exponents of wireless in those early days — and many people called them faddists, then — was Essex gentleman, Mr. Eric Kirkham Cole, of Southend. Mr. Cole was an electrical engineer, and he was quick to see what illimitable potentialities there were in a trouble-free, easily transportable and reasonably priced wireless receiver. He conceived the idea that if only we could utilise electricity as the power unit for a wireless set as easily as we use for lighting our rooms, and eliminating the need for batteries, radio, so far as popularity is concerned, could look after itself as a best seller. So worked on that idea, worked night and day, experimented, got pretty-nigh baffled one day, had his hopes sent rocket-high the next — until at length came the finished article, of which to-day the whole world knows, the all-mains set, the all-electric wireless receiver, as easy to manipulate and maintain as the switching on of the hall lamp. Mr. Cole began to market his invention. From the first it caught the public's imagination. He became associated with Mr. W. S. Verralls, and never did partnership meet with more unbounded success. 'Ekco' was the name given to the new set, and the name is now a household one wherever radio is enjoyed. Mr. Cole described to a representative of The Essex Chronicle the other day how from a modest beginning in small room over a Southend confectioner's shop the home of Ekco has expanded into one of the finest and best equipped factories in the Kingdom covering nearly a quarter of million square feet of space, and employing nearly four thousand persons. And all in a dozen years. "From the beginning of our manufacture of the Ekco electric set," said Mr. Cole, "our story has been one of constant development. Again and again had to extend our premises, orders poured in, and we really wondered whether we could find site big enough for our needs. About that time a wag started the story, Ekco wants the Southend Kursaal," intending to show that nothing less than this vast building would satisfy our growing needs. Anyhow we got the ideal site close to the Southend main read, now thousands of people visit the works every year." It might be mentioned here that Mr. Cole has purchased Hampden, a fine house in its own delightful grounds Beehive Lane, Great Baddow, formerly for many years the residence of the late Mr. Arthur S. Duffield. Mr. Cole has been having many improvements made to the place, and he hopes be in residence there early in the New Year. He shares with one of his influential fellow townsmen (Mr. F. F. Ramuz, J.P.) high regard for the attractions of Chelmsford and the district, both for business and residential purposes.'

1958 Appointed CBE

1965 Muriel died

1966 November 18th. Eric died in a bathing accident at Fitts Village, St James, Barbados

See Also

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Sources of Information

• ODNB