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A.J.S. Components
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I would like to thank Bev Parker and Frank Sharman for allowing us to reproduce some of
the material from the Wolverhampton History and Heritage
Society website (see links)
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Beginnings
In the early 1920's, motorcycle manufacturer A.J.S. was going from
strength to strength. Orders were often exceeding production and the
company was rapidly expanding its Graiseley Hill and Lower Walsall
Street sites. The company's leading designer and inventive genius, Harry
Stevens, had been an enthusiastic radio amateur since before the first
world war. He had a large mast and aerial in his back garden at 25
Oaklands Road, and made frequent transmissions to fellow enthusiasts.
When the country went to war in 1914, radio amateurs were considered
to be a security risk, and so the Post Master General ordered all
wireless transmitters and receivers in private hands to be dismantled.
This came as a blow to Harry, who was slow to comply with the order. His
neighbours suspected him of communicating with the enemy and contacted
the local police. Reluctantly he had to remove his equipment. In those
days thermionic valves were in their infancy, in fact they were not
perfected until after the outbreak of war. At this time Harry probably
used a spark transmitter to send morse code, although speech
transmissions were being carried out at the time using a high frequency
alternator operating at about 80KHz. Whichever form of apparatus he
used, he probably designed and built it himself.
After the war Harry continued his transmissions. Components and
valves soon became readily available, and so Harry was able to
experiment with the new technology. His brother Joe Stevens junior,
lived at the other end of Oaklands Road, and he also had a wireless
receiver. At this time Harry was transmitting speech and Joe and his
family used to listen to Harry's transmissions.
By 1922 commercial radio had taken off in
America and it was obvious that the same would happen here. Early in the
year, the B.B.C. was formed and regular broadcasts began before the year
ended. Harry envisaged a large new market for wireless receivers (there
was already great demand for them in the USA) and so he pressurised the
A.J.S. board, and got it to accept the idea of manufacturing A.J.S.
receivers.
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Harry Stevens.
The man who made
it all possible.
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New buildings were added at Lower Walsall Street for wireless
manufacture, and the wireless department was known as A.J.S.
Wireless and Scientific Instruments. Harry soon designed a 4
valve T.R.F. receiver, with a high frequency stage, a
detector and a two stage audio amplifier. Three models were
launched in 1923, all aimed at the top end of the market.
The cheapest model was the
'Sloping Panel', which sold for £30.17s.6d. It had an oak, walnut or
mahogany case, with a sloping front panel, and externally mounted
valves. The next model was the 'Table De Luxe', which sold for
£36.5s.0d. It was a table top model with a lid to enclose the valves
and controls. The cabinet was available in oak or walnut. Top of the
range was the 'Pedestal' model, which was housed in a free standing cabinet,
with internal horn loudspeaker and battery compartment. It was available
in oak or mahogany, and sold for £75.
There was a lot of public interest in wireless, and by
October 1923, 500,000 licences had been issued.
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Prices soon began to fall, as can be seen from this
advert. The receiver was available on its own or complete with
accessories. The accessories consisted of valves, headphones,
batteries and aerial. Prices for receivers with accessories were
as follows:
- 2 valve -
£17.10s.0d
- 3 valve - £22.5s.0d
- 4 valve - £27.5s.0d
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An A.J.S. horn loudspeaker was available for £4.15s.0d., and
two tubular telescopic aerial masts could be purchased as an
accessory. One was 30ft tall and the other 50ft tall.
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Five new models were released in 1924 and there was an overall
reduction in the selling price. They were all T.R.F's, and
prices varied from £17.10s.0d for a simple two valve receiver
to £52.10s.0d. for the 4 valve pedestal receiver. In July, the
royalties that had been paid to members of the B.B.C. were
scrapped, and foreign manufacturers were allowed to sell their
products here. This meant that British manufacturers now faced a
lot of competition and so prices were again reduced. A.J.S.
decided to display their products at the September 1924 Wireless
Exhibition, at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. They were
joined by 55 other manufacturers, and the exhibition attracted
over 46.000 visitors.
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Type 'D'
A simple 2 Valve T.R.F. receiver, consisting of a tuned high
frequency amplifier and a detector. This was the simplest A.J.S.
receiver so far, costing only £17.10s.od. It was only capable
of driving headphones, and was available in a walnut or mahogany
case, with a sloping front panel.
Type 'E'
This was a 3 valve T.R.F. receiver, consisting of a tuned high
frequency amplifier, detector and audio amplifier. It was
available in a walnut or mahogany case, with a sloping front
panel, and sold for £22.5s.0d. This model was capable of
driving a loudspeaker, which was available for an extra £4.15s.0d.
Type 'F'
This receiver was a 4 valve T.R.F., and consisted of a tuned
high frequency amplifier, detector, and a two stage audio
amplifier that was capable of producing reasonably loud sound.
Three versions were available in different cabinets:
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The A.J.S. receivers were well received and
attracted a lot of attention. As a result several new dealers were
appointed in London. Sales were good and the receivers were gaining a
reputation for quality and reliability. The receivers had external valves
so that they could be easily replaced when required. Valves at this time
had a relatively short life.
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(click here for the Factory Tour)
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In 1925 the number of models was increased to 10, and
prices varied from £13.18s.6d for a 2 valve receiver, to £51.18s.0d for
the pedestal model, with internal horn loudspeaker. Sales continued to
increase, and so extra factory space was required to increase production.
As space was available at the Stewart Street
works, it was utilised for
the wireless cabinet making department. A new sound proof demonstration
area was also added at Lower Walsall street, so that dealers could see the
new receivers working in ideal conditions. On 10th September new showrooms
and offices were opened at 122-124 Charing Cross Road, London, in time for
the Wireless exhibition. The 1925 exhibition was much bigger than in the
previous year. There were no fewer than 109 exhibitors, and A.J.S. also
displayed its range of accessories including horn loudspeakers and
headphones. At this time the number of licence holders had risen to over
one and a half million. A.J.S. also had an office and showrooms at
240-250 Great Western Road, Glasgow, and dealers in Australia, New
Zealand, India, Siam and South Africa.
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An A.J.S. Table Model
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The beginning of 1926 wasn't a good time for A.J.S., as the company's
sales were falling, mainly due to the rapid developments that were
taking place in the industry.
Superhets appeared in 1925. These are like modern receivers
and only need very simple tuning controls. They also offer a much better
performance than can be obtained from the relatively simple T.R.F.
receivers that A.J.S. had so far produced. The superhets also looked much
better than the earlier receivers, as everything was hidden inside the
cabinet. No valves were showing, and they were much easier to operate due
to the simple tuning controls. Something had to be done if A.J.S. was to
retain its position in the market, and so a whole new range of modern
looking superhets was rapidly developed. The new receivers were called the
Symphony range. There were four superhets and three cheaper T.R.F.
receivers.
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The A.J.S. 3 valve receiver type 'E6' consists of
a tuned high frequency amplifier, detector and single stage
audio amplifier. It is housed in an oak or mahogany, sloping
panel case, and sold for £14.17s.6d on its own, or £21.13s.6d
with all accessories. The accessories included a pair of
headphones, but a loudspeaker had to be purchased separately.
The receiver can only drive a loudspeaker at a modest volume. If
more volume is required, an A,J.S. amplifier also had to be
purchased.
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The A.J.S. 4 valve receiver type 'F6' consists of
a tuned high frequency amplifier, detector and two stage audio
amplifier. It is housed in an oak or mahogany, sloping panel
case, and sold for £18.10s.0d on its own, or £26.15s.0d with
all accessories. It was basically the same as the 'E6', except
that it could provide a much higher sound level from a
loudspeaker, due to the extra audio amplifier stage. This
receiver was available in a variety of cabinets.
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The wooden flare horn loudspeaker.
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A.J.S. Loudspeakers
Several versions of A.J.S. horn loudspeakers were produced.
The Standard Loudspeakers were 24" tall. The top of the
range model had oak or mahogany flares, and sold for £4.15s.0d.
The cheaper model had a metal horn, and was available in a black
matt or stove finish, for £4, or in a grained wood finish for
£4.5s.0d. The Junior Loudspeakers were 19" tall, and had a
metal horn. The model with a wood grained finish sold for
£1.17s.6d., and the model with a black finish sold for
£1.15s.0d. There was also an enclosed loudspeaker in a mahogany
cabinet, which was £4.15s.0d., or a pedestal model in a
mahogany or rosewood cabinet. It sold for £22.10s.0d. The
following paragraph is from the sales literature:
"For the benefit of those who may consider the purchase
of one of the cabinet models, not containing a loudspeaker, A.J.S. models
may be had with wooden flares in oak and mahogany.
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The A.J.S. Pedestal De Luxe Receiver Type 'P1'.
This 4 valve receiver was enclosed in a mahogany cabinet, which
included a horn loudspeaker and battery compartment. The
receiver with accessories sold for £65, or £55.15s.0d. for the
receiver alone.
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The 4 valve A.J.S. Consol Receiver Type 'S1' is
house in a fine mahogany cabinet, with centrally mounted horn
loudspeaker. The two side cupboards are for batteries,
headphones and accessories. The receiver and accessories sold
for £75, or £65.15s.0d for the receiver alone.
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Prices ranged from £17.10s.0d. for the simple
two valve, T.R.F., 'Symphony Two' to £67.10s.0d. for the seven valve
'Symphony Seven' superhet. The range also included the 'Symphony Five'
which was a five valve, small portable T.R.F. receiver, with internal
frame aerial and loudspeaker. It sold for £22.10s.0d.
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The Symphony 5 and Symphony 7 bureau
receiver. The cabinet was made of mahogany.
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The 'Symphony Five' was a 5 valve superhet and was
available in either a table-top or bureau style cabinet. The
receiver came complete with a 'Standard' horn loudspeaker and
batteries. The table-top model sold for £45, and the bureau
model was £52.10s.0d.
The 'Symphony Seven' was a 7 valve superhet and was available
in either a table-top or bureau style cabinet. The receiver came
complete with a 'Standard' horn loudspeaker, 2 frame aerials and
batteries. The table-top model sold for £60, and the bureau
model was £67.10s.0d.
The bureau cabinets included a battery compartment below the
receiver. The batteries were accessible behind the two doors on
the front.
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The 'Symphony Seven' with frame aerial.
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The frame aerials were also available separately,
and were made in two versions. One was for long wave and
the other was for medium wave. Each version sold for £2.10s.0d.
The last model was the 'Symphony Five' portable model. This
was a 5 valve T.R.F. receiver that was housed in a small oak
cabinet with a carrying handle. The cabinet also housed a moving
iron loudspeaker, frame aerial and batteries. There was a single
tuning control, a long wave / medium wave, waveband switch, and
a volume control. The receiver weighed 26.5lbs, and sold for
£22.10s.0d.
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An A.J.S. Table Receiver and Horn
Loudspeaker
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Sales were initially good, but the seasonal nature of the
industry meant that A.J.S. had to occasionally lay-off some of the
workforce. In an attempt to retain the workers during the slack periods,
the company started to produce the innovative 'Cobra' electric fire. When
standing upright it was a standard electric fire, but when lying on its
back with the heating element facing upwards, it could be used as a small
cooker, to maybe boil a kettle of water. Not many were produced and its
doubtful if any have survived. The name came from the shape of the heating
element.
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Some of the A.J.S. components
(click here for more info)
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Wireless receiver prices were still falling in late 1926, and in
order to compete, A.J.S. had to adopt mass production techniques for the
receivers. A predominantly female workforce was employed, as it was
considered that they were more suitable than men for the delicate,
repetitive work, and were cheaper to employ. Even after these measures
were taken, sales did not improve. One problem with the receivers was
that they were battery powered, A.J.S never produced a mains powered
receiver. Mains receivers first appeared in August1926 and many
manufacturers offered mains adaptors for their battery powered
receivers.
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Receivers were rapidly becoming more complex, and as a result
the public expected a very high performance from a receiver.
A.J.S. was failing to keep up to date with the latest
technology, and the receivers were starting to look old
fashioned when compared to the latest designs. The company
decided to give-up production in 1928, and sold the Stewart
Street works, and the remaining stock of components to the
Symphony Radiogram Company. The new company began producing
radio receivers and radiograms, using the stock of A.J.S.
components.
Sadly Harry's Stevens' dream of becoming a major
player in the new radio industry didn't materialise. The market
had become very competitive and A.J.S. would have needed a lot
of investment in order to compete with the larger manufacturers.
Harry's interest in electronics continued and he even developed
a mechanical television system.
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