Astor - Radio Corporation - Electronic Industries was the largest Australian electronics manufacturer, manufacturing across the retail sector of products from Washing Machines to Radio. Astor, which began operating in 1926, making electronics in Victoria was founded by Arthur Warner. The firm was innovative in that it offered radios in dynamic designs and colours compared with the conservative designs offered by other companies.[1][2][3][4]
Astor bought its competitors, Eclipse and Essanay. Originally a partnership between successful tobacconist Louis Henry Abrahams[5] and Sir Arthur Warner, it was taken public in 1940, with the original partners holding 50 per cent of the new company. However, in 1956 the partners sold the majority stake to the English electronics company Pye Ltd, and Pye was later taken over in 1966 by the giant Philips electronics company.[6]
- ^ Biography - Sir Arthur George Warner - Australian Dictionary of Biography, ... As chairman and managing director, Warner headed (from 1939) Electronic Industries Ltd, manufacturer of the Astor range of products, especially radios and later television sets...
- ^ History: Southbank was radio-active!, 12 Oct 2017, Southbank Local News, ...In 1926 the Radio Corporation of Australia Ltd was formed and commenced the manufacture of Astor radios. As business boomed, production was spread over three sites...In 1931 a new factory was built in Grant St. Demand soon meant that another new factory was needed. Situated on an irregular large piece of land on the junction of Grant, Power and Moore streets, it was constructed in 1940 for the firm and was a good example of modern planning for an industrial building...Facing onto Moore St, the single storey building, constructed of brick, steel and timber, featured steel-framed windows, saw-tooth roofing to allow maximum light from the south, and welded lattice girders supporting a roof of asbestos cement sheeting...It contained a manufacturing section, research laboratories, testing rooms, administration offices and facilities and the layout facilitated the steady movement through the building of the article being assembled (including television sets after 1956)...The factory was later demolished for the complex of freeway exits and Grant St disappeared...As well as the factory, the firm (now called Electronic Industries Ltd), developed a stylish and simple new headquarters in Sturt St in 1959, fittingly called Astor House...
- ^ Astor, Radio Corporation Pty., Ltd.; Melbourne manufacturer
- ^ The Story behind Astor., The Cairns Post (QLD) advertised The Story Behind Astor over fourteen issues from 7 June till 25 June 1935 for Pittard Dick & Co Pty. Ltd., a radio dealer in Cairns.
- ^ "Louis Henry ABRAHAMS". vwma.org.au. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Herald Weekly Times, photographer. (1956). Promotional Photographs Showing Television Cameras Made by the Pye Astor Company., Pay book and photographs of the Radio Corporation of Australia Ltd., MS 10808$$QPay book and photographs of the Radio Corporation of Australia Ltd., MS 10808.