Indian Audio Icons – Valve Radio Brands of the ‘50s and ‘60s | Indian Audio Heritage

For many Indians in the decades following Independence, a vacuum tube or valve radio was the gateway into the world of home audio. So far, this series on our country’s audio history has explored our connection with the major music formats of the 20th century; but to an audiophile, the gear is often as important as the format itself.
With that, let’s move on to the iconic vintage audio equipment that defined millions of Indian’s relationships with music– starting chronologically with the once ubiquities home radio set.
Today, vacuum tubes or valves have been relegated to just two niches – high end audio, and guitar amplification. But 60 years ago, they were very much a part of everyday life. Locally made radio sets brought the warm tube sound to numerous Indian households throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s, becoming nostalgic symbols of that era.
Today, we look back at 7 of the most iconic radio brands of the time:
1. GEC:

The General Electric Co. of India started off as an offshoot of the British General Electric Company during colonial times. By the late ‘50s, the firm had evolved into Hindustan General Electrical Corporation Limited, and continued manufacturing radio sets under the GEC brand.
2. National EKCO/NELCO:

The National EKCO Radio and Engineering Co. Ltd was incorporated in 1949, as a joint venture between E.K. Cole Ltd. Of England and NELCO, an undertaking of the Tata Group.
The products were marketed under the National EKCO brand at first, but later switched to NELCO’s own branding.
3. Telerad:

The Telerad brand was first registered in 1957 by the Sarabhai Group and gained popularity in the ‘60s. Unfortunately, the Telerad Radio and TV unit was closed in 1978 due to labour troubles.
4. HMV:

His Master’s Voice or HMV began as a record label of The Gramophone Company of India and EMI in the early 1900s, but by the time of independence the brand was also used to market home audio equipment such as gramophones and radios. HMV radios often featured the famous “nipper” branding.
5. Bush:

Bush Radio was formed in England in 1932 and entered the Indian market in 1951. While the brand was fairly successful in the ‘50s and ‘60s, its popularity exploded in the late ‘70s with the introduction of compact “two-in-one” cassette player/radios.
6. Philips:

Still one of the most popular names in consumer electronics, the Dutch Philips corporation was founded in 1891, and began operations in India in 1930. Radio manufacturing began in Calcutta in 1948, and over a million sets had been built by 1966. Philips radios of the ’60s were promoted as “Philips novoSonic” to highlight their tonal quality.
7. Murphy:

Possibly the most iconic of the lot, was the Indian division of the British Murphy Radio.Murphy’s Indian branding gained iconic status with their chubby toddler mascot, the “Murphy Munna” or “Murphy Baby”.
The brand was promoted with various celebrity endorsements and is definitely one of the most memorable brands of the pre-liberalisation era.
Read more: .Indian Audio Icons – Radiograms
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