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Marconi T43DA

Although Marconi's life is fairly well documented, I've included a brief company history for all the other manufacturers on this site so here are the milestones for Marconi. The first incarnation was as the Wireless Telegraph Co Ltd, Chelmsford from 1922. Between 1922 and 1929 the company traded as the Marconiphone Co. It then became the Gramophone Co Ltd of Hayes as part of the EMI group from 1931. By this time it was a name on the cabinet of a chassis also shared by the HMV company, who placed the same chassis into a their cabinet. (see also HMV page). Marconi receivers in the 1930's were reasonably priced and of moderate quality, but they were obliged to use valves from the Marconi-Osram Valve group. In the early 1930's many people considered valves from the M-OV company to be inferior products when compared to the production from companies such as Mazda and Mullard. This resulted in receivers sometimes offering somewhat pedestrian performance. (That said, the PX4 was the output valve used in many Marconi receivers like the 296 from the mid 1930's, and the PX4 has become an all time classic, still revered by hi-fi enthusiasts even today).

Pictured above is the model T43DA "Companion" from 1955. This was one of the first receivers to use an oversized tuning dial in clear Perspex, an idea that would be used by many other manufacturers over the next couple of years. The small red "jewel" at the top of the tuning knob indicated the station selected, and glowed bright red. The set operated on MW or LW, and the waveband was selected by moving the "Marconi" logo situated at the top left of the cabinet right or left. The cabinet is in spray painted white over plastic, and is notable for the strong vertical ridges that run the length of the cabinet front.

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