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E.K.Cole Timeline
1904-1957
(Does not apply to domestic equipment manufacture)
- 1904 Eric Kirkham Cole born in Rochford.
- 1924 Started business with Girlfriend in Leigh on Sea repairing radio sets and charging batteries etc. Develops Battery Eliminator (i.e. Mains transformer).
- 1925 Joined by WS Verrells (you make em – I'll sell em).
- 1926 E.K.Cole Limited formed.
- 1927 Funding obtained to move to bigger premises in Leigh.
- 1928 A.W. Martin joined business (later to become chief Engineer and designer of famous round Bakelite radio) – 500 employee's.
- 1929 Land acquired in Priory Crescent – building commenced.
- 1930 Business moved to Priory Crescent.
- 1931 First Bakelite press ordered – 1,000 employee's.
- 1932 Fire destroyed part of factory including R&D labs (1932/3 prototypes lost) firm nearly goes out of business!
- 1934 Start of RDF (radar).
- 1935 Radar research moves to Orfordness.
- 1936 Tizard committee consider need for airborne radar, Taffy Bowen leads team and builds first prototype over winter 36/37 (A lot of detail worked out over pints in digs at the Castle&Crown Pub in Orford).
- 1937 Test flights from Martlesham heath shows system works detecting navy exercise at 20Nm.
- 1938 Secret discussions held with EKCO about help with radar research and production methods – EKCO offers help via AW Martin and secret lab established by year-end. – 3,000 employee's.
- 1939 Secret planning to disperse research and production away from Southend into 'Shadow factories'. September onwards, production transferred to war work (type 19 army radios) – EKCO helped with getting night fighter radar AI Mk 2 into production. Secret underground lab built alongside underground shelters at Southend.
- 1940 June 1940 – evacuation plan activated. HQ moved to Green Park Hotel Ashton Clinton, Military Radio work to Aylesbury and Radar work to Malmesbury – First successful night fighter attack and shoot down July 23rd (A1 Mk III). Winter of 40/41 AI Mk 4 in full production as is Anti shipping radar ASV Mk 2 (both about 1.5 metre wavelength) (Mk IV in Beaufighter scores 22 kills in March 41, 52 in April and May 102 +172 probable - German Night raids effectively cease) T1154 and R1155 developed.
- 1941 After Blitz, radio and valve making re-commence at Southend. Magnetron allows development of 'Microwave' AI Mk 7 and then Mk 8 (9cm wavelength) at Malmesbury. Jostle 1 developed and trialed by year end. T/R 1154/1155 in production at Aylesbury.
- 1942 Full production of AI Mark 8 – which stayed in production through rest of war and was only bettered in 1944 by American SCR720 (which was based on AI Mk 8). Jostle 2 deployed in North Africa in time for Alemeim.
- 1943 Development work starts on AI Mark 9 (C band 3cm) intended as follow on to AI Mk 8. Development work starts on 'man portable' VHF military radio's (Walkie Talkies) in service in time for invasion of Italy (WS 46 radio) production now encompasses 'Woking and Glenrothes' as well. Southend also making WS 19 and 46 radio sets, also wiring harness for Lancaster bombers – circa 8,000 employee's across all sites..
- 1944 WS 46 deployed in invasion of Italy and Europe.
- 1945 War ends, AI Mark 9 finally goes into limited production, all production scaled down across all sites. Ashton Clinton+Alyesbury closed down Malmesbury continues except WDU (closed down). Southend re-commences radio and plastics production.
- 1946 Development work starts on successor to WS46, this being WS88.
Telecommunications Research Establishment give EKCO a research contract to develop Cloud and Collision warning radar. Core (ex-WDU and Ashton Clinton) research departments re-formed at Malmesbury and Southend
- 1947 Weather radar prototype begins testing in Sunderland. Set designated as E38 (A110?).
- 1948 Sunderland flies extensively on 'empire routes' testing bad weather performance (in association with TRE).
- 1949 First commercial delivery of E34 weather radar then called 'Search Radar' (DH Comet 1) development work started on radiation dose meters, WS 88 goes into full production, Development work starts on radar ranging system intended for Hawker Hunter.
- 1950 Development work starts on successor to WS 88 numbered WS A40.
- 1951 Development work starts on successor to E38 and E38B this being E120 system. Development work starts on ASV Mark 19A.
- 1952 EKCO Electronics Limited set up as separate business unit within E.K.Cole. Development work starts on Project 'Blue Sky' (Fireflash missile – First successful UK AAM).
1953 Hawker Hunter radar goes into production (based on 'B' model specification) – over 2000 will be made before production finishes. Assigned designator ARI 5820. ASV Mark 19B developed and trialed
1954 Flight trials begin on Blue Sky at Llambeter – later at RAF Valley. Development work starts on AI Mark 17. Intended as follow on from Blue Sky designated for Gloster Javelin.
1955 Blue Sky trials team move to Woomera (Australia). E120 system moves to production phase. ASV Mark 19 enters service in Fairey Gannet Mark AS1. E38 system (55 sets) sold to German BundesMarine as standard fit to their Armstrong Whitworth Seahawks. Development work starts on project 'Green Willow', which develops into AI Mark 20 – Backup radar system for English Electric Lightening (not used). Transistors (Germanium) first tested (cost £2.10s each).
1956 Work starts on Automatic Machine Control. Work starts to re-develop AI Mark 20 to meet requirement for Tail Warning Radar in V Bombers (code named Red Steer).
1957 Blue Sky abandoned by Government. Missile superseded by Red Top.
1958 E120 developed into E160 and flown in DH Comet IV. Red Steer tail warning radar enters trial phase assigned designator ARI 5919.
1959 Development work starts on successor to E160, this being E190 (designed as first fully transistorised system).
Chris Poole February 2006
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