1
The Best of Murphy
Cabinet Design
1930 to 1950
compiled by
James Reeve
2
3
FOREWORD
As a school leaver aged 15, I began work in November 1940 at
Murphy Radio as a trainee in the design office in Bridge Road,
Welwyn Garden City. During the war I worked on receivers and
other electronic equipment for the military. In 1950, I began working
for Eden Minns, designing for the new post-war products. I
continued to work in cabinet and graphic design for Murphy until
1970, although in 1962 the company had been taken over by RankBush.
This catalogue is a tribute to the design work for Murphy by R. D.
Russell and Eden Minns from 1930 to 1950. During this unique
period they brought together an integration of high quality furniture
design and craft techniques with as near mass–production as was
possible at the time.
The majority of the images of the sets are taken from contemporary
photographic glass plates which were rescued from a pile of scrap
discarded by the firm in 1962. The text and other images (for which
we had no plates) are derived from a combination of contemporary
Murphy sales literature and Murphy News articles plus two modern
images of surviving sets.
I would like to thank Derek Dewey-Leader for scanning the glass
plates and my son Nigel Reeve for producing this electronic
catalogue. Thanks also to the staff of Mill Green Museum who
allowed us access to their Murphy collection and David Grant who
kindly contributed several images, a good deal of additional
information and very helpful peer review during the project.
© James Reeve
September 2007
Biographies and photographs from Murphy News February 1948
4
EDEN MINNS F.S.I.A.: Head of Cabinet Design
Department. Trained as an architect, he subsequently
joined the famous furniture firm of Gordon Russell Ltd
of Broadway, Worcestershire, with whom he was
engaged on furniture designing. From 1936 to 1939 he
was designing Murphy cabinets for R. D. Russell in
London. His first Murphy design was the B33. He was
responsible for such outstanding cabinets as the A40C,
A40RG, A42V, and others. Later he came to Murphy
Radio and designed many of the early war-period
cabinets. War service in the Fleet Air Arm and in
aircraft carriers. Returned to Murphy radio on the last
day of 1945, and quickly added to his already
considerable reputation in the field of of industrial
design by the evolution of cabinets of such widely
differing styles as the A122, the A122 Console, and
the TA126 export set.
His interest in architecture still remains. His interest in
radio is mainly in the part it plays as furniture. Age 42.
Married: one child. Lives in a flat in Kensington.
R. D. RUSSELL, R.D.I., F.S.I.A.: Outside consultant on
Cabinet Design. Is younger brother of Gordon Russell,
founder of the furntiure concern of Broadway,
Worcestershire. He began designing Murphy cabinets as
long ago as 1931, his first being the famous A3. Early
Murphy cabinets were designed a t Broadway but as the
range expanded an office was opened in London to handle
the increased amount of work, and R.D.R was on the staff of
Murphy Radio until 1939. Like Eden Minns, he saw war
service in the Navy. Afterwards he resumed active design
work for Murphy Radio in capacity of outside consultant. He
has been responsible for the two post-war television
receivers, the V114 and V116, and the innovations
introduced by the latter were described in an article by him
in THE NEWS of April last year. Age: 44. Married: three
children. Lives in a country house at Earls Colne in Essex,
and has an office in central London.
5
A3
The first Murphy mains powered radio.
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A3 Table Model 3 Valve + Rectifier ‘Straight’ receiver for use
with AC mains. Two wavebands – Long & Medium.
Cabinet: In solid walnut. Speaker fabric is silver. The first well designed
mains radio cabinet to be quantity-produced in England.
Date:
1931
Price:
£19 19s 0d reduced to £17 17s 0d in 1932
Note:
In 1932, the cabinet was enlarged to accommodate the A3A
chassis. This cabinet was manufactured from walnut veneered
plywood – this was the first use of this material in a mass
produced radio in Britain. Price: £17 17s 0d reduced to £13 10s
0d in November.
6
B4
Designer: Ercolani, cabinet manufacturer. Feet and loudspeaker
fretwork modified by R. D. Russell
Model:
B4 4 Valve Battery portable ‘Straight’ receiver.
Two wavebands – Long & Medium.
Date:
1932
Price:
£15 15s 0d reduced in November to £12 10s 0d.
7
A8
The first Murphy superhet receiver.
Designer: R.D.Russell
Model:
A8 Table Model 8 Valve + Rectifier superhet AC mains
receiver. Two wavebands – Long & Medium.
Cabinet: In walnut veneered plywood. Speaker fabric is silver with
diagonal blue & black stripes. This was the first (of many)
radio cabinet made in Britain to have a ‘landscape’ profile.
Date:
1932
Price:
£31 10s 0d. In November 1932 the price was reduced to £24
0s 0d simply by omitting the matching stand.
8
A4
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A4 AC Superhet Table Set
D4 DC Superhet Table set
B5 Battery Superhet Table Set
Date:
1933
Price:
£14 10s 0d
9
A24
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A24 AC Superhet Table Set
D24 DC Superhet Table set
B24 Battery Superhet Table Set
Date:
1934
Price:
£14 10s 0d
10
A24C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A24 AC Superhet Console
D24 DC Superhet Console
Date:
1934
Price:
£17 0s 0d
11
A24RG and A26RG
The first ‘Murphy’radiogram.
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A24RG & A26RG AC Superhet Radiogram
D24RG & D26RG DC Superhet Radiogram
Date:
1934 (A26RG, 1935)
Prices:
A24RG £24 0s 0d, D24RG £25 0s 0d.,
A26RG £24 0s 0d, D26RG £25 15s 0d.
12
A26
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A26 AC Superhet Table Set
D26 DC/AC Superhet Table set
B25 Battery Superhet Table Set
Date:
1935
Prices:
A26 £11 0s 0d, D26 £11 5s 0d, B25 £13 0s 0d
13
`
A26C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A26C AC Superhet Console
D26C DC/AC Superhet Console
Date:
1935
Price:
A26C £14 15s 0d , D26C £15 0s 0d
14
A28C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A28C AC and D28C DC, Superhet Console
with automatic tuning correction.
Date:
1935
Price:
£21 15s 0d
15
A28RG
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A28RG AC and D28RG DC, Superhet Radiogram with
automatic tuning correction
Date:
1935
Prices:
A28RG £33 10s 0d, D28RG £34 10s 0d
16
B23
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
R. D. Russell
B23 Straight Battery Table Set
1936
£6 7s 6d
17
B27
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
R. D. Russell
B27 Battery Superhet Table Set
1936
£9 17s 6d
18
A30
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A30 AC Superhet Table Set
D30 DC Superhet Table Set
Cabinet: In matt finished walnut with a band of zebrano across
the front
Date:
1936
Prices:
A30 £9 17s 6d, D30 £10 2s 6d,
19
A30C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A30C AC Superhet Console
D30C DC Superhet Console
Date:
1936
Prices:
A30C £13 10s 0d, D30C £13 15s 0d,
20
A30RG
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A30RG AC Superhet Radiogram
D30RG DC Superhet Radiogram
Date:
1936
Prices:
A30RG £24 0s 0d, D30RG £24 0s 0d,
21
B31
Designer:
Model:
Cabinet:
Date:
Price:
R. D. Russell
B31 Straight Battery table Set
Polished walnut with polished black sides
1937
£6 10s 0d
22
B33
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
Eden Minns
B33 Battery Superhet Table Set
1937
£10 15s 0d
23
AD32
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
R. D. Russell
AD32 AC/DC Superhet table Set
1937
£8 5s 0d
24
A34
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A34 AC Superhet table Set
D34 DC/AC Superhet Table Set
Date:
1937
Price:
£11 10s 0d
25
A36
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A36 Special S.W. performance AC Superhet Table Set
D36 Special S.W. performance DC/AC Superhet Table Set
Date:
1937
Price:
£15 10s 0d
26
A38C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A38C AC and D38C DC/AC Superhet Console with
special quality reproduction
Cabinet: Polished figured walnut and straight-grained elm
Date:
1937
Price:
£17 10s 0d
27
A42V
Designer: Eden Minns
Model: A42V AC Television
receiver. The first Murphy
television. A luxury product.
A reversed screen image was
viewed via a mirror in the lid.
Picture size 9in x 7 in
Cabinet: Bombay rosewood &
impregnated black pearwood.
Date: 1937
Price: £65 0s 0d
28
A34RG
Designer: Eden Minns
Model: A34RG AC and
D34RG DC/AC Superhet
Radiogram.
Cabinet: Polished black walnut
and French light walnut
Date: 1937
Prices: A34RG £24 0s 0d,
D34RG £25 0s 0d.
29
A40C
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A40C AC Superhet Console with outstanding quality of
reproduction, special S.W. performance and automatic tuning
correction.
Cabinet: Bombay rosewood and thuya burr
Date:
1937
Price:
£35 0s 0d
30
A40RG
Designer: Eden Minns
Model: A40RG AC Superhet
Radiogram with outstanding
quality of reproduction, special
S.W. performance and
automatic tuning correction. In
Bombay rosewood and
Bubinga. The lining of the lid
is pale grey felt with a white
trellis – a luxury set.
Date: 1937
Price: £85 0s 0d
31
B45
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
Straight Battery Table Set
Cabinet: Polished black walnut with a narrow white rim
surrounding the loudspeaker.
Date:
1938
Price:
£7 0s 0d
32
A46
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A46 All wave AC Superhet Table Set
D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set
Cabinet: Contrasting French walnut and black walnut veneers.
Loudspeaker opening has a narrow white surround.
Date:
1938
Prices:
A46 £9 10s 0d, D46 £9 15s 0d.
33
A46C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A46 All wave AC Superhet Console
D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Console
Cabinet: Dark and medium-toned walnut. The controls are set on a
sloping top panel of feather -grained walnut for easy operation
whether standing or seated.
Date:
1938
Prices:
A46C £13 15s 0d, D46C £14 0s 0d
34
A46RG
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A46RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram
D46RG All wave DC/AC Superhet Radiogram
Cabinet: Dark walnut with light horizontal lines on the upper front panel.
Date:
1938
Prices:
A46RG £20 0s 0d, D46RG £22 0s 0d
35
B47
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
All wave Battery Superhet Table Set
Cabinet: Dark polished walnut with front panel carrying the
concentric controls.
Date:
1938
Price:
£11 10s 0d
36
B47C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
All wave Battery Superhet Console
Cabinet: Dark and medium-toned walnut with contrasting plinth.
The controls are placed on the sloping top for easy
handling.
Date:
1938
Price:
£14 5s 0d
37
A48
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A48 All wave AC Superhet Table Set
D48 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set
Cabinet: French walnut, contrasting with dark-figured walnut.
Date:
1938
Prices:
A48 £12 0s 0d, D48 £12 5s 0d
38
A48RG
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model: A48RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram
with Automatic Record Changer.
D48RG DC/AC model.
Cabinet: Polished black walnut and French walnut veneer.
Flush motor-board and slightly inset lid for easy lifting.
Date:
1938
Prices: A48RG £30 0s 0d, D48RG £32 0s 0d
39
A50
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A50 All wave AC Superhet Table Set
D50 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table Set
Designed for good quality reproduction
Cabinet: Venereed in righ-figured Honduras mahogany with control
panel in dark grey-silvered glass.
Date:
1938
Prices:
A50 £16 0s 0d, D50 £16 5s 0d
40
A50C
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A50C All wave AC Superhet Console
D50C All wave DC/AC Superhet Console
Designed for good quality reproduction.
Cabinet: Walnut and rose zebrano. Tilted top suited to armchair operation.
Date:
1938
Prices:
A50C £21 0s 0d, D50C £21 5s 0d
41
A52
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A52 AC Push Button Table Set with special S.W. perfomance.
7 valve (plus rectifier) double Superhet with motorised tuning.
Date:
1938
Price:
£18 10s 0d
42
A56V
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
R. D. Russell
A56V AC Television Receiver. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.
1938
£30 0s 0d
43
A58V
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
A58V AC Television and Radio Receiver. Combining
Television and reception on short, medium and longwaves with
good quality reproduction. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.
Date:
1938
Price:
£45 0s 0d
44
B81
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
B81 All purpose Battery Portable
Cabinet: “All weather” finish of black rexine piped with green
leather with greeen plastic knobs and dial opening.
Date:
1939
Price:
£8 15s 0d
Price change October 1939 £9 0s 0d
45
B69
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
B69 All wave Battery Table Set.
Cabinet: Dark walnut with a light walnut top, Similar design to the 70
mains table model but without “feet” and the tuning scale is
black on white rather than three colours.
Date:
1939
Price:
£9 0s 0d
46
A72/B71
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model: A72 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set,
B71 battery model. D72A (DC only) & B71A
Special 4-way band models.
Cabinet: Light and dark polished walnut with a
gold surround to the speaker and scale openings.
Date: 1939
Price: A72, £12 10s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra, D72A £13 10s 0d. Price change
October 1939 £13 0s 0d DC/AC 10/- extra. Press button unit 35/extra. Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra. B71 £11 0s
0d, B71A £12 5s 0d. Price change October 1939 £12 0s 0d.
47
70
Designer: Eden Minns
Model: 70 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set
Cabinet: Two tones of polished dark walnut with
light walnut top. Tapered speaker opening with a
gold finished scale surround surrounded by
inlaid white line. Tuning scale in 3 colours.
Date: 1939
Price: £10 5s 0d DC/AC 5/- extra.
Press button unit 35/- extra
Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra
48
A74
Designer: Cabinet R. D. Russell,
knobs by Eden Minns
Model: A74 All wave AC Table Set with
excellent quality reproduction.
Cabinet: In contrasting shades of walnut “V”
grain side and dark walnut.
Date: 1939
Price: £16 0s 0d. Price change October 1939
£16 15s 0d. Press button unit 35/- extra
Remote control unit £3 10s 0d extra
49
A76
Designer: Eden Minns
Model: A76 All wave AC Table Set,
special Short Wave performance
Cabinet: Brown figures mahogany and
beech with a highly polished finish.
Date: 1939
Price: £16 10s 0d
Price change October 1939 £17 10s 0d
Press button unit 35/- extra
Remote control unit £3 10s 0d extra
50
70C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model: 70C All wave Mains Console
Date: 1939
Price: £14 15s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra
Price change October 1939 £15 10s 0d,
DC/AC 5/- extra. Press button unit 35/extra. Remote control unit (AC only)
£3 10s 0d extra
51
A74C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model: A74C All wave AC Console, with
excellent quality reproduction
Date: 1939
Price: £21 0s 0d. Price change October
1939 £22 0s 0d. Press button unit 35/- extra
Remote control unit £3 10s 0d extra
52
A78C
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A78C All wave AC Console, with outstanding quality
reproduction, special short wave performance and Remote
Control.
Date:
1939
Price:
£40 0s 0d. Price change October 1939 £42 0s 0d
Purchase Tax payable from October 1940
Price change October 1943 £52 10s 0d plus P.T.
53
70RG
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
70RG All wave Mains Radiogram
Cabinet: Medium and light toned walnut with light inlaid lines on the
speaker panel.
Date:
1939
Price:
£22 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 0s 0d extra
Price change October 1939 £23 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 5s 0d extra
Press button unit 35/- extra
Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra
54
A72RG
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model: A72RG All wave AC
Superhet Radiogram with
automatic record changer for
up to eight 10 in. or 12 in.
records
Cabinet: Dark walnut with
lighter contrasts on the
exposed edges of the speaker
panel and cabinet top.
Date: 1939
Price: £32 0s 0d
Price change October 1939
£33 10s 0d
Press button unit 35/- extra
Remote control unit (AC only)
£3 10s 0d extra
55
A78RG
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A78RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram, with outstanding
quality reproduction, special short wave performance, remote
control and with automatic record changer, taking 10 in. or 12
in. mixed records.
Date:
1939
Price:
£90 0s 0d. Price change December 1939 £95 0s 0d
Purchase Tax payable from October 1940
Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra
56
V84T
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
V84T AC Table Model Television Receiver.
Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.
Date:
1939
Price:
£29 0s 0d
57
V84C
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
R. D. Russell
V84C AC Television Console. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.
1939
£33 0s 0d
58
V86C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
V86C AC Television Console, with high quality
performance. Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.
Date:
1939
Price:
£40 0s 0d
59
V88C
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model: V88C AC
Television and all wave
Radio Console.
Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.
Date: 1939
Price: £50 0s 0d
60
B93
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
B93 Battery Superhet Portable
Cabinet: Black rexine. The white line around the front panel is the white
rubber “grommet”, the speaker silk is black and white striped,
the scale has black lettering on a white ground, and the knobs
and dial opening are black plastic.
Date:
1940
Price:
£10 0s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from October 1940.
Price change October 1943 £12 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax
61
B89
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
Eden Minns
B89 Battery Superhet Table Set
1940
£7 15s 0d
Price change September 1940 £8 10s 0d
Purchase Tax payable from October 1940
Price change October 1943 £10 12s 6d plus Purchase Tax
62
A92 and B91
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A92 Mains Special Short Wave Performance AC Superhet
Table Set with press button tuning on Short Wave.
Cabinet: Warm brown oak with a black bakelite front. B91 (battery
model) has a white tuning scale because the dial is not
illuminated; saving battery power.
Date:
1940
Price:
A92 £15 15s 0d, B91 £14 10s 0d
Purchase Tax payable from October 1940
Price change October 1943 A92 £19 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax,
B91 £18 2s 6d plus Purchase Tax
63
90
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
Eden Minns
90 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set
1940
£11 0s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extra
Price change April 1940 £11 10s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extra
Purchase Tax payable from October 1940
Price change October 1943 £14 7s 6d plus Purchase Tax
(DC/AC £15 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax)
64
A90C
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
Eden Minns
A90C All wave AC Superhet Console
1940
£18 0s 0d
Purchase Tax payable from October 1940
Price change October 1943 £22 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax
65
90RG
Designer: Eden Minns
Model: 90RG All wave AC
Superhet Radiogram
Date: 1940
Price: £26 0s 0d, DC/AC £1
10s 0d extra. Purchase Tax
payable from October 1940.
Price change October 1943
£32 10s 0d plus Purchase
Tax. DC/AC £34 7s 6d plus
purchase tax.
66
AD94
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
AD94 AC/DC Superhet Table Set. Moulded Cabinet.
The first bakelite (black) cabinet (moulding by de la Rue) and
final new set of the year. The black and white motif is provided
by the highlights, scale, speaker silk and knobs.
Date:
1940
Price:
£9 10s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from October 1940
Price change October 1943 £11 17s 6d plus Purchase Tax,
67
A96
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A96 AC Superhet Table Set with short and medium waves
only. B96 Battery Superhet Table Model (issued 1945).
Cabinet: Moulded black bakelite (moulding by De la Rue).
Date:
1943
Prices:
A96 and B96 both £15 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax.
68
War-time Civilian Receiver
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Prices:
Eden Minns
War-time Civilian Receiver (Government Industry Specification)
1944
AC Mains Model £10 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.
Battery Model £9 0s 0d
69
A98 and B97
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A98 AC Superhet Table Set for long, medium and short
waves. Moulded Cabinet. B97 Battery model.
Date:
1945
Price:
A98 £18 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.
B97 £15 17s 0d plus Purchase Tax.
70
SAD94S and SAD 94L
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
SAD94S AC/DC Superhet Table Set with short and medium
waves only. SAD94L with long and medium waves only.
Date:
1945
Price:
£12 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.
71
V86CA
Designer:
Model:
Date:
Price:
R.D. Russell
AC Television Console. Picture Size 10 in. x 8 in.
1946
£67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.
72
V114
Designer: R. D. Russell
Model:
V114 AC Table Model Television. Picture Size 8 in. x 6½ in.
Cabinet: Rosewood top and front. The lower part, veneered in
mahogany and carrying speaker and controls, is set back. The
speaker bars are splayed outwards from the centre, backed by a
plain gold rayon fabric.
Date:
1946
Price:
£67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.
73
TA92 & TU92
Designer: Eden Minns
Model: TA92 Special
short wave performance,
AC Superhet Table Set,
with press button tuning on
Short Wave. TU92 AC/DC
model.
Date: 1947
Price: £25 0s 0d plus
Purchase Tax
TA92 from Mill Green
Museum
74
A122
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A122 Table Model Baffle 4-Valve Superhet for AC long,
medium and short waves.
Cabinet: It has a rich mahogany finish. Its side members, of darker
wood, extend sufficiently far to the rear to give it a firm “sit”.
The speaker silk is gold. The l..w, m.w. and s.w. scales are
separately illuminated; their station names are picked out in
white and the wavelength figures in green.
Date:
1947
Price:
£22 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax
75
A122C
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A122C Console version of the
A122 baffle superhet.
Cabinet: The top of the Console and the
central panel are veneered in a
nicely figured mahogany of warm,
golden colour. The legs are of
laminated wood. Speaker silk is
gold.
Date:
1947
Price:
£27 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax
76
Photograph: David Grant
TA126
The first purpose designed export model.
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
TA126 Table Model 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for use
with AC mains. Eight wavebands – Medium, Short and 6
bandspread shortwave bands. Also TU126 for DC mains and
TB125/7 for accumulator operation.
Cabinet: Bakelite with cream painted front.
Date:
1947
Price:
£19 10s 0d
77
V116
Designer: R.D.Russell
Model:
V116C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 10” × 8”.
Cabinet: Sides and doors in mahogany, top in blistered mahogany.
There are no handles on the doors: opening is effected by
pulling on a “finger-hold” at the top. The surround to the
screen and speaker is of straight-grained continental elm,
finished in a lighter shade than the main carcase.
Date:
1947
Price:
£80 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax
78
79
A146C
The first ‘Murphy’ baffle console.
Designer: R.D.Russell
Model:
A146C Console Model Baffle 6 Valve + Rectifier
Superhet for use with AC mains. Two wavebands – Long
& Medium.
Cabinet: Floor model baffle in walnut. Front in halved and matched
figured walnut.
Date:
1949
Price:
£28 12s 9d plus Purchase Tax
80
A122M
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
A122M Table Model Baffle 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for
use with
AC mains. Three wavebands – Long, Medium & Short.
Cabinet: Square treatment of cabinet, scale and speaker opening gives
a more massive appearance than its predecessors. Main panel
is veneered in African rosewood, Ends and top in walnut.
Speaker fabric is gold.
Date:
1949
Price:
£22 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax
81
V134/6C
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
V134C and V136C AC Console Model Television. Picture size
7½” × 6”. The V134C was intended for reception only within
12-15 miles of Alexandra Palace, the V136C had a greater range.
Cabinet: In attractive walnut veneer, straight grained for the body of the
cabinet, with figured top, doors and speaker apron. Legs of dark
walnut fitted with Domes of Silence. Edges of speaker and screen
openings and door edges are cross-banded in veneer, not painted.
Minn’s original curved leg design (inset) was replaced by straight
legs in the production model.
Date:
1948
Price:
V134C £67 16s 8d including £12 16s 8d Purchase Tax
V136C £70 12s 2d including £13 7s 2d Purchase Tax
82
V176C
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
V176C AC Console Model Television. Picture size 12½” × 10”.
Cabinet: The cabinet is of an exceptionally attractive walnut finish. It is
fitted with doors. The instrument panel matches the main cabinet,
also being of walnut. Felt lining of the interior prevents distracting
reflections.
Date:
1950
Price:
£128 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax
This model was announced in the October 1949 edition of the
‘Murphy News’ but wasn’t available until April of the following
year.
83
V180C
Designer: Eden Minns
Model:
V180C AC Console Model Television. 12” tube. A successor to
the V120C (not shown in this guide).
Cabinet: An emphasis on vertical lines is made by pillars which curve out
from the side panels for a wider front aspect, and easier adjustment
of the set position with one hand. The top, shaped at the front, is in
figured medium-tone walnut, edged by darker bands running around
the sides and back. Walnut instrument panel with crossbanded
veneer edge. The controls (brown bakelite with gold rings) have a
broad fluting that is pleasant to handle. Gold striped rayon speaker
silk. Fitted with large castors.
Date:
1950
Price:
£75 0s 0d including Purchase Tax
84
AFTERWORD
Although we were unable to track down photographs of every set
produced from 1930-1950, I hope that this book will be a useful
reference for Murphy and design enthusiasts everywhere. Should
more images be found they may be added to later editions of this
electronic book.
1950 sees the end of this unique period in the design history of one
company. However, Murphy Radio continued this tradition of high
quality design in production of audio and television into the 1970s.
J.A.R. September 2007
85
Murphy Radio stand at Olympia 1939*
* date determined from models and prices on display