495:
579:
446:, and the availability of a second channel introduced the need for tuners. Pye's VT4 tunable television was launched in March 1954 and was followed by the V14. The V14 proved to be technically unreliable and so tarnished the Pye name that many dealers transferred their allegiance to other manufacturers. This failure so damaged corporate confidence that Pye avoided being first-to-market thereafter, although they developed the first British
996:
45:
454:
982:
149:
390:
570:
colour test signals began in 1966 and scheduled transmissions commenced on BBC2 on 1 July 1967, with a full colour service beginning on that channel on 2 December 1967. BBC1 and ITV followed suit on 15 November 1969. Colour broadcasting added further to the cost and complexity of producing television
563:
until 1969, when they began UHF broadcasting. During this transition, television receivers in the UK had to handle both the VHF and UHF wavebands, which added to the cost of producing the sets. The price of a dual-standard set, combined with the limited coverage of BBC2, meant that initial sales of
474:
vans. These cameras were the first generation of outside broadcast cameras to feature a zoom lens, rather than a turret system. These three-tubed cameras were known for their reliability but were so heavy and unwieldy that they required a stretcher to carry them around the OB site. The Pye PC60 was
517:
The company, like most of its domestic competitors, attempted to restore demand with price competition and, where viable production exceeded demand, sold excess stock at loss-making clearance prices. By 1966 Pye was in such difficulties that they started to reduce their manufacturing capacity with
509:
Not wishing to risk further damage to their fragile brand, Pye first used transistors in a product sold as a subsidiary brand: the Pam 710 radio (1956), with the transistors themselves labelled
Newmarket Transistors (another subsidiary). When this proved acceptable the company launched the Pye 123
397:
In
February 1944, Pye formed a subsidiary called Pye Telecommunications Ltd, which it intended would design and produce radio communications equipment when the war ended. This company grew to become the leading UK producer of mobile radio equipment for commercial, business, industrial, police and
482:
The ITV companies purchased the Pye Mk3s, and to a lesser extent the Mk4s and Mk7s. Pye TVT never produced a colour broadcast television camera, but there was an abortive colour telecine camera; few if any were sold. The reason for this was probably the financial difficulties the company was in.
594:
launched UK colour televisions that cost less than £200. Domestic manufacturers attempted to compete, but were handicapped by outdated manufacturing techniques and an inflexible workforce. Pye found themselves with high stocks and low cash flow at a time of poor industrial relations, a
510:
radio (1957, still with the
Newmarket label on the novel internal components). Products such as these reversed the decline but the arrival of Japanese competition reduced demand to a level that threatened the viability of the manufacturing plants. In 1960, Pye merged with its rival
461:
Pye TVT Ltd was formed to produce broadcast television equipment, including cameras, which were popular with
British broadcasters including the BBC as well as achieving international sales. The early cameras were called "Photicon" and the later models by their
282:
in 1922. Instruments continued to be designed and manufactured under W G Pye Ltd, later situated in York Street
Cambridge, while a separate company was started to build wireless components in a factory to become known as Cambridge Works at Church Path,
319:
When the BBC started to explore television broadcasting, Pye found that the closest of their East
Anglian offices was 25 miles outside the estimated effective 25-mile radius of the
1076:
278:. The manufacture of such components afforded the company the technical knowledge needed to develop the first wireless receiver when the first UK broadcasts were made by the
650:'s rule responsible for killing perhaps several hundred thousand Ugandans. Pye had been supplying Uganda through Wilken Telecommunications, its East Africa distributor.
1019:
622:, the equipment would operate through early video recorders, machines with larger channel capability. The Chelsea range were popular with TV rental companies such as
571:
sets. The resulting high price and low coverage areas of the new technology delayed consumer adoption further: it wasn't until 1977 that the number of colour
1106:
419:
After the war, Pye's B16T nine-inch table television was designed around the 12-year-old EF50 valve. It was soon superseded by the B18T, which used an extra
1086:
643:
630:
and
Wigfalls. Maintenance of these sets continued well into the 1980s, with the northern rental chain Wigfalls being the last to withdraw them in 1988.
599:
and limited scope for reducing costs. The Pye group of companies was bought outright by
Philips in 1976. The Lowestoft factory was subsequently sold to
270:
in 1914, the company employed 40 people manufacturing instruments used for teaching and research. The war increased demand for such instruments and the
1081:
292:
479:
on BBC outside broadcasts but, during its lifespan, it was used on numerous high-profile productions including
Wimbledon tennis and Open golf.
308:, designed a new series of receivers which proved even more saleable. In 1928 William Pye sold the company, now renamed Pye Radio Limited, to
913:
62:
109:
81:
1101:
88:
1091:
331:(£22.05) and within two years the company had sold 2,000 sets at an average price of £34 (equivalent to £2,663 in 2023).
610:
Prior to the manufacturing offshoring, the company produced a range of televisions branded 'Pye
Chelsea'. The range were
95:
128:
470:
camera, known as the PC60, was the last version supplied to BBC Outside Broadcasts in 1963 for a new fleet of eight
77:
439:
410:
series of VHF radio transceivers. The company also produced the PF8 UHF hand-held radios featured in episodes of
305:
660:
In 2022, it appears that the Pye brand and symbol has been purchased by broadcast audio manufacturer Alice Ltd.
494:
343:
327:
receiver that could pick up these transmissions. In 1937, a five-inch Pye television receiver was priced at 21
66:
639:
in relation to the sale of UHF and VHF radios as well as telephone intercept equipment which was used by the
412:
1111:
677:
514:
to form British Electronic Industries Ltd, with C. O. Stanley as Chairman and E. K. Cole as Vice-Chairman.
279:
962:
618:'feet' and sported three large channel selectors. Whilst unsuitable for the reception of the forthcoming
442:(ITA) started public transmissions in the same year, so Pye produced new televisions that could receive
1051:
657:) during the 1970s, and in the late 1980s with televisions. The brand later appeared on DVD recorders.
557:
323:
transmitter. Stanley was fascinated by the new technology and on his instructions the company built a
102:
739:
1010:
Discussion and demonstration of the Pye PC60 camera by former BBC Outside Broadcast camera operator
17:
1045:
55:
466:: 2, 3, etc. The Mk7/8 solid-state monochrome cameras were the last to be produced. The Pye Mk6
359:
301:
944:
250:
of the Netherlands acquired a majority shareholding in 1967, and later gained full ownership.
499:
362:(IF) section of the equipment. Pye went on to design and manufacture radio equipment for the
328:
284:
888:
263:
31:
787:
8:
467:
427:
developed by German companies before the war to produce the high voltage required by the
379:
375:
371:
367:
309:
1001:
706:
463:
259:
215:
538:
so he permitted the transfer of only a 60% shareholding, with an undertaking that the
503:
471:
324:
863:
266:
workshop, as a part-time business making scientific instruments. By the outbreak of
1096:
987:
769:
443:
428:
420:
389:
320:
275:
1056:
712:
635:
615:
519:
297:
525:
Philips attempted to buy out the ailing Pye in 1966. The Minister of Technology
242:, England, as a manufacturer of scientific instruments. The company merged with
717:
713:"The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)"
383:
222:
1029:
812:
1070:
773:
653:
The Pye brand enjoyed a short-lived renaissance in audio equipment (known as
623:
591:
578:
312:, who established a chain of small component-manufacturing factories across
837:
654:
363:
351:
1040:
1014:
1009:
435:
424:
313:
290:
A series of receivers made at Church Path were given positive reviews by
267:
159:
572:
447:
382:
and 68. Pye was also responsible for the early development work on the
271:
207:
1039:
Photographs of a demo of Pye TV in Mons (Belgium) in 1947 can be seen
549:
was launched, broadcasting entirely on the new television standard of
1061:
627:
619:
604:
596:
550:
539:
526:
239:
197:
169:
354:, the Pye receiver using EF50 valves became a key component of many
44:
995:
647:
535:
531:
476:
347:
30:
This article is about the electronics company. For other uses, see
453:
339:
247:
227:
640:
1034:
600:
355:
211:
434:
In 1955, the company diversified into music production with
258:
W. G. Pye & Co. Ltd was founded in 1896 in Cambridge by
611:
587:
546:
511:
486:
In 1960, Pye acquired the Telephone Manufacturing Company.
335:
243:
148:
1015:
Discussion and comparison of Pye PC60 and EMI 2001 cameras
342:
enabled Pye to build this high-gain receiver, which was a
567:
560:
553:
393:
Demo of television in Mons (Belgium) on 16 September 1947
1057:
The Museum of the Broadcast Television Camera, Pye pages
603:
and Philips moved the manufacture of Pye televisions to
914:"Pye Bid For World Leadership In Mobile Communications"
633:
In 1979 Pye were implicated in an episode of Granada's
1077:
Defunct manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom
977:
764:
John, Ellis; Nick, Hall (9 November 2017). "ADAPT".
542:factory would continue to manufacture televisions.
398:government purposes. Popular products included the
69:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
813:"History of Telephone Rentals (including TMC Ltd)"
931:World in Action: Inside Idi Amin's Terror Machine
1068:
740:"Radio Communications and Broadcasting Division"
529:determined that a complete sale would create a
685:Department of Physics, University of Cambridge
238:was an electronics company founded in 1896 in
678:"A Brief History of the Cavendish Laboratory"
1107:Electronics companies disestablished in 1988
1046:The Pye 1005 'Achiphon' stereo record player
1087:Electronics companies of the United Kingdom
942:
792:Grace's Guide to British Industrial History
699:
575:sold outnumbered those of black and white.
1082:Electronics companies established in 1896
951:. Reed Business Information. p. 796.
709:inflation figures are based on data from
129:Learn how and when to remove this message
963:"PYE 4061S Stereo Compression Amplifier"
763:
577:
493:
452:
388:
14:
1069:
945:"Electronic Company's Ugandan Affairs"
710:
67:adding citations to reliable sources
38:
556:, but BBC1 and ITV would remain in
489:
358:receivers, forming the 45 MHz
24:
973:
906:
861:
25:
1123:
457:Pye television camera and monitor
994:
980:
440:Independent Television Authority
147:
43:
955:
936:
924:
518:closure of the EKCO factory in
253:
54:needs additional citations for
1102:1896 establishments in England
1052:Pye Story – Waihi, New Zealand
933:, first broadcast 13 June 1979
881:
855:
830:
805:
780:
757:
732:
670:
564:dual-standard sets were slow.
502:Pye factory site, viewed from
300:, the son of the founder, and
78:"Pye" electronics company
13:
1:
663:
1092:Companies based in Cambridge
788:"Telephone Manufacturing Co"
306:St John's College, Cambridge
280:British Broadcasting Company
216:Telecommunications equipment
7:
1048:held at the British Library
943:Ed Harriman (7 June 1979).
582:Pye CT205 colour television
498:"D" building at the former
475:eventually replaced by the
350:type. With the outbreak of
344:tuned radio frequency (TRF)
27:English electronics company
10:
1128:
386:for anti-aircraft shells.
366:, including Wireless Sets
29:
221:
203:
192:
184:
176:
165:
155:
146:
889:"Full Company Directory"
774:10.17637/rh.c.3925603.v1
262:, superintendent of the
711:Clark, Gregory (2017).
646:, the secret police of
142:W. G. Pye & Co. Ltd
583:
506:
458:
394:
360:Intermediate Amplifier
304:, his former tutor at
1026:Retrieved 15 May 2005
817:britishtelephones.com
581:
497:
456:
392:
586:In the early 1970s,
274:needed experimental
264:Cavendish Laboratory
63:improve this article
1112:Radio manufacturers
1030:Pye Telecom History
1022:East Anglia Network
868:www.radiomuseum.org
842:www.pamphonic.co.uk
416:television series.
296:magazine. In 1924,
143:
1002:Electronics portal
918:Electronics Weekly
707:Retail Price Index
644:Public Safety Unit
597:low-growth economy
584:
545:On 20 April 1964,
507:
459:
395:
141:
472:outside broadcast
413:The Professionals
276:thermionic valves
233:
232:
139:
138:
131:
113:
16:(Redirected from
1119:
1035:G8EPR Pye Museum
1004:
999:
998:
990:
988:Companies portal
985:
984:
983:
967:
966:
959:
953:
952:
940:
934:
928:
922:
921:
910:
904:
903:
901:
899:
885:
879:
878:
876:
874:
862:Craven, Howard.
859:
853:
852:
850:
848:
834:
828:
827:
825:
823:
809:
803:
802:
800:
798:
784:
778:
777:
761:
755:
754:
752:
750:
736:
730:
729:
727:
725:
703:
697:
696:
694:
692:
682:
674:
490:Decline and sale
429:cathode ray tube
321:Alexandra Palace
293:Popular Wireless
151:
144:
140:
134:
127:
123:
120:
114:
112:
71:
47:
39:
21:
1127:
1126:
1122:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1117:
1116:
1067:
1066:
1000:
993:
986:
981:
979:
976:
974:Further reading
971:
970:
961:
960:
956:
941:
937:
929:
925:
920:. 25 June 1969.
912:
911:
907:
897:
895:
887:
886:
882:
872:
870:
860:
856:
846:
844:
836:
835:
831:
821:
819:
811:
810:
806:
796:
794:
786:
785:
781:
762:
758:
748:
746:
738:
737:
733:
723:
721:
704:
700:
690:
688:
687:. February 2013
680:
676:
675:
671:
666:
636:World in Action
616:stainless steel
520:Southend-on-Sea
492:
346:type and not a
302:Edward Appleton
256:
214:
210:
135:
124:
118:
115:
72:
70:
60:
48:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1125:
1115:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1065:
1064:
1062:The Pye Museum
1059:
1054:
1049:
1043:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1017:
1012:
1006:
1005:
991:
975:
972:
969:
968:
954:
935:
923:
905:
893:The Pye Museum
880:
864:"P123BQ Radio"
854:
829:
804:
779:
756:
744:The Pye Museum
731:
718:MeasuringWorth
698:
668:
667:
665:
662:
504:Logan's Meadow
491:
488:
468:image orthicon
384:proximity fuze
255:
252:
231:
230:
225:
219:
218:
205:
201:
200:
194:
190:
189:
186:
182:
181:
178:
174:
173:
167:
163:
162:
157:
153:
152:
137:
136:
51:
49:
42:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1124:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1074:
1072:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1007:
1003:
997:
992:
989:
978:
964:
958:
950:
949:New Scientist
946:
939:
932:
927:
919:
915:
909:
894:
890:
884:
869:
865:
858:
843:
839:
833:
818:
814:
808:
793:
789:
783:
775:
771:
767:
760:
745:
741:
735:
720:
719:
714:
708:
702:
686:
679:
673:
669:
661:
658:
656:
655:music centres
651:
649:
645:
642:
638:
637:
631:
629:
625:
624:Radio Rentals
621:
617:
613:
608:
606:
602:
598:
593:
589:
580:
576:
574:
569:
565:
562:
559:
555:
552:
548:
543:
541:
537:
534:
533:
528:
523:
521:
515:
513:
505:
501:
496:
487:
484:
480:
478:
473:
469:
465:
455:
451:
449:
445:
441:
437:
432:
430:
426:
422:
417:
415:
414:
409:
405:
401:
391:
387:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
332:
330:
326:
322:
317:
315:
311:
310:C. O. Stanley
307:
303:
299:
295:
294:
288:
286:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
251:
249:
245:
241:
237:
229:
226:
224:
220:
217:
213:
209:
206:
202:
199:
196:York Street,
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
168:
164:
161:
158:
154:
150:
145:
133:
130:
122:
119:December 2007
111:
108:
104:
101:
97:
94:
90:
87:
83:
80: –
79:
75:
74:Find sources:
68:
64:
58:
57:
52:This article
50:
46:
41:
40:
37:
33:
19:
1021:
957:
948:
938:
930:
926:
917:
908:
896:. Retrieved
892:
883:
871:. Retrieved
867:
857:
845:. Retrieved
841:
832:
820:. Retrieved
816:
807:
795:. Retrieved
791:
782:
765:
759:
747:. Retrieved
743:
734:
722:. Retrieved
716:
701:
689:. Retrieved
684:
672:
659:
652:
634:
632:
609:
585:
566:
544:
530:
524:
516:
508:
485:
481:
460:
433:
421:high tension
418:
411:
407:
403:
399:
396:
364:British Army
352:World War II
333:
318:
291:
289:
257:
254:Early growth
235:
234:
193:Headquarters
188:Discontinued
125:
116:
106:
99:
92:
85:
73:
61:Please help
56:verification
53:
36:
614:-clad with
436:Pye Records
425:transformer
408:Westminster
338:valve from
314:East Anglia
268:World War I
260:William Pye
208:Televisions
160:Electronics
1071:Categories
664:References
500:Chesterton
448:transistor
298:Harold Pye
285:Chesterton
272:War Office
89:newspapers
628:Rumbelows
620:Channel 4
605:Singapore
540:Lowestoft
527:Tony Benn
464:Mk number
450:in 1956.
404:Cambridge
325:high gain
246:in 1960.
240:Cambridge
198:Cambridge
170:Cambridge
898:3 August
873:3 August
847:3 August
766:Figshare
648:Idi Amin
573:licences
558:405-line
551:625-line
536:monopoly
532:de facto
477:EMI 2001
400:Reporter
348:superhet
334:The new
204:Products
156:Industry
18:Pye Ltd.
1097:Philips
1020:'Pye',
822:1 April
797:1 April
749:1 April
691:1 April
641:Ugandan
592:Hitachi
340:Philips
329:guineas
248:Philips
236:Pye Ltd
228:Philips
177:Defunct
166:Founded
103:scholar
1024:(1997)
438:. The
423:(EHT)
406:, and
378:, 22,
368:No. 10
223:Parent
212:Radios
172:, 1896
105:
98:
91:
84:
76:
838:"710"
724:7 May
681:(PDF)
601:Sanyo
356:radar
110:JSTOR
96:books
1041:here
900:2018
875:2018
849:2018
824:2018
799:2018
751:2018
726:2024
693:2018
612:teak
590:and
588:Sony
547:BBC2
512:EKCO
336:EF50
244:EKCO
185:Fate
180:1988
82:news
770:doi
705:UK
568:PAL
561:VHF
554:UHF
444:ITV
65:by
32:Pye
1073::
947:.
916:.
891:.
866:.
840:.
815:.
790:.
768:.
742:.
715:.
683:.
626:,
607:.
522:.
431:.
402:,
380:62
376:19
374:,
372:18
370:,
316:.
287:.
965:.
902:.
877:.
851:.
826:.
801:.
776:.
772::
753:.
728:.
695:.
132:)
126:(
121:)
117:(
107:·
100:·
93:·
86:·
59:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
