Kolster Brandes
Have you ever wondered what people listened to before smartphones and streaming music? Long before the internet, families gathered around large, beautiful wooden boxes in their living rooms. These boxes were radios, and they brought news, music, and stories right into the home. One of the most famous makers of these magical machines was Kolster Brandes.
If you love history, vintage gadgets, or clever design, you are in for a treat. This article will take you on a fun journey back in time. We will explore how a small company that made headphones grew into a giant in the electronics world. You will learn about their coolest inventions, their secret deals, and why people still love their products today.
Let’s turn the dial, tune in, and discover the amazing story behind these classic machines. Get ready to explore a world where technology looked just as good as it sounded!
What Exactly Was This Famous Company?
To put it simply, Kolster Brandes was a major British manufacturer of electronics. They were most famous for making radios, televisions, and record players. Based in a town called Sidcup in Kent, England, they built products that sat proudly in millions of living rooms.
The company did not just make plain electronic boxes. They cared deeply about style. Their radios and televisions were designed to look like fine furniture. They used rich woods, shiny metals, and colorful plastics to make their products stand out.
From the 1920s all the way into the 1970s, they were a household name. If your grandparents or great-grandparents grew up in the United Kingdom, there is a very good chance they listened to the news or watched their favorite shows on one of these beautiful sets.
The Early Days: How It All Began
Every big company has to start somewhere. The story actually begins far away from England, in Toronto, Canada. In 1908, a company named Brandes was born. At first, they did not make radios. Instead, they made headphones.
By 1924, the business was doing so well that they opened a new branch in Slough, England, called Brandes Ltd. They started out by making radio accessories. People loved their loud speakers and comfortable headphones. The business grew very fast.
In 1928, they needed more space to build their popular products. So, they moved into a huge old silk mill in a place called Foots Cray, Kent. This massive factory became their home for decades. It was the perfect place to start building bigger and better machines.
The Big Merger of 1930
A major change happened in 1930. The American parent company decided to join forces with another business called the Kolster Radio Corporation. When these two teams combined, they changed the British company’s name to Kolster Brandes.
This teamwork brought new ideas and new money into the business. They stopped just making headphones and speakers. Now, they were ready to build complete radio sets. They wanted to make radios that were easy to use and affordable for everyday families.
The factory at Foots Cray was soon buzzing with activity. Hundreds of workers were hired to put together the tiny wires, glass tubes, and beautiful cases. The new company was officially on its way to becoming an electronics giant.
A Special Deal With Godfrey Phillips
In 1930, the company came up with a very clever way to get their radios into homes. They made a special deal with a famous tobacco company named Godfrey Phillips. They built a brand-new radio model called the “Masterpiece.”
Here is how the deal worked: People who bought Godfrey Phillips products could collect special coupons. If they saved up enough coupons, they could trade them in for a free Masterpiece radio! The company supplied 40,000 of these radios for this fun promotion.
This was a brilliant idea. Suddenly, thousands of families had a brand-new radio in their home, even if they could not afford to buy one in a store. It made the brand famous almost overnight and helped them win the hearts of the public.
The Beauty of Bakelite Cabinets
When you look at early vintage radios, you might notice they are made of a heavy, shiny material. This material is called Bakelite. It was one of the very first plastics ever invented.
Kolster Brandes loved using Bakelite. Why? Because it could be poured into molds to create wonderful, smooth shapes. Wood had to be carved and glued, but Bakelite could be easily formed into curves, waves, and beautiful patterns.
These Bakelite cases came in rich colors, mostly dark brown or glossy black. They looked so elegant that people loved showing them off in their parlors. Today, these shiny Bakelite cases are exactly what makes vintage radios look so charming and historic.
Sailing The Seas With Cunard
As the company grew, they started looking for new adventures. They soon won a huge contract with the famous Cunard Line. Cunard owned some of the most luxurious ocean liners in the world, including the famous RMS Queen Mary.
The company was chosen to install special communications equipment on these giant ships. Because of this proud partnership, they started naming their home products after royalty and famous ships.
If you bought a television from them later on, it might have been called the “Queen,” the “Majestic,” or the “Royal Star.” This gave their products a feeling of luxury and class. Everyone wanted a piece of high-seas glamour in their own living room!
The Impact of World War II
Like many factories during the 1940s, the plant at Foots Cray had to change its focus when World War II began. Instead of making radios for living rooms, the workers had to help the country.
During the war, factories stopped making luxury items. The skills of the workers were needed to build vital communication tools for the military. They built tough, reliable equipment that could survive harsh conditions.
When the war finally ended in 1945, people were more than ready for entertainment again. The company quickly switched back to making family radios. Because of the skills they learned during the war, their new products were stronger and better than ever before.
The Famous “Toaster” Radio
In 1950, Kolster Brandes released what might be their most famous product ever: the FB10 radio. People lovingly called it the “Toaster” or the “Magic Midget.”
Why did they call it a toaster? Because it was shaped exactly like one! It was a tiny, molded Bakelite radio that stood up tall and thin. The control knobs were placed at the bottom corners, making them look like little feet. It was only about 10 inches wide, which meant it could fit anywhere.
The Toaster radio was a huge hit. It was so popular that it became the very first British radio to sell over one million units. Today, the FB10 is seen as a wonderful piece of 1950s design.
Moving Into Television
As the 1950s rolled in, a new kind of magic captured the world’s attention: television! Families no longer just wanted to listen to stories; they wanted to see them.
The company was ready for this exciting change. They started building huge, heavy television sets covered in beautiful wood. One of their most popular early models was a tabletop TV called the “Queen.” It was one of the first televisions that normal families could actually afford to buy.
Watching TV back then was very different. The screens were small, the picture was black and white, and there were only one or two channels. But families loved it. The company’s televisions were built so well that some of them are still displayed in museums today.
Record Players and Radiograms
Music lovers needed more than just the radio; they wanted to choose their own songs. This led the company to make a fantastic line of record players and “radiograms.”
A radiogram was a giant piece of wooden furniture that had a radio and a record player hidden inside. They were huge and sounded amazing. The company also made smaller, fun record players with catchy names like the Playtime, Gaytime, Dancetime, and Tunetime.
These smaller record players were perfect for teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s. They could take them to parties and spin their favorite rock and roll records all night long.
Expanding The Family: The 1960s
By the time the 1960s arrived, the company was larger than life. They were making so much money that they started buying other electronics companies.
Between 1960 and 1961, they took over several other familiar brands, including Ace, Argosy, Regentone, and RGD. By bringing all these brands together under one roof, they became a true powerhouse in the United Kingdom.
This meant that even if you bought a radio with the name “Regentone” on it, it was actually built by the talented workers at the Foots Cray factory. They controlled a huge portion of the electronics market during this exciting decade.
The Shift to ITT
Nothing lasts forever, and company names often change as businesses grow globally. Since 1938, Kolster Brandes had actually been owned by a massive global company called ITT (International Telephone and Telegraph).
For a long time, ITT let the British company keep its famous name because people trusted it. But in 1968, ITT wanted to show the world how big they were. They changed the logo on the front of the radios to say “ITT KB.”
This name change happened slowly. Finally, by 1974, they dropped the “KB” letters completely. The glorious era of the original brand name came to an end. The new products simply said “ITT,” but the history of the original company was never forgotten.
Why Collectors Love the Brand Today
Today, you cannot walk into a store and buy a brand-new radio from this company. However, there is a massive group of collectors who spend their time hunting for these vintage treasures.
Why do people love them so much? First, it is the design. A modern plastic speaker just does not look as cool as a shiny 1950s Bakelite “Toaster” radio. Second, it is the magic of history. Turning on a glowing, humming vintage radio feels like stepping into a time machine.
Many people enjoy fixing up these old machines. When they find a broken radio, they carefully clean the case, fix the wires, and get it working again. It is a wonderful hobby that keeps the history alive.
Preserving History: Caring for Vintage Radios
If you are lucky enough to find one of these classic radios, you need to know how to take care of it. These machines are over 70 years old, so they need gentle handling.
First, never plug in a vintage radio that you just found in a dusty attic. The old wires can be dangerous. It is always best to have an expert check the inside parts first.
To keep the outside looking beautiful, simply wipe the Bakelite or wood gently with a soft, dry cloth. Keep the radio out of direct sunlight so the colors do not fade. With a little bit of love and care, these historic machines can last for another hundred years!
Summary Profiles: Key Facts at a Glance
If you want a quick overview of the history of Kolster Brandes, here is a simple table that highlights the most important facts.
| Feature | Details |
| Origin Name | Brandes (Started in Toronto, 1908) |
| Famous Merger | Merged with Kolster Radio Corp in 1930 |
| Headquarters | Foots Cray, Sidcup, Kent (United Kingdom) |
| Most Famous Radio | The FB10 “Toaster” Radio (1950) |
| Key Products | Radios, Televisions, Record Players, Radiograms |
| Special Partnership | Built equipment for RMS Queen Mary (Cunard Line) |
| Final Name Change | Became ITT in the 1970s |
Exploring The Digital Archive
Even though the company stopped making products decades ago, you can still find out a lot about them online. Museums and fans work hard to share photos and stories.
Here are some of the best places you might look if you want to see these amazing machines for yourself:
| Online Location | What You Will Find |
| Science Museum Group | Photos of original 1930s radios and historical records. |
| Early Television Museum | Details and pictures of their heavy, wooden pre-war TVs. |
| Vintage Radio Forums | Fans and fixers talking about how to repair old models. |
| YouTube | Videos of people restoring and playing the FB10 “Toaster”. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Kolster Brandes still making televisions today?
No, the company no longer exists under that name. The name was slowly changed to ITT in the early 1970s. Today, you can only find their original products in museums, antique shops, or with private collectors.
2. What does the FB10 radio look like?
The FB10, often called the “Toaster” radio, is a small, upright radio made of shiny Bakelite plastic. It looks very much like a 1950s kitchen toaster! It usually comes in cream, brown, or brightly painted colors and has tiny knobs at the bottom.
3. Why did they name their TVs after ships?
The company won a very important contract in the 1930s to put radios and equipment on the luxury ships of the Cunard Line, like the RMS Queen Mary. To celebrate this honor, they gave their home televisions royal, ship-themed names.
4. Are vintage radios dangerous to plug in?
Yes, they can be! If a radio has been sitting unused for many years, the inside wires and parts might be broken or unsafe. You should always have a qualified person check and fix an old radio before you plug it into the wall.
5. How did people get the “Masterpiece” radio for free?
In 1930, the company teamed up with a tobacco business called Godfrey Phillips. Customers collected special coupons when they bought products. If they saved enough coupons, they could trade them for a free Masterpiece radio!
6. What is a radiogram?
A radiogram is a large piece of living room furniture that combines a radio receiver and a record player (gramophone) into one big wooden cabinet. They were very popular before modern stereo systems were invented.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The story of Kolster Brandes is a brilliant reminder of how far technology has come. From simple headphones to clever cigarette coupon deals, and from beautiful Bakelite “toasters” to heavy wooden televisions, this company truly shaped the way families enjoyed entertainment.
They did not just build electronics; they built beautiful pieces of history that brought people together. Even today, collectors smile when they turn the dials on these glowing, humming machines.
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