The Best of MurpCabinet Design1930 to 1950

compiled byJames Reeve

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FOREWORD

As a school leaver aged 15, I began work in November 1940 atMurphy Radio as a trainee in the design office in Bridge Road,Welwyn Garden City. During the war I worked on receivers andother electronic equipment for the military. In 1950, I began workingfor Eden Minns, designing for the new post-war products. Icontinued to work in cabinet and graphic design for Murphy until1970, although in 1962 the company had been taken over by Rank-Bush.

This catalogue is a tribute to the design work for Murphy by R. D.Russell and Eden Minns from 1930 to 1950. During this uniqueperiod they brought together an integration of high quality furnituredesign and craft techniques with as near mass–production as waspossible at the time.

The majority of the images of the sets are taken from contemporaryphotographic glass plates which were rescued from a pile of scrapdiscarded by the firm in 1962. The text and other images (for whichwe had no plates) are derived from a combination of contemporaryMurphy sales literature and Murphy News articles plus two modernimages of surviving sets.

I would like to thank Derek Dewey-Leader for scanning the glassplates and my son Nigel Reeve for producing this electroniccatalogue. Thanks also to the staff of Mill Green Museum whoallowed us access to their Murphy collection and David Grant whokindly contributed several images, a good deal of additionalinformation and very helpful peer review during the project.

© James ReeveSeptember 2007

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EDEN MINNS F.S.I.A.: Head of Cabinet DesignDepartment. Trained as an architect, he subsequentlyjoined the famous furniture firm of Gordon Russell Ltdof Broadway, Worcestershire, with whom he wasengaged on furniture designing. From 1936 to 1939 hewas designing Murphy cabinets for R. D. Russell inLondon. His first Murphy design was the B33. He wasresponsible for such outstanding cabinets as the A40C,A40RG, A42V, and others. Later he came to MurphyRadio and designed many of the early war-periodcabinets. War service in the Fleet Air Arm and inaircraft carriers. Returned to Murphy radio on the lastday of 1945, and quickly added to his alreadyconsiderable reputation in the field of of industrialdesign by the evolution of cabinets of such widelydiffering styles as the A122, the A122 Console, andthe TA126 export set.His interest in architecture still remains. His interest inradio is mainly in the part it plays as furniture. Age 42.Married: one child. Lives in a flat in Kensington.

Biographies and photographs from Murphy News February 1948

R. D. RUSSELL, R.D.I., F.S.I.A.: Outside consultant onCabinet Design. Is younger brother of Gordon Russell,founder of the furntiure concern of Broadway,Worcestershire. He began designing Murphy cabinets aslong ago as 1931, his first being the famous A3. EarlyMurphy cabinets were designed a t Broadway but as therange expanded an office was opened in London to handlethe increased amount of work, and R.D.R was on the staff ofMurphy Radio until 1939. Like Eden Minns, he saw warservice in the Navy. Afterwards he resumed active designwork for Murphy Radio in capacity of outside consultant. Hehas been responsible for the two post-war televisionreceivers, the V114 and V116, and the innovationsintroduced by the latter were described in an article by himin THE NEWS of April last year. Age: 44. Married: threechildren. Lives in a country house at Earls Colne in Essex,and has an office in central London.

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A3The first Murphy mains powered radio.

Designer: R. D. RussellModel: 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: 1931Price: £19 19s 0d reduced to £17 17s 0d in 1932Note: In 1932, the cabinet was enlarged to accommodate the A3A

chassis. This cabinet was manufactured from walnut veneeredplywood – this was the first use of this material in a massproduced radio in Britain. Price: £17 17s 0d reduced to £13 10s0d in November.

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B4Designer: Ercolani, cabinet manufacturer. Feet and loudspeaker

fretwork modified by R. D. RussellModel: B4 4 Valve Battery portable ‘Straight’ receiver.

Two wavebands – Long & Medium.Date: 1932Price: £15 15s 0d reduced in November to £12 10s 0d.

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A8The first Murphy superhet receiver.

Designer: R.D.RussellModel: 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: 1932Price: £31 10s 0d. In November 1932 the price was reduced to £24

0s 0d simply by omitting the matching stand.

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A4Designer: R. D. RussellModel : A4 AC Superhet Table Set

D4 DC Superhet Table setB5 Battery Superhet Table Set

Date: 1933Price: £14 10s 0d

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A24Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A24 AC Superhet Table Set

D24 DC Superhet Table setB24 Battery Superhet Table Set

Date: 1934Price: £14 10s 0d

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A24CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A24 AC Superhet Console

D24 DC Superhet ConsoleDate: 1934Price: £17 0s 0d

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Designer: R.Model: A2

D2Date: 19Prices: A2

A2

A24RG and A26RGThe first ‘Murphy’radiogram.

D. Russell4RG & A26RG AC Superhet Radiogram4RG & D26RG DC Superhet Radiogram34 (A26RG, 1935)4RG £24 0s 0d, D24RG £25 0s 0d.,

6RG £24 0s 0d, D26RG £25 15s 0d.

DesigMode

DatePrice

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A26ner: R. D. Russelll: A26 AC Superhet Table Set

D26 DC/AC Superhet Table setB25 Battery Superhet Table Set

: 1935s: A26 £11 0s 0d, D26 £11 5s 0d, B25 £13 0s 0d

DM

DP

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A26Cesigner: R. D. Russellodel: A26C AC Superhet Console

D26C DC/AC Superhet Consoleate: 1935rice: A26C £14 15s 0d , D26C £15 0s 0d

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A28CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A28C AC and D28C DC, Superhet Console

with automatic tuning correction.Date: 1935Price: £21 15s 0d

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A28RGDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A28RG AC and D28RG DC, Superhet Radiogram with

automatic tuning correctionDate: 1935Prices: A28RG £33 10s 0d, D28RG £34 10s 0d

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B23Designer: R. D. RussellModel: B23 Straight Battery Table SetDate: 1936Price: £6 7s 6d

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B27Designer: R. D. RussellModel : B27 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1936Price: £9 17s 6d

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A30Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A30 AC Superhet Table Set

D30 DC Superhet Table SetCabinet: In matt finished walnut with a band of zebrano across

the frontDate: 1936Prices: A30 £9 17s 6d, D30 £10 2s 6d,

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A30CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A30C AC Superhet Console

D30C DC Superhet ConsoleDate: 1936Prices: A30C £13 10s 0d, D30C £13 15s 0d,

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A30RGDesigner: R. D. RussellModel : A30RG AC Superhet Radiogram

D30RG DC Superhet RadiogramDate: 1936Prices: A30RG £24 0s 0d, D30RG £24 0s 0d,

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B31Designer: R. D. RussellModel: B31 Straight Battery table SetCabinet: Polished walnut with polished black sidesDate: 1937Price: £6 10s 0d

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B33Designer: Eden MinnsModel: B33 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1937Price: £10 15s 0d

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AD32Designer: R. D. RussellModel: AD32 AC/DC Superhet table SetDate: 1937Price: £8 5s 0d

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A34Designer: Eden MinnsModel: A34 AC Superhet table Set

D34 DC/AC Superhet Table SetDate: 1937Price: £11 10s 0d

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A36Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A36 Special S.W. performance AC Superhet Table Set

D36 Special S.W. performance DC/AC Superhet Table SetDate: 1937Price: £15 10s 0d

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A38CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A38C AC and D38C DC/AC Superhet Console with

special quality reproductionCabinet: Polished figured walnut and straight-grained elmDate: 1937Price: £17 10s 0d

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A42VDesigner: Eden MinnsModel : A42V AC Televisionreceiver. The first Murphytelevision. A luxury product.A reversed screen image wasviewed via a mirror in the lid.Picture size 9in x 7 inCabinet: Bombay rosewood &impregnated black pearwood.Date: 1937Price: £65 0s 0d

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A34RGDesigner: Eden MinnsModel: A34RG AC andD34RG DC/AC SuperhetRadiogram.Cabinet: Polished black walnutand French light walnutDate: 1937Prices: A34RG £24 0s 0d,

D34RG £25 0s 0d.

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DesiMod

CabiDatePrice

A40Cgner: Eden Minnsel: A40C AC Superhet Console with outstanding quality of

reproduction, special S.W. performance and automatic tuningcorrection.

net: Bombay rosewood and thuya burr: 1937: £35 0s 0d

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A40RGDesigner: Eden MinnsModel : A40RG AC SuperhetRadiogram with outstandingquality of reproduction, specialS.W. performance andautomatic tuning correction. InBombay rosewood andBubinga. The lining of the lidis pale grey felt with a whitetrellis – a luxury set.Date: 1937Price: £85 0s 0d

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B45Designer: R. D. RussellModel: Straight Battery Table SetCabinet: Polished black walnut with a narrow white rim

surrounding the loudspeaker.Date: 1938Price: £7 0s 0d

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A46Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A46 All wave AC Superhet Table Set

D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table SetCabinet: Contrasting French walnut and black walnut veneers.

Loudspeaker opening has a narrow white surround.Date: 1938Prices: A46 £9 10s 0d, D46 £9 15s 0d.

DesigMode

Cabi

DatePrice

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A46Cner: R. D. Russelll: A46 All wave AC Superhet Console

D46 All wave DC/AC Superhet Consolenet: Dark and medium-toned walnut. The controls are set on a

sloping top panel of feather -grained walnut for easy operationwhether standing or seated.

: 1938s: A46C £13 15s 0d, D46C £14 0s 0d

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DesignModel:

CabineDate:Prices:

A46RGer: R. D. Russell

A46RG All wave AC Superhet RadiogramD46RG All wave DC/AC Superhet Radiogram

t: Dark walnut with light horizontal lines on the upper front panel.1938A46RG £20 0s 0d, D46RG £22 0s 0d

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B47Designer: R. D. RussellModel: All wave Battery Superhet Table SetCabinet: Dark polished walnut with front panel carrying the

concentric controls.Date: 1938Price: £11 10s 0d

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DesiModCabi

DatePrice

B47Cgner: R. D. Russellel: All wave Battery Superhet Consolenet: Dark and medium-toned walnut with contrasting plinth.

The controls are placed on the sloping top for easyhandling.

: 1938: £14 5s 0d

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A48Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A48 All wave AC Superhet Table Set

D48 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table SetCabinet: French walnut, contrasting with dark-figured walnut.Date: 1938Prices: A48 £12 0s 0d, D48 £12 5s 0d

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C

DP

A48RGDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A48RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogramwith Automatic Record Changer.D48RG DC/AC model.

abinet: Polished black walnut and French walnut veneer.Flush motor-board and slightly inset lid for easy lifting.

ate: 1938rices: A48RG £30 0s 0d, D48RG £32 0s 0d

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A50Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A50 All wave AC Superhet Table Set

D50 All wave DC/AC Superhet Table SetDesigned for good quality reproduction

Cabinet: Venereed in righ-figured Honduras mahogany with controlpanel in dark grey-silvered glass.

Date: 1938Prices: A50 £16 0s 0d, D50 £16 5s 0d

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Designer: Eden MinnsModel: A50C All wave AC S

D50C All wave DC/ADesigned for good qua

Cabinet: Walnut and rose zebraDate: 1938Prices: A50C £21 0s 0d, D50

A50Cuperhet ConsoleC Superhet Consolelity reproduction.no. Tilted top suited to armchair operation.

C £21 5s 0d

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A52Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A52 AC Push Button Table Set with special S.W. perfomance.

7 valve (plus rectifier) double Superhet with motorised tuning.Date: 1938Price: £18 10s 0d

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A56VDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A56V AC Television Receiver. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.Date: 1938Price: £30 0s 0d

Designer:Model:

Date:Price:

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A58VR. D. RussellA58V AC Television and Radio Receiver. CombiningTelevision and reception on short, medium and longwaves withgood quality reproduction. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.1938£45 0s 0d

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B81Designer: Eden MinnsModel: B81 All purpose Battery Portable

Cabinet: “All weather” finish of black rexine piped with greenleather with greeen plastic knobs and dial opening.

Date: 1939Price: £8 15s 0d

Price change October 1939 £9 0s 0d

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B69Designer: Eden MinnsModel: 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 isblack on white rather than three colours.

Date: 1939Price: £9 0s 0d

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A72/B71Designer: R. D. RussellModel: A72 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set,B71 battery model. D72A (DC only) & B71ASpecial 4-way band models.Cabinet: Light and dark polished walnut with agold surround to the speaker and scale openings.Date: 1939

Price: A72, £12 10s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extra, D72A £13 10s 0d. Price changeOctober 1939 £13 0s 0d DC/AC 10/- extra. Press button unit 35/-extra. Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra. B71 £11 0s0d, B71A £12 5s 0d. Price change October 1939 £12 0s 0d.

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70Designer: Eden MinnsModel: 70 All wave Mains Superhet Table SetCabinet: Two tones of polished dark walnut withlight walnut top. Tapered speaker opening with agold finished scale surround surrounded byinlaid white line. Tuning scale in 3 colours.Date: 1939Price: £10 5s 0d DC/AC 5/- extra.Press button unit 35/- extraRemote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra

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A74Designer: Cabinet R. D. Russell,

knobs by Eden MinnsModel: A74 All wave AC Table Set withexcellent quality reproduction.Cabinet: In contrasting shades of walnut “V”grain side and dark walnut.Date: 1939Price: £16 0s 0d. Price change October 1939£16 15s 0d. Press button unit 35/- extraRemote control unit £3 10s 0d extra

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A76Designer: Eden MinnsModel: A76 All wave AC Table Set,special Short Wave performanceCabinet: Brown figures mahogany andbeech with a highly polished finish.Date: 1939Price: £16 10s 0dPrice change October 1939 £17 10s 0dPress button unit 35/- extraRemote control unit £3 10s 0d extra

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70CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: 70C All wave Mains ConsoleDate: 1939Price: £14 15s 0d, DC/AC 5/- extraPrice change October 1939 £15 10s 0d,DC/AC 5/- extra. Press button unit 35/-extra. Remote control unit (AC only)£3 10s 0d extra

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A74CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A74C All wave AC Console, withexcellent quality reproductionDate: 1939Price: £21 0s 0d. Price change October1939 £22 0s 0d. Press button unit 35/- extraRemote control unit £3 10s 0d extra

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A78CDesigner: Eden MinnsModel: A78C All wave AC Console, with outstanding quality

reproduction, special short wave performance and RemoteControl.

Date: 1939Price: £40 0s 0d. Price change October 1939 £42 0s 0d

Purchase Tax payable from October 1940Price change October 1943 £52 10s 0d plus P.T.

DesigneModel:Cabinet

Date:Price:

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70RGr: R. D. Russell

70RG All wave Mains Radiogram: Medium and light toned walnut with light inlaid lines on the

speaker panel.1939£22 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 0s 0d extraPrice change October 1939 £23 0s 0d, DC/AC £2 5s 0d extraPress button unit 35/- extraRemote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra

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A72RGDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: A72RG All wave ACSuperhet Radiogram withautomatic record changer forup to eight 10 in. or 12 in.recordsCabinet: Dark walnut withlighter contrasts on theexposed edges of the speakerpanel and cabinet top.Date: 1939Price: £32 0s 0dPrice change October 1939£33 10s 0dPress button unit 35/- extraRemote control unit (AC only)£3 10s 0d extra

DesignModel

Date:Price:

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A78RGer: Eden Minns

: A78RG All wave AC Superhet Radiogram, with outstandingquality reproduction, special short wave performance, remotecontrol and with automatic record changer, taking 10 in. or 12in. mixed records.1939£90 0s 0d. Price change December 1939 £95 0s 0dPurchase Tax payable from October 1940Remote control unit (AC only) £3 10s 0d extra

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V84TDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: V84T AC Table Model Television Receiver.

Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.Date: 1939Price: £29 0s 0d

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V84CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: V84C AC Television Console. Picture size 7½ in. x 6 in.Date: 1939Price: £33 0s 0d

DesignModel

Date:Price:

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V86Cer: R. D. Russell

: V86C AC Television Console, with high qualityperformance. Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.1939£40 0s 0d

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V88CDesigner: R. D. RussellModel: V88C ACTelevision and all waveRadio Console.Picture size 10 in. x 8 in.Date: 1939Price: £50 0s 0d

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B93Designer: Eden MinnsModel: B93 Battery Superhet PortableCabinet: 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 knobsand dial opening are black plastic.

Date: 1940Price: £10 0s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from October 1940.

Price change October 1943 £12 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax

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B89Designer: Eden MinnsModel: B89 Battery Superhet Table SetDate: 1940Price: £7 15s 0d

Price change September 1940 £8 10s 0dPurchase Tax payable from October 1940Price change October 1943 £10 12s 6d plus Purchase Tax

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DesMod

Cab

DatPric

A92 and B91igner: Eden Minnsel: A92 Mains Special Short Wave Performance AC Superhet

Table Set with press button tuning on Short Wave.inet: Warm brown oak with a black bakelite front. B91 (battery

model) has a white tuning scale because the dial is notilluminated; saving battery power.

e: 1940e: A92 £15 15s 0d, B91 £14 10s 0d

Purchase Tax payable from October 1940Price change October 1943 A92 £19 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax,B91 £18 2s 6d plus Purchase Tax

DesignerModel:Date:Price:

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90: Eden Minns

90 All wave Mains Superhet Table Set1940£11 0s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extraPrice change April 1940 £11 10s 0d, DC/AC 10/- extraPurchase Tax payable from October 1940Price change October 1943 £14 7s 6d plus Purchase Tax(DC/AC £15 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax)

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A90CDesigner: Eden MinnsModel: A90C All wave AC Superhet ConsoleDate: 1940Price: £18 0s 0d

Purchase Tax payable from October 1940Price change October 1943 £22 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax

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90RGDesigner: Eden MinnsModel: 90RG All wave ACSuperhet RadiogramDate: 1940Price: £26 0s 0d, DC/AC £110s 0d extra. Purchase Taxpayable from October 1940.Price change October 1943£32 10s 0d plus PurchaseTax. DC/AC £34 7s 6d pluspurchase tax.

Designer:Model:

Date:Price:

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AD94Eden MinnsAD94 AC/DC Superhet Table Set. Moulded Cabinet.The first bakelite (black) cabinet (moulding by de la Rue) andfinal new set of the year. The black and white motif is providedby the highlights, scale, speaker silk and knobs.1940£9 10s 0d. Purchase Tax payable from October 1940Price change October 1943 £11 17s 6d plus Purchase Tax,

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A96Designer: Eden MinnsModel: 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: 1943Prices: A96 and B96 both £15 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

DesignerModel:Date:

Prices:

68

War-time Civilian Receiver: Eden Minns

War-time Civilian Receiver (Government Industry Specification)1944AC Mains Model £10 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.Battery Model £9 0s 0d

DesigneModel:

Date:Price:

69

A98 and B97r: Eden Minns

A98 AC Superhet Table Set for long, medium and shortwaves. Moulded Cabinet. B97 Battery model.1945A98 £18 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.B97 £15 17s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

70

SAD94S and SAD 94LDesigner: Eden MinnsModel: SAD94S AC/DC Superhet Table Set with short and medium

waves only. SAD94L with long and medium waves only.Date: 1945Price: £12 15s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

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V86CADesigner: R.D. RussellModel: AC Television Console. Picture Size 10 in. x 8 in.Date: 1946Price: £67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

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V114Designer: R. D. RussellModel: 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. Thespeaker bars are splayed outwards from the centre, backed by aplain gold rayon fabric.

Date: 1946Price: £67 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax.

73

TA92 & TU92Designer: Eden MinnsModel: TA92 Specialshort wave performance,AC Superhet Table Set,with press button tuning onShort Wave. TU92 AC/DCmodel.Date: 1947Price: £25 0s 0d plusPurchase Tax

TA92 from Mill GreenMuseum

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A122Designer: Eden MinnsModel: 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 areseparately illuminated; their station names are picked out inwhite and the wavelength figures in green.

Date: 1947Price: £22 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax

Designer:Model:

Cabinet:

Date:Price:

75

A122CEden MinnsA122C Console version of theA122 baffle superhet.The top of the Console and thecentral panel are veneered in anicely figured mahogany of warmgolden colour. The legs are oflaminated wood. Speaker silk isgold.1947£27 10s 0d plus Purchase Tax

,

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TA126The first purpose designed export model.

Designer: Eden MinnsModel: TA126 Table Model 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for use

with AC mains. Eight wavebands – Medium, Short and 6bandspread shortwave bands. Also TU126 for DC mains andTB125/7 for accumulator operation.

Cabinet: Bakelite with cream painted front.Date: 1947Price: £19 10s 0d

Photograph: David Grant

77

V116Designer: R.D.RussellModel: 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 bypulling on a “finger-hold” at the top. The surround to thescreen and speaker is of straight-grained continental elm,finished in a lighter shade than the main carcase.

Date: 1947Price: £80 0s 0d plus Purchase Tax

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79

A1The first ‘Murp

Designer: R.D.RussellModel: A146C Console Mode

Superhet for use with A& Medium.

Cabinet: Floor model baffle in wfigured walnut.

Date: 1949Price: £28 12s 9d plus Purch

46Chy’ baffle console.

l Baffle 6 Valve + RectifierC mains. Two wavebands – Long

alnut. Front in halved and matched

ase Tax

80

Designer: Eden MinnsModel: A122M Table M

use withAC mains. Three

Cabinet: Square treatmenta more massive ais veneered in AfrSpeaker fabric is

Date: 1949Price: £22 0s 0d plus Pu

A122Model Baffle 4 Valve + Rectifier Superhet for

wavebands – Long, Medium & Short.of cabinet, scale and speaker opening givesppearance than its predecessors. Main panelican rosewood, Ends and top in walnut.gold.

rchase Tax

81

V134/6CDesigner: Eden MinnsModel: V134C and V136C AC Console Model Television. Picture size

7½” × 6”. The V134C was intended for reception only within12-15 miles of Alexandra Palace, the V136C had a greater range.

Cabinet: In attractive walnut veneer, straight grained for the body of thecabinet, with figured top, doors and speaker apron. Legs of darkwalnut fitted with Domes of Silence. Edges of speaker and screenopenings and door edges are cross-banded in veneer, not painted.Minn’s original curved leg design (inset) was replaced by straightlegs in the production model.

Date: 1948Price: V134C £67 16s 8d including £12 16s 8d Purchase Tax

V136C £70 12s 2d including £13 7s 2d Purchase Tax

82

Designer: Eden MinnsModel: V176C AC ConsoleCabinet: The cabinet is of an e

fitted with doors. Thalso being of walnut.reflections.

Date: 1950Price: £128 0s 0d plus Purc

This model was anno‘Murphy News’ butyear.

V176CModel Television. Picture size 12½” × 10”.xceptionally attractive walnut finish. It is

e instrument panel matches the main cabinet,Felt lining of the interior prevents distracting

hase Taxunced in the October 1949 edition of thewasn’t available until April of the following

83

Designer: Eden MinnsModel: V180C AC Console M

the V120C (not shownCabinet: An emphasis on vertic

from the side panels foof the set position withfigured medium-tone wthe sides and back. Waveneer edge. The contrbroad fluting that is plsilk. Fitted with large c

Date: 1950Price: £75 0s 0d including Pu

V180Codel Television. 12” tube. A successor toin this guide).

al lines is made by pillars which curve outr a wider front aspect, and easier adjustmentone hand. The top, shaped at the front, is inalnut, edged by darker bands running aroundlnut instrument panel with crossbandedols (brown bakelite with gold rings) have aeasant to handle. Gold striped rayon speakerastors.

rchase Tax

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AFTERWORD

Although we were unable to track down photographs of every setproduced from 1930-1950, I hope that this book will be a usefulreference for Murphy and design enthusiasts everywhere. Shouldmore images be found they may be added to later editions of thiselectronic book.

1950 sees the end of this unique period in the design history of onecompany. However, Murphy Radio continued this tradition of highquality 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