60th Birthday of Dr. Anton Frederik Philips (1934)

60th Birthday of Dr. Anton Frederik Philips

Dr. Anton Frederik Philips, born at Zaltbommel (Holland) on March 14th, 1874, was the son of the banker, Frederik Philips-

After having attended the Commercial School at Amsterdam, and having been employed for some time at the office of a London and Amsterdam firm of stock brokers, he entered the services of Messrs. Philips & Co., Eindhoven, Holland, on January 3, 1894, in order to take over the commercial management of that firm, which had been founded on May 15, 1891, by his father and his brother, Engineer G. L. F. Philips.

From a small beginning this firm rapidly began to succeed. This was indicated by the fact that in the second year of the management of Dr. Philips, in his younger days, the turnover and profits for the company's activities were doubled.

Since that time the firm of Philips, Eindhoven, has been constantly expanding, and in 1907, when the metal filament lamp was invented, a separate limited company was formed, under the names of the "N. V. Philips Metaaldraadlampenfabriek."

In 1912 the firm of Philips & Co. was converted into the "N. V. Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken," and the Philips brothers were appointed directors.

International Reputation

Since 1922 the organisation has been under the sole management of Dr. A. F. Philips, and, thanks to the very energetic manner in which he has conducted the business, the firm's activities have, in the course of years, become more and more widespread, and have gone a long way towards giving Holland an international standing in the domain of international industry.

While at first the firm's industrial operations were confined to the manufacture of electric lamps, the Philips organisation gradually extended its manufacturing activities so as to radio receiving sets, rectifiers, amplifiers, transmitting stations, sound film apparatus, Xray tubes and apparatus, Neon tubes, glassware, "Philite" articles, illumination fittings, sodium lamps, etc., etc.

There is no doubt that the name of Philips now holds a commanding position in the world market in all these branches of industry. It was Dr. Philips who pushed forward the development of the above-mentioned products, and this was particularly the case with the development of the sodium lamps, which opened up great prospects, and his practical applications have already been realised, both in Holland and abroad.

Despite the period of depression which has been experienced the world over, Philips' organisation came through with flying colours.

Dr. Philips is a man who combines energy with organising power. He is both a business man and a financier. He also has a keen eye for the interest, of his working people, and the firm has consequently established a number of staff welfare institutions, such as the Superannuation Board, the Sick Fund, the Educational and Training Institution, the Entertainment Fund, the Relief Fund, etc. which are exemplary organisations.

Degree Conferred

In 1928 the governing body of the Netherlands Commercial College at Rotterdam conferred on Mr. Philips, the hon. degree of Doctor of Commercial Science He has also received numerous distinctions both from his own country and from abroad, some of which are enumerated from the following list: -

Holland, August 23, 1922: Knight of the Order of the Netherland Lion.
Belgium, March 10, 1927: Officer in the Crown Order of Belgium.
France, November 15, 1932: Commander in the Order of the Legion of Honour.
Italy, December 2, 1929: Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown of Italy.
Yugoslavia, February 27, 1931: Commander in the Order of St Sava.
Poland, October 8, 1931: Commander in the order of the Renaissance of Poland.
Portugal, November 25: 1929: Grand Officer in the Order of Industrial Merit.
Romania, February 22, 1928: Officer in the Order of the Star of Romania.
Romania, December 28, 1928: Commander in the Order of the Crown of Romania.
Spain, May 30, 1925: Commander in the Order of Isabella la Católica.
Czechoslovakia, December 28, 1931: Commander in the Order of the White Lion.
Morocco, March 17, 1933: Grand Officer in the Order of Oussama Alaouite.

Decorated by Queen

In June, 1927, when communication, was established with the East and West Indies by means of the Philips Short Wave Transmitter, PHI, Dr. Philips was decorated by Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina with a Gold Medal of the Family Order, one of the most treasured decorations, that can be granted by the Queen of Holland to any of her subjects.

Those who have had the pleasure of viewing the huge Philips organisation per medium of the film will have some idea and appreciation of the magnitude of the complete organisation.

The activities of the organisation in Australia, under the managership of Mr. den Hertog, speak for themselves.

Philips' activities in Great Britain met with success after success, and to-day hold a commanding position in the British radio field. They have their factories in England, and produce apparatus which meets with a ready acceptance and a wonderful sale.

To Dr. Philips is extended hearty congratulations from the Australian radio trade in the year of his 60th birthday, and in celebration of his 40th year in the management of the Philips organisation at Eindhoven.

The 17th March, being the 60th birthday of Dr Philips, was the occasion for special festival activities in Holland. The International network of broadcasting stations special records were prepared, sending greetings from the various executives of the Philips' companies, operating throughout the world.

The short-wave reception and transmission in Australia was owing to the distance, unsuitable for participation in this festival, but, nevertheless, the Australian organisation have given evidence that they, too, are imbued with the same spirit of co-operation and progress peculiar to the organisation the world over.

(RADIO & ELECTRICAL MERCHANT,  March 30th, 1931.)

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