Alpbian Wireless Company
Union Mews, 99 Mortimore Street, London W1. (1926)

Adey Radio Co. Ltd.
Union Mews, 99 Mortimore Street, London W1 (1929-1930)

Adey Portable Radio
Union Mews, 99 Mortimer Street, London, W1 (1931 -1937.

Brands: Adey, Alpbian

Horace Adey, a radio innovator, founded Adey Portable Radio in 1929. They made a name for themselves with small, unique portable radios, including a 1-valve headphone model in 1930 (one of the first!) and their "Adey Baby" 4-valve powerhouse in 1932. Adey's signature self-coupling valve aimed to simplify receiver construction. They showcased ever-smaller portables throughout the 1930s, even offering an all-wave model in 1935. Despite their innovations, Adey Portable Radio seemingly disappeared around 1937, leaving a legacy of compact radio design in the 1930s.

A History of Adey Portable Radios (1926-1937)

Early Days and Innovation (1926-1931)
The story of Adey portable radios begins with Horace Adey, a man with a knack for unconventional designs. In 1926, while working for the Alpbian Wireless Company, Adey designed a unique "radio in chair" exhibited at the Olympia Radio Exhibition.  [1] This early foray foreshadowed his future focus on portable radio technology. [2]
Three years later, in 1929, Adey took a bold step, founding the Adey Radio Co. Ltd. This company, renamed Adey Portable Radio in 1931, aimed to carve a niche in the growing market for portable radios. Their initial focus was on innovative and compact designs.

Olympia Exhibitions and Unveiling New Models (1930-1935)

The company's presence at the annual Olympia Radio Exhibition served as a platform to showcase its latest creations. Here's a breakdown of some key Adey highlights at these exhibitions:

• 1930: Adey presented a groundbreaking range of three portable radio sets, including a single-valve model for headphone reception, one of the very few available at the time. This budget-friendly option cost £3 17s. 6d., while their 2-valve and 4-valve models with Celestion speakers retailed for £8 15s. and £12 15s. respectively. All the models featured "a number of unconventional points," hinting at Adey's commitment to innovative design, exemplified by their earlier 'radio in a cigar box' concept. [3]
• 1932: Adey showcased the "Adey Baby," a miniature powerhouse. This four-valve self-contained receiver, including batteries, measured a mere 14" x 14" x 6" and weighed approximately 12 lbs. This compact marvel came with a traveling cover and a spare L.T. accumulator, all for £15 15s. [4] This year also marked the opening of their factory in Marylebone. [8]
• 1933: The focus shifted towards exceptionally small portable sets. All models boasted the Adey self-coupling valve, a novel design featuring an anode choke wound around the base of the valve. This innovation aimed to reduce external wiring and simplify receiver construction. [5] The valves with bases having 3 grooves around the bakelite were made for them by Hivac.
• 1934: Adey continued their pursuit of miniaturization, showcasing portable sets claimed to be "almost certainly the smallest available for loudspeaker reproduction." These models used two stages of aperiodic H.F. amplification with their signature self-coupling valves and incorporated pentode output valves for improved performance. [6]
• 1935: Adey diversified their offerings. An all-wave, battery-operated receiver designed for "Empire use" (likely catering to British colonies) debuted at a price of 12 guineas. They also introduced a remarkably small four-valve portable receiver weighing only 12½ lbs. for £7 10s. Additionally, they continued their line of small headphone portables and unveiled a shortwave converter. [7]

Adey's Legacy and Uncertain Demise (c1937)

Despite their innovative designs and presence at major exhibitions, the exact details of Adey Portable Radio's fate remain unclear. Advertisements for their products ceased to appear in trade publications around 1937, suggesting the company may have ceased operations around that time.

While the reasons behind their disappearance are unknown, Adey Portable Radio left a mark on the history of portable radios. Their commitment to compact design, the unique Adey self-coupling valve, and their early entry into the single-valve portable market all contributed to the evolving landscape of portable radio technology in the 1930s.

[1] Radio Art by Robert Hawes, 1991 Page 53.
[2] Wireless World Nov 10, 1926, Page 656.
[3] Wireless Trader Sep 13, 1930, Page 295.
[4] Wireless World Aug 26, 1932, Page 187.
[5] Practical Oct 28, 1933, Page 330.
[6] Wireless World Aug 24, 1934, Page 157.
[7] Wireless World Aug 16, 1935, Page 168
[8] British Radio Valves. The Classic Years: 1926 – 1946, Page 237.