Keith M Wrigley Radio service. (1932-1938)
Akrad Radio Corporation. (1938-1955)
Munro’s Buildings, Seddon Street, Waihi, NZ (1932-1938)
Wrigley’s Buildings, Upper Seddon Street, Waihi, NZ (1938-        )
King’s Hall, Haszard Street, Waihi NZ. (1942-      )

Brands: Pacific, Futura, Fivestar, Regent, Pye, Clipper, Air Ranger, Astor, etc.

Keith M Wrigley Radio service. Sold radios from 1932 and went into manufacturing in 1934.
He manufactured radios, parts, coils & transformers, electrical goods. Akrad Radio Corporation. Was formed in 1938 and the company would rise to be one of the largest radio and electrical companies in New Zealand. They were taken over by Pye in 1955 but Akrad remained Pye’s manufacturing unit.

In February 1932 Keith Wrigley (1914-1946) was successful in the first New Zealand Radio Serviceman’s examination at the age of 18.[1]
By September 1932 he had opened a radio repair business, selling radio parts and agents for radios made by Johns Ltd., Auckland.[2]
Wrigley started radio manufacture in 1934 and in mid 1938 shifted to a 6000 square foot  factory  building. He employed 25 local workers and as well as radio manufacture, manufactured Electric Fence units, Toasters, Cookers, and radio components. It was during this move the Akrad Radio Corporation name was adopted [3]
In 1942 the company was declared an essential industry to support the war effort and the company turned to the production of war material and expanded into King’s Hall, Haszard Street.[4]
The company added the “Flyer” tricycle to the company’s manufacturing inventory in 1945.[5]

After the death of Keith Wrigley in 1946 the company was placed in the care of the Public Trustee.
Akrad was in considerable financial difficulties through having to meet death duties and income tax.
As the Public Trustee had no knowledge of radio production, they called on George Wooller who had been production manager at Radio Ltd., Auckland during WW2. Wooller formed G. A. Wooller and Co. Ltd., acting as a distributing company for Akrad manufactured products. [6]
In 1947 Tom J. F. Spencer was offered the job of managing the radio company by the public trustee.
Akrad Radio Corporation Ltd. was formed in 1948 with Spencer as Managing Director. Four years later he encouraged the Public Trustee to sell its shareholding to Pye because he considered the coming of Television would mean a need a “big brother”. [7][8]
Later Pye took a controlling interest. Pye brought to New Zealand a complete television transmitting station which for several years remained the only demonstration unit of its kind in the country for the Queen's visit in 1953. For some years this was the only N.Z. TV station.

In 1955 the Pye Group in New Zealand purchased G.A. Wooller and Co. Ltd. and Green and Cooper Ltd., who were Pye agents in New Zealand.
Akrad then became Pye Ltd (NZ). Akrad remained the group's principal manufacturing unit.

Model Identification.
Some models use a number-letter-number chassis code, which decodes to the valve count, the cabinet type, and the year of introduction.  For example:
Clipper 5M4: 5 valve set, Mantel design, Introduced in 1954

[1] Waihi Daily Telegraph, 6 Feb 1932, Page 2.
[2] Daily Telegraph, 10 Sep 1932, Page 3.
[3] Waihi Daily Telegraph, 26 Jul 1940, Page 3.
[4] Waihi Daily Telegraph, 8 Jun 1942, Page 2.
[5] Waihi Daily Telegraph, 9 Nov 1945, Page 3.
​[6] Otago Daily Times, 25 Nov 1948, Page 10.
[7] The Bulletin 9 Dec 1967, page 50.
[8] Press, 17 Dec 1952, Page 5.