Telegraph Condenser Co., Ltd.
Vauxhall Street, Kennington Oval, London SE11 (1921)
Wales Farm Road, North Acton, London, W3 (1933)

Brand: TCC

Founded in 1906 by S.G. Brown (also behind S.G. Brown Ltd., 1911), Telegraph Condenser Co. became a leader in electrical components. They made innovative condensers for telegraphy, then expanded to radio, phones, and more. In 1933, they became a public company. Though Brown retired in 1943, the company thrived, opening factories, acquiring competitors, and securing patents. By the 1960s, they were part of BICC, making fuses, insulators, and even entering the circuit board market. TCC's legacy as a condenser pioneer lives on.

Telegraph Condenser Co.: A Global Leader in Condensers (Capacitors) (1906-1960s)

Founded in 1906 by electrical engineer Sidney George Brown (1873-1948), the Telegraph Condenser Co. served as a launchpad for his inventions. While Brown also established S.G. Brown Ltd. focusing on telephones, the Telegraph Condenser Co. became his primary focus in the field of electrical components.

The company thrived by manufacturing and marketing innovative condensers for the burgeoning field of telegraphy. However, their vision extended beyond. A 1929 listing for the British Industries Fair showcased their diverse condenser production for applications like wireless, telephones, and even battery eliminators, demonstrating their adaptation to emerging technologies.

But their vision extended further. A 1928 Australian Wireless Weekly advertisement showcased their diverse condenser range, including:

• Standard condensers: Enclosed in green tins and suitable for radio applications (0.005 mfd to 2 mfd).
• Mica condensers: Offered in small grid condenser values and a unique "S.P. type" with three terminals for flexible grid leak connections. Available in bakelite cases for baseboard mounting.
• Power mains condensers: Designed for smoothing purposes and eliminating interference, housed in green tins with large terminals (tested to 800 volts DC).
• High voltage condensers: Suitable for working voltages up to 2500 volts, used for high-voltage power supplies and smoothing in transmitters.

Their success wasn't limited to Australia. TCC supplied condensers for various applications:

• British government and Post Office: High-frequency and high-tension smoothing condensers, telephone-type condensers.
• Cable companies: Telegraph and cable work condensers.
• Power factor improvement: Large condensers (up to 4 tons) for optimizing electricity usage.[1]

1933, the Telegraph Condenser Co. became a public company, with Alice Brown ensuring she and her husband retained control. Despite S.G. Brown's retirement and the sale of his interest in 1943, the company continued to flourish. They opened a new factory in Scotland (1947), acquired a competitor's condenser business (1949), and secured valuable patents (1960).

By the 1960s, the Telegraph Condenser Co. had become a subsidiary of BICC (British Insulated Callender's Cables), capitalizing on the booming demand for electronic components for radios. They further diversified by manufacturing fuses and insulating materials alongside their core condenser business, even entering the printed circuit board market through a merger. Finally, they secured their interest in aluminium cans, showcasing their constant adaptation and growth.[2]

While the Telegraph Condenser Co. itself eventually merged and transformed into larger corporations, its legacy as a pioneer in electrical components, particularly condensers, remains significant.

[1] Wireless Weekly (Aus) Aug 17, 1928, Page 22.
[2] Graces Guide, accessed June 2024.