The Australian Wireless Company
140 Castereagh Street, Sydney, New South Wales

Brand: Radiair

The Australian Wireless Company manufactured single valve radios through to five valve sets.

They are not to be confused with the earlier Australian Wireless Company (Telefunken-owned), sometimes also called Australasian Wireless Company, which merged into AWA in 1913.

The business was commenced by Messrs. John Brown and H. L. Campbell-Jones in July of 1925 with practically no capital, and was housed in a small room in Castlereagh Street; the activities of the proprietors being then confined to the sale, at a profit, of other people's goods.

They moved to larger premises in October 1925, when the partners purchased an existing radio business in the Victoria Arcade.

In January 1926 they registered the trade mark Radiair and manufactured their own radios. It was soon evident that the demand for the firm's radio sets was outpacing the supply, and it became necessary to open workshops. From this time the manufacturing side of the business was rapidly expanded to keep pace with the ever-increasing sales, until in May, 1926, the position was that six different premises were being occupied to house the various activities of the business.

Consolidation then became necessary, and a building consisting of four spacious floors at 140 Castlereagh Street, was secured. [1]

in July 1926 the company advertised the “Radiair” Service Wagon  which travelled to rural areas of NSW demonstrating and selling radios. They stated a 50ft iron mast can be erected in 5 minutes with an aerial extended to the wagon from which any Australian radio station can be received. [2]

The company was liquidated in August 1935. [3]

[1] The Sunday Times (NSW) Oct 31, 1926, page 14.
[2] The Sydney morning Herald (NSW) Jul 13, 1926, page 5.
[3] The Sydney morning Herald (NSW) Aug 21, 1935, page 20.