W. Harry Wiles
630 George Street, Sydney. NSW
74 Goulburn Street, Sydney, NSW
23 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW

Brand: Wondertone

W. Harry Wiles founded an electrical contracting firm and electrical retailing business, which was one of the largest in Sydney until the depression of the 1930s. The traded as Wiles Wonderful Wireless and Electrical Stores.

The company sold electrical goods, radio parts from 1923, Wondertone radios from 1926, Steinite, Raycophone and STC radios from 1931.[1]

Mr. W. Harry Wiles was one of the pioneers of the Electrical and Radio Industry in New South Wales. Commencing business in Sydney in the year 1914, he carried out some of the most important electrical installations in the State.

On a visit to the U.S.A. in 1915 he took the opportunity of attending the newly formed radio school in New York and made a special study of electrical and radio appliances then in use. On return to Sydney he added a radio department to his already well-established electrical business. His slogan was, 'Wiles Wonderful Wireless.'  With the growth of these industries, the business expanded both in volume and space, so that in the early 1920 additional premises were acquired in Sydney.

Mr. Wiles was associated with the wireless industry from inception in Australia and was one first in the Industry to organise the Radio Broadcast Bureau, out of which has developed the Electrical and Radio Development Association. [2]

In 1928 the business was located at the corner of Pitt and Goulburn Streets, Sydney. He opened the first record shop in Sydney at 390 Pitt Street in the late twenties. After Wile's death in 1951, the electrical business was continued by Robert B Wiles, Marjorie B Granger and Jack Wiles. It was closed after the death of Jack Wiles in 1967. [1]

Manufacturing:

The ANU archive [1] states that Wiles manufactured radios however currently there is no evidence to support this to date. It is not known if the Wondertone and Steinite radios were rebadged from other Australian manufacturers or imported.

They did however sell Australian manufactures radios from 1931. [3]

[1] ANU Archives on line.
[2] Truth (NSW) Sep 14, 1930, Page 10.
[3] The Sun (NSW)     Jul 9, 1931, Page 14.