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Ariel (brand), Abel / Warwick Smeeton Ltd., Imperial Radio Mfg. Co.; Auckland

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Name: Ariel (brand), Abel / Warwick Smeeton Ltd., Imperial Radio Mfg. Co.; Auckland    (NZ)  
Abbreviation: ariel
Products: Model types
Summary:

Abel, Smeeton Ltd.
74 Queen Street, Auckland (1933)
Wellesley Street East, Auckland (from 16 Jan 1933)

Warwick Smeeton Ltd.
Wellesley Street East, Auckland
9-11 Wellesley Street East, Auckland (1938)

Brand: Ariel

Ariel radios were first advertised in late 1932 by Abel, Smeeton Ltd. and marketed as "British Built for New Zealand conditions". [6] “British Built” was later dropped from advertisements. [7]

From 1933 until 1940, Warwick Smeeton Ltd. sold and manufactured the brand with their manufacturing company Imperial Radio Mfg. Co.

From 1940 Ariel radios were manufactured by Webb's Ltd.
Founded: 1932
Closed: 1940
Production: 1932 - 1940
History:

Abel, Smeeton Ltd. were radio wholesalers and distributors in Auckland importing British and US radio products in the late 1920’s. [1] In 1932 this company went into liquidation (2).
Warwick Smeeton Ltd. advertised as their successors in Wellesley Street, Auckland in 1933.[3]
It is not clear when Warwick Smeeton formed their manufacturing company Imperial Radio Mfg. Co., however both companies went into liquidation in November 1940 and stock and plant were put up for tender.[4]

According to the late John Stokes in Golden Radio in the Home, page 76, Webb’s Radios Ltd. was the successful tenderer for plant and equipment.

Johns Ltd. advertised in a liquidation sale that they had purchased the stock of Warwick Smeeton Ltd. [5]

[1] Auckland Star 17 Dec 1926, Page 15.
[2] Auckland Star 19 Jul 1932, Page 16.
[3] New Zealand Herald 3 Aug 1933, Page 2.
[4] Auckland Star 13 Nov 1940, Page 3.
[5] Auckland Star 11 Dec 1940, Page 9.
[6] New Zealand Herald 28 Sep 1932, page 2.
[7] New Zealand Herald 16 Dec 1933, page 18.

This manufacturer was suggested by Gary Cowans.

Some models:
Country Year Name 1st Tube Notes
NZ  32 Ariel Sprite   4 Valve AC powered, superhet. Console version available for £2 extra. 
NZ  34 Ariel 6 Valve, Dual Wave 58  6 Valve AC powered, superhet with RF stage.   
NZ  31 Ariel Ch= AWA C89 235  Also available as a Console Model. Both used the AWA C89 chassis and were advertised as... 
NZ  35 Ariel 6 Dual Wave Grandfather Clock 58  6-Valve Superhet with RF stage dual wave AC receiver and Grandfather clock.  ... 
NZ  36 Ariel De Luxe Musicale 5V   5-Valve superhet broadcast (MW) mantel AC/DC receiver. Also available as AC only set.  
NZ  37 9 Valve Console 6K7  9-Valve (including magic eye) superhet with RF stage 3 band console receiver.  
NZ  38 8 Valve All-Wave Console   8-Valve superhet with RF stage all-wave mantel receiver with motorised push-button tuning. 
NZ  37 Ariel All-Wave Super Six 3176    
NZ  36 Ariel Sprite 5V   5-Valve superhet broadcast (MW) mantel AC/DC receiver. Also available as AC only set.  
NZ  33 6V [Console]    
NZ  35 6 Dual-Wave [Mantel AC] 58  6-Valve Superhet with RF stage dual wave AC tombstone receiver. Also available in DC. 
NZ  35 6 Valve Console 58  6-Valve Superhet with RF stage dual wave AC Console receiver. 
[rmxhdet-en]

Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):

[1] Auckland Star 17 Dec 1926, Page 15. Image sourced from Paperpast -National Library of New Zealandtbn_nz_ariel_1_auckland_star_17_dec_1926_page_15.jpg
New Zealand Herald, 23.02.1933tbn_nz_ariel_1933_herald.jpg
[2] Auckland Star19 Jul 1932, Page 16. Image sourced from Paperpast -National Library of New Zealandtbn_nz_arial_2_auckland_star19_jul_1932_page_16.jpg
[3] New Zealand Herald 3 Aug 1933, page 2. Image sourced from Paperpast -National Library of New Zealandtbn_nz_ariel_3_new_zealand_herald_3_aug_1933_page_2.jpg
[4] Auckland Star 13 Nov 1940, Page 3. Image sourced from Paperpast -National Library of New Zealandtbn_nz_ariel_4_auckland_star_13_nov_1940_page_3..jpg
[5] Auckland Star 11 Dec 1940, Page 9.. Image sourced from Paperpast -National Library of New Zealandtbn_nz_ariel_5_auckland_star_11_dec_1940_page_9.jpg
[6] New Zealand Herald 28 Sep 1932, page 2. Image sourced from Paperpast -National Library of New Zealandtbn_nz_ariel_6_new_zealand_herald_28_sep_1932_page_2.jpg
[7] New Zealand Herald 16 Dec 1933, page 18. Image sourced from Paperpast -National Library of New Zealandtbn_nz_ariel_7_new_zealand_herald_16_dec_1933_page_18.jpg
  
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