Standard Radio Service
43 Austin Street, Adelaide
128 Vincent Street, Port Adelaide

The company owned by R.W. George and V.J. Wheaton manufactured and sold radios in Adelaide and Port Adelaide. They manufactured battery, Vibrator, and AC radios.

Reginald W George (1910-   ), after obtaining a first-class Electrical Workers License in 1928 started making radio's in 1929 from his home in Allen Avenue, Brooklyn Park under the name R.W.G Ernest and Oswald Smith. [1]

This was followed by making radios for Duncan & Co. who badged them, Vasco. [2]

In 1945 he set up Standard Radio Service in conjunction with V.J. Wheaton with shops in Adelaide and Port Adelaide

Mr. Barlow, Engineer of Albert Park, made chassis of steel and welded them together, then they were painted grey. He made chassis for both table and console models.

Assisting Mr. Barlow at this time was Vince J Wheaton who stayed with him until after the war.

In 1945 Reg George and Vince Wheaton formed a partnership and opened two stores, one in Adelaide and one in Port Adelaide. [3]

In January 1946 they advertised for sale direct from the manufacturer who had 15 years of experience in radio production. The sets mentioned were 12- & 32-volt home lighting sets, dual wave, and High Fidelity.[4]

It should be noted that from 1933 the South Australian address for Eclipse Radio was also listed as 43 Austin Street. [5]
Eclipse advertising continued from 43 Austin Street in 1946 so it is not clear how Standard Radio and Eclipse traded from this address. Perhaps George & Weaton were Eclipse agents.

Later in the 50s with the introduction of television, they started selling and servicing Philips television sets. [2]

Notes on Reg George radio designs;

Reg started making six-volt vibrator radio's using the two-volt heater valves, with a tuned RF stage, building them in metal cabinets with a Standard nameplate fixed on the back, stating made in South Australia.

He also made some 240-volt AC sets with a tuned RF stage in wooden cabinets. These also had the Standard plate fixed to the chassis.
After the war there was a big move to making 32-volt HT radios (no vibrators), using the valve lineup of 6SK7, 6SA7, 6AR7GT, 6SK7, and three 35L6's. Reg made quite a number of these with the name Standard across the top of the dial. He used seven valves in a wooden cabinet that also had the same nameplate fixed to the chassis. All these sets used Aegis coils and IF transformers. [2]

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[1] The Register (SA)  Dec 6, 1928, Page 15.
[2] Memories from Keith George, son of the founder Reg George.
[3] Blyth Agriculturist (SA) Mar 1, 1945, Page 3.
[4] Northern Argus (SA) Jan 31, 1946, page 5.
[5] News (SA) Apr 26, 1933, Page 10.