Selectors Ltd.
206 Bedford Avenue, Slough Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks
1 Dover St., London W1 (London office)

Brand: Selector

The company started manufacturing portable radios in 1926, Added AC/DC mains models to their inventory in the early 1930s, and went into liquidation by December 1932.

Selectors Ltd. was registered as a private company as a dealer in wireless sets, apparatus, and component parts etc on November 19, 1926. W. M. Rolph was the first Managing Director. [1]

They manufactured portable radios in Slough and sold them from their London Office in Dover Street.

In June 1930 they published a letter in the Wireless & Gramophone Trader.

We have received the following letter from Selectors, Ltd., the well-known set makers of Slough, and have been asked to give it prominence for the particular information of the firm's many friends in the trade.

To the Editor.
Sir, it has lately been brought to our notice that rumours are being circulated to the effect that this company is in a bad financial position, and, in fact, is going into liquidation. Only last week we were questioned on this point by one of our biggest customers, who had received this information. I am pleased to state that I am definitely able to contradict these inaccurate statements. We have recently found it necessary to enlarge our works ; in fact, we have increased them to 140 per cent of what they were in January. We have already announced the introduction of two new models for next season, and our production programme for 1930 is three times that of 1929. We have reason to be perfectly satisfied with our position in every way. You will agree that unfounded statements of the description mentioned are liable to be damaging in many ways, and immediate steps will be taken by us against any person or persons we find making them. We should much appreciate any assistance that is given us in tracing. the source of these rumours.
Slough. Selectors. Limited.
A. H. D. Freeman, Sales Manager [2]

By August 1930 they were manufacturing 5 portable radios, AC/DC mains Model 44 along with the Selector Vox, AC-powered radiogram with two turntables. [3]

At the National Radio Exhibition at Olympia in September 1930 they displayed.

Stand 114.

Two battery-operated sets, two all-mains models, and one combined radio gramophone, while a new addition to the family is an attaché receiver selling at a modest figure. In this newcomer, the well-tried and proven Selector screen grid circuit is employed, which is very simple to control and exceedingly efficient. The father of the family is the Selector Vox, a radio gramophone working entirely from the mains and housed in a most attractive veneered walnut cabinet.[4]

Also in September 1930, the company announced;

Selectors' New Trading Conditions

New Discounts: Hire-purchase Scheme: Free Technical Instruction.

Two important announcements have just been made with regard to Selectors' trading conditions. The first is in connection with their selling policy. As of the beginning of this month, Selector products will be sold only through four channels: the distributor agent, service agent, factor, and trader. It is stated that many advantages for the trader will be obtained from the new scheme, such as the maintenance of list prices and protection against reductions, co-operation in local advertising, special publicity and circular sing campaigns, and free training for the technical members of the staffs of the service agents at the Selector Works, Slough. [5]

This new marketing system may have run into financial problems because the company was liquidated by December 1932. [6]

[1] Electrical Review Nov 26, 1926, Page 886.
[2] Wireless & Gramophone Trader Jun 7, 1930, Page 272.
[3] Wireless & Gramophone Trader Aug 23, 1930, Page 11.
[4] Amateur Wireless Sep 20, 1930, Page 329.
[5] Wireless & Gramophone Trader Sep 13, 1930, Page 266.
[6] Wireless & Gramophone Trader Dec 10, 1932, Page 304.