Stockall, Marples & Co. (1912) Ltd.
6-10, Clerkenwell Road, London, ECT (1922)

Stockall, Marples & Co. Ltd.
6-0, Clerkenwell Road, London, ECT (1930)

Established in 1912, Stockall Marples & Co. (1912) Ltd. primarily manufactured timekeeping instruments like fusee wall clocks and time recorders for factories. Following mergers and liquidations, the company focused on new time recorder models until the 1970s.
The rise of radio broadcasting in 1922, with Big Ben's chimes becoming a national timekeeping reference, prompted them to enter the radio market. Capitalizing on the modular system popular among enthusiasts, their patented design allowed for diverse receiving sets by combining plug-in units on a foundation panel. This offered flexibility compared to fixed wireless sets. Their Big Ben series of modular radio panels, named after the iconic timekeeping landmark, included crystal sets and valve sets, catering to diverse needs. Though radio production continued till the mid-1930s, it remained a secondary focus compared to their core timekeeping business.

Historical Overview of Stockall Marples & Co. (1912) Ltd.

1908-1912: Mergers, Liquidations, and Reformations

1908: J.J. Stockall & Sons Ltd. merged with Robert Moffat Marples & Sons to form Stockall Marples & Co. Ltd.

1911: Both Stockall Marples & Co. Ltd. and Stockall-Brook Time Recorders underwent liquidation.

1912: Frank Brooks partnered with G.H. Gledhill & Sons to establish Gledhill-Brook Time Recorders Ltd., continuing production of the Stockall-Brook time recorder design.

A reformed company, Stockall Marples & Co. (1912) Ltd., was registered, focusing on developing new time recorder models and remaining operational until 1970.

Adapting to the Rise of Radio: The Big Ben Series (1922-1930s)

1922: Public broadcasting commenced in November, allowing the reception of Big Ben's chimes via radio. Recognizing its potential as a timekeeping reference for clockmakers, Stockall Marples & Co. (1912) Ltd. entered the radio market.

Additionally, in 1922, they joined a unique consortium of leading wireless receiver manufacturers, forming the backbone of a revolutionary venture: the British Broadcasting Company (BBC).

This trailblazing partnership was born out of a need for regulation and control in the burgeoning world of radio broadcasting. With multiple companies vying for airwaves, the government sought to establish a single broadcasting license rather than dividing the limited spectrum further. As a result, leading manufacturers like Stockall Marples & Co. (1912) Ltd. pooled their expertise and resources to form the BBC, a company jointly owned by the consortium.

1923: The company capitalized on the popularity of the "unit construction system" amongst radio enthusiasts seeking customizable radio sets.

Patent number 220161 was awarded for a modular radio design enabling the creation of diverse receiving sets by combining various plug-in units on a foundation panel. This offered significant flexibility compared to pre-assembled and non-modifiable wireless sets. [1]

The Big Ben series of modular radio panels was introduced, encompassing a crystal set, a crystal set with a high-frequency (HF) stage and amplifier, and a valve set as an HF detector. This modular approach allowed dealers to cater to diverse customer needs without maintaining a large inventory, offering various combinations on demand.

Core Business and Legacy

Stockall, Marples & Co. (1912) Ltd.'s primary business remained the production of:

• Fusee-type wall clocks for various institutions like railways, offices, and schools.
• Time recorders for factories, available in both spring-driven and synchronous electric models.
• Specialized mechanisms and gear cutting for diverse timekeeping applications.

While radio production continued until the mid-1930s, the company's core business remained focused on timekeeping instruments.

The company ultimately continued operations until the early 1970s.

[1] The Wireless Engineer Nov 1924, Page 127.