There is a good chance you’ll find a Roberts Radio in the kitchen or living room of many British homes. With a history that spans over 90 years, Roberts Radio has become synonymous with quality and typically British design.

You can go online or walk into a department store and buy a Roberts Radio today. Many models look similar to those produced in the 1950’s and ’60’s, yet they feature digital radio (DAB), streaming and Bluetooth.

Roberts Radio is almost unique in being a British technology company that managed to survive the devastation of British industry in the 1970’s and ’80’s. In 2024 the company is once again prospering. Just how did Roberts Radio survive when so many other companies disappeared?

The Early Years: A Foundation of Innovation

Roberts Radio began its journey in 1932 when Harry Roberts and Leslie Bidmead, two friends with a passion for radio, founded the company. They started their company in a couple of rooms in Hills Place, Soho, and by 1935 were making 8 radio receivers each week. By 1936 they needed more space, so moved to 41 Rathbone Place, London – just across Oxford Street. Production doubled within a short time.

Harry (born in 1910) and Leslie (5 years older) started their careers in London’s nascent radio receiver industry, working for small companies and learning much about this new market. Companies were appearing and disappearing rapidly, but Roberts and Bidmead could see potential for ‘portable’ receivers that didn’t require large indoor or outdoor aerials, especially important in a crowded city like London. They focused on the higher-end of the market, selling a few sets each week through a few appointed dealers.

At first the company was called “Roberts and Bidmead”, but within a few months Leslie agreed that Roberts Radios sounded better, so the die was cast.

In 1940, The Queen purchased a Roberts Radio from Harrods, and while celebrating her eighteenth birthday in April 1944, Princess Elizabeth was filmed listening to a news item on a Roberts Radio.

During World War II, Roberts Radio contributed to the war effort by producing military equipment, including Morse-code transmitters. In 1941 the company left central London due to the threat of wartime bombing, moving to a former Thames boathouse in East Molesey, Surrey.

Despite the challenges, the company resumed civilian production post-war, introducing the ‘Junior’ model in 1948, a compact and high-performing portable radio that took advantage of wartime valve miniaturisation to weigh ‘only’ 5kg (10 1/2 lb.). It also featured a more advanced (and expensive) battery in order to maintain an acceptable running time. To underscore the sets portability, it came with a carrying bag.

The King and Queen were also photographed listening to a Roberts Radio in 1948.

A Royal Seal of Approval

In 1955, Roberts Radio received a Royal Warrant as Radio Manufacturers to Queen Elizabeth II, a testament to the brand’s excellence and the high esteem in which it was held. Later, in the 1980’s they received another Royal Warrant from the Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales.

Iconic Models

The R66 portable valve radio was launched in 1956, followed by their first portable transistor radio, the RT1, in April 1958. Its compact box-shaped design with a carry handle was a resounding success and became popular among the public and celebrities in the 1960s, shaping the familiar Roberts design. It was designed by Leslie Bidmead, supposedly inspired by a handbag belonging to his wife Elsie.

A key advantage of the transistor-based RT1 was the low power consumption, with some sets lasting 2 years between battery changes (this was partly due to the size of the battery that was used, but is still very impressive). The RT1 could be had with a carrying case as well. Roberts radios were being photographed with some famous people, which only added to their desirability.

The design of today’s Roberts Revival models owes much to the style of the RT1.

Expansion

The early 1960’s saw Roberts outgrowing their current factory, with insufficient space to install a production line for more efficient manufacturing, so in 1962 they moved to a new purpose-built factory in Molesey Avenue, West Molesey.

Another notable model that was launched was the Roberts RIC1, the first radio to be built around an Integrated Circuit (IC). In 1967 Roberts Radio collaborated with Mullard who had developed an integrated-circuit, the TAD100, which incorporated eleven transistors and was designed to provide most of the active functions of an A.M. receiver in a single 14-pin integrated circuit package. Wanting to see this advance exploited commercially, Mullard approached Roberts Radio, who developed the very successful RIC1 model.

Challenges

The 1970’s and 1980’s was a difficult time for Roberts, a challenge faced by many British companies. Britain was suffering the effects of a long-term lack of investment in it’s industries, and a slowness in adapting to the rise of manufacturing in Japan and Hong Kong. This low-cost competition from the far-East caused Roberts markets to shrink. Roberts tried diversifying into TV and video, launching Roberts Video in 1975, and buying Dynatron in 1981, but many famous British brands disappeared during this period.

Modern Times

As the 1990’s came around, it was clear that there was a consistent but small market for Roberts traditional radios. The company further diversified by re-badging generic radio products that were manufactured in the far East, but it was a Martini advert that changed the company’s direction most profoundly.

In 1989, a classic red Roberts radio appeared in a Martini TV advert. Strangely, this revived interest in the product, and people started to search for the radio. In response to this new-found interest, Roberts launched a limited-production replica of the 1950’s radio which rapidly sold out, then another production run sold out, which led to the full re-issue of the design as the Roberts Revival in 1993, in the original red colour. Various new colours and designs were added over time, so that by the year 2000 there were 16 models available. The Revival has been Britain’s best selling portable radio ever since.

This success allowed Roberts Radio to invest in new technologies – they produced the world’s first portable DAB radio in 1999, and now produce a full range of modern and traditional radios featuring digital radio, streaming and Bluetooth. They have also further diversified into a range of Bluetooth speakers, CD players, turntables and sound systems.

You can see the full range here:

https://www.robertsradio.com/en-gb

Conclusion

From its humble beginnings to its current status as a market leader (in the UK at least), Roberts Radio has demonstrated resilience, flexibility and innovation that has allowed them to survive and prosper. They are now owned by GlenDimplex, a privately-held company that started in Northern Ireland as Glen, and went on to acquire numerous older household brands including Dimplex, Morphy Richards, Stoves, Belling, Valor and of course Roberts Radio.

Roberts Radio still design in the UK and have managed to maintain their authenticity in modern times – they are not just a cheap ‘heritage’ brand solely exploiting their history, but have managed to combine unique aspects of their story with being a competitive modern company offering a full range of up-to-date products.