Kolster-Brandes
American-owned British maker of radios, televisions and record players.
Kolster-Brandes Ltd was a British firm, based in Foots Cray, Sidcup, Kent, that made radio and television sets and was owned by an American parent. Its origins trace back to Brandes, a Canadian company founded in Toronto in 1908. In 1922, Brandes became part of AT&T, and two years later a British subsidiary, Brandes Ltd, was set up in Slough to manufacture headphones. The business grew quickly, adding loudspeakers to its range, and in 1928 it relocated to a former silk mill in Foots Cray. After the American parent merged with the Kolster Radio Corporation, the company was renamed Kolster-Brandes Ltd. In 1930, it supplied 40,000 of its Masterpiece two-valve bakelite radios to the Godfrey Phillips tobacco company, which gave them away to customers in exchange for cigarette coupons. A long association with Cunard began when K-B won a contract to provide communications equipment for one of its ocean liners. In 1938, Kolster-Brandes became part of ITT’s British subsidiary, Standard Telephones and Cables (STC). The Foots Cray site was also shared by Brimar, another STC company founded in 1933 to make American-pattern valves for the British market. During 1960 and 1961, STC took over Ace, Argosy, Regentone, and RGD. In 1968, the Kolster-Brandes logo was changed to ITT KB, and between 1973 and 1974 the KB was dropped, leaving sets branded simply as ITT. The company’s products included radios, radiograms, televisions, tape recorders, amplifiers, and gramophones. Among its many radios and radiograms were models such as the 285, 422 Cavalcade, 666, and CG20. It also produced a popular line of record players, including the Playtime, Gaytime, Dancetime, Tunetime, and Rhythm—the last two being valve-operated.
Quick Facts
- Industry
- Electronics
- Predecessor
- Brandes
- Founded
- in Slough
- Defunct
- 1974
- Fate
- Brand was dropped by parent company
- Successor
- ITT
- Hq Location City
- Foots Cray, Sidcup
- Hq Location Country
- United Kingdom
- Products
- Radio and television sets, tape recorders, amplifiers, headphones and gramophones.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The company descended from Brandes, a Canadian firm founded in Toronto in 1908. Brandes became part of AT&T in 1922, and a British subsidiary, Brandes Ltd, was established in Slough in 1924 to manufacture headphones. The company rapidly expanded into loudspeakers and moved to a former silk mill at Foots Cray in 1928. It was renamed Kolster-Brandes Ltd after the American parent merged with the Kolster Radio Corporation.
In 1930 the company supplied 40,000 of its Masterpiece two-valve, bakelite cabinet radios to the Godfrey Phillips tobacco company, who gave them away to customers in exchange for cigarette coupons. Kolster-Brandes also began a long association with Cunard after winning a contract to provide communications equipment for the ocean liner. In 1938 the company became part of ITT's British subsidiary Standard Telephones and Cables (STC). The Foots Cray site was also shared by Brimar, another STC company founded in 1933 to manufacture American pattern valves for the British market.
In 1960/61 STC took over Ace, Argosy, Regentone and RGD. The Kolster-Brandes logo changed to ITT KB in 1968, and between 1973 and 1974 the KB was dropped, with sets made only under the ITT label.
Reader's Guide
Kolster-Brandes holds significance as a British manufacturer that bridged early radio innovation with mass-market consumer electronics. Its 1930 contract to supply 40,000 Masterpiece radios to Godfrey Phillips demonstrated an early model of promotional marketing, making radio ownership accessible through cigarette coupon redemption. The company's long association with Cunard, providing communications equipment for ocean liners, underscored its technical reliability in demanding environments. Under ITT ownership via STC, Kolster-Brandes expanded its product line to include televisions, tape recorders, and a popular selection of record players such as the Playtime, Gaytime, Dancetime, Tunetime and Rhythm models. The eventual rebranding to ITT KB and later solely ITT reflected the consolidation of the consumer electronics industry in the mid-20th century. The company's legacy lies in its role as a supplier of affordable, mid-range electronics to British households, and in its contribution to the broader ITT/STC conglomerate's presence in the UK market.
Did You Know?
- The Foots Cray site was shared with Brimar, another STC company that manufactured American pattern valves for the British market.
- Between 1973 and 1974 the KB was dropped from the logo, and sets were made only under the ITT label.
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