ASSOCIATION OF
 
 
PUBLIC ADDRESS ENGINEERS  
 

1964 PUBLIC ADDRESS The official monthly journal of the Public Address Industry gives the complete History of the Association of Public Address from 1948-1965

(Can be seen in our ABOUT US SECTION)

 

 

  

 

1948 – 1965
About the APAE


The inaugural meeting of the Association took place on Wednesday, April 21st 1948, at the offices of National Sound Reproducers in Ealing Road Wembley, when eight “P.A.Engineers” got together to discuss the Association we see today.

Of these original eight there are only two remaining in the P.A. Business: Mr Cecil Clarabut (below) the present Chairman who has held that office since 1948 with the exception of the year he served as President, and the Honorary Secretary, Alex. J. Walker.

 

 

 

 

It is strange that the idea of our Association sprang from a meeting Mr Clarabut had with Mr Walker when they discussed such things as the poor quality of P.A. in those days, of cut throat competition by people who had little or no technical knowledge, and above all the fact that no one knew each other in the Industry which was in those days the Cinderella of the Radio Industry.


A number of the meetings were held, some in Bedford at the offices of Mr Clarabut, but most at N.S.R.’s office in Wembley.One or two other P.A. people were invited to become “ Founders” and the only remaining one of these is Mr Robert E Owen of Reosound Engineering of Sutton Coldfield.


 

 

The original members put up the money to finance the effort to obtain members and for the first year many letters were written, calls were made by the “ Founders” on as many P.A. people as could be found around the country and according to the records the early members still in business are. Mr Alex Apps of Canterbury, M A Stokes of Peterborough who joined on 2nd July 1948 Next was Mr F.W. Edwards of Perivale, Middlesex, together with Mr Walter Mannerings of Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex a past President, who joined together on 9th July 1948. Mr Moore of Aylesbury Amplifying Service joined on the 16th July 1948.

 

Frank Poperwell President 1964
 

Mr Reeder of York Relay joined on the 16th July 1948, Mr Cyrill K. Driscoll of Marston Green, on the same date, Mr S.W. Lewis of Theydon Bois, Essex, on the 26th July 1948, also Mr E.J. Pike of Lowestoft Suffolk, whilst Mr F. Warren, the father of Hayden Warren our Honorary Librarian, joined on 5th November 1948.

These are people still in P.A. who were the first members and those that have supported the effort over the years and must be quite proud to see what they started blossom out into the Association it is today.

The above exhibits are from the Collection of the late Frank Poperwell (left) - GEC Ltd then Reslosound as Professional Engineer,  President of the Association of Public Address Engineers 1964

 
3rd October 1949 the first President of the APAE was appointed.

The going has not been easy, in fact for years every penny received was devoted to getting more members and to advertising what we were trying to do. We were fortunate in getting Mr A.R. Williams, MC who was at that time Managing Director of Grampian Reproducers Ltd., to join the Association and support the efforts we were making, he was the First President we elected and the installation ceremony was carried out at Radiolympia in 1949 when we put a cardboard badge of the Association suspended on blue ribbon for the benefit of photographers.

It was some years before we were able to place a beautiful President’s Jewel and collarette round a President’s neck made possible by Mr Andrew Buchan of Aberdeen after he had served as President, in 1954.

The APAE President's Jewelled Chain and Collarette

 
 

APAE Presidents
 
 
1949 - 1977  
 

3 October 1949 the first president of the APAE was appointed.

A.R. Williams MC. of Grampian Reproducers Ltd., Feltham Middx. He Held the post until 1951. 

1952 H.J. Leak of H.J. Leak Ltd., Acton London 
1953 A.E. Buchan Trader/Contractor Aberdeen 
1954 L.W. Murkham of Reslosound London 
1955 A.H. Whiteley of Whiteley Elec Ltd Mansfield 
1956 V.P. Weake of Pamphonic Ltd., London 
1957 W.O. Mannering Trader/Contractor Harrow 
1958 A.V. Sharpe of Magneta Time Ltd., London 
1959 S.V. Williams of Pamphonic Ltd., London 
1960 H.G Warren Trader/Contractor of Luton 
1961 J. Maurice of Lustraphone Ltd., London 
1962 D.L.G. Lodge EMI Electronics Ltd., London 
1963 C.C. Clarabut Trader/Contractor Bedford 
1964 F. Poperwell GEC and Reslosound London 
1965 R.E. Owen of Reslosound Ltd., Warwickshire 
1966 W.R. Drinkle Trader/Contractor Manchester 
1967 N.P. Bone BBC Radio Prof/Eng London 
1968 C.T. Heinlein of CTH Electronics Ltd., St Ives 
1969 R.W. Birtley Trader/Contractor Leicester 
1970 H. Brittain of Hirst Research Centre Wembley 
1971 G. Pontzen of Lustraphone Ltd London 
APAE was Incorporated 2 Dec 1971 Ltd Company 
1972 E.A. Sawkins at time of Westrex Co Ltd., 
1973 J.V.H. Robins of SNS Communications Hants 
1974 T.K Monks of Keith Monks Audio Ltd., Hants 
1975 R.A. Walker Trader/Contractor Harrow 
1976 J.G. Davies Trader/Contractor Aberdare
1977 B.A. Skinner of Millbank Elect/ Ltd., Sussex

During the year the name was changed to Association of Sound & Communications Engineers ASCE Ltd.,

 

 

September 1977 Public Address Journal

 

Technical Matters in the Journal written by Haydon Warren

 

  

APAE Archive Equipment

 
2004
Unfortunately it had been stored for a great number of years, some in very damp conditions leading to extensive rusting on most of the equipment. However I am in the process of renovating, mainly de-rusting , and making presentable for display in the Museum.

The first of the Amplifiers are shown below. Ken 24 March 2005

1935 S.T.C. LU 39 G Amplifier

 

 

 

1935 GEC BCS 1587 Amplfier Brass Handles

Was used in a large North London factory.

Presented by Richard Norman in 1967

 

1950s TRIX T621 Mixer Amplifier

SN 67043 2 EL34

 

 

 

Rear view BCS 1587 Amplifier 14 watts SN 1118 2 PX25

 

GEC 60 watt power pack chassis for use with BCS 2230

chassis Inst 1128 2 119 valves

Late 1930s

  

 

 

GEC 30/60 watt amplifier BCS 2230 Inst No 1240 4 KT66 valves

Displayed with GEC Carbon Microphone from the Museum late 1920s.

  

1947 TANNOY Type AB/AC/25 SN 30722

25 watt Mixer Amplifier

 

 

 

1935 STC 3 Unit Rack containing
two 28-LU-125B-TFG Ampliers (top & bottom)
and one 28-LU-124B - Amplifier (middle).

Ex Institute of Electrical Engineers
Savoy Hill London.

Once the Home of 2LO
Presented by N.S.R. Ltd.

  

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