Over a century ago, in 1922, 12 companies agreed to form the British Broadcasting Company to stimulate their sales of domestic radio sets. One of those 12 was based in Grotes Mews, Blackheath. That was Burndept, originally founded in 1919 as a metal sign maker in Deptford that diversified into the new wireless technology.
In this free talk from the Greenwich Industrial History Society, David Shaw will talk about what became Britain’s largest and most iconic wireless set manufacturer, supplying sets to kings and popes.
In his talk, Dave will look at the development and social impact of early wireless on society and will touch on Burndept’s origins and the glory years in Blackheath and then its falter during the great depression.
Burndept moved to a new factory in Erith in the 1930s, when its great innovative ability gave it a new lease of life. Dave will then track its demise and final collapse. Burndept is a rather lost but important part of SE London’s industrial greatness. Dave, who’s spoken to GIHS in the past, is a lover of all things wireless – a listener, a collector of old radios, a radio ham (callsign G4NOW) who still finds the sound of a voice coming out of a wireless magical. He is a retired company director, uni lecturer and textbook writer.
Book your place at this free talk now by emailing greenwichindustrial@gmail.com with the subject line “GIHS Burndept talk” and we will send you Zoom log-in details *just* before the talk starts on Tuesday. Please book your place by 19:00 on the day of the talk, so that we can send you the log-in details.
We gather electronically at 19:15 UK time (not earlier) and Dave will start speaking just after 19:30. You’ll be able to ask questions via the chat function.