Admiral

I could not find a start date or association with another company as to Admiral's Australian origins. However, Continental Radio and Television trading as Admiral was begun in the United States following the Depression. As large department stores grew interested in consumer electronics CRT was a major supplier. They also had substantial success in supplying the war effort. 

By the late 1940s they were making television sets for the US domestic market, but exporting radios to Europe.

It looks as though they began the Australian arm sometime during the mid 1950s forming an aliance with Metters - who made stoves and ovens. Given that most Austrlian radios had multivoltage transformers and the U.S. used large droping resistors, it is likely most were made here.

Admiral radios were some of the few that used PCBs instead of a metal chassis and point to point wiring.

The parent company withdrew from the local market in 1961 following large losses on televisions.

This radio was bought at a HRSA auction some time in the past. While it has a transformer, it uses a pcb. (Printed Circuit Board) Not test or restored.

The cabnet is generic and was used on a few different radios of various brands such as the red Aristone.

Page last updated August 2025