Roberts Radio

Roberts Radio is a consumer electronics limited company based in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England. It has been producing radios for over 80 years. Initially, the company only traded in the United Kingdom, but now exports worldwide. The company was initially based in central London, near Oxford Circus and then at Rathbone Place, but moved to East Molesey in 1941.

For the reel-to-reel tape recorders sold under the Roberts brand, see Akai Electric Company.

Roberts Radio
TypeSubsidiary of Glen Dimplex
IndustryAudio & Video equipment
Founded1932
HeadquartersMexborough, South Yorkshire, UK
Key people
Robin van Rozen (Managing director)
ProductsDAB/DAB+, analogue, world radios, and Smart Radios. Bluetooth Speakers. Multi-room Wireless Speakers.
Websitewww.robertsradio.com

In 1962, the company had a purpose built factory constructed in West Molesey. The company has been granted three Royal warrants in its own right, and one via the purchase of Dynatron Radio Ltd,[n 1] in 1981.[1]

The company was founded in 1932 by Harry Roberts and Leslie Bidmead[2]
They financed the down payment on a small factory, by selling Bidmead's motorbike.[3]

Roberts produced their first DAB digital radio in 1999.[2]

The company was struggling in the 1980s until one of its transistor radios appeared in an advert in 1989 for Martini, reviving interest in the product. Two limited edition product runs sold out, and led to the reissue of the original design as the Revival model, inspired by a handbag belonging to Harry Roberts' wife Elsie.[3]

Roberts Radio has been a subsidiary since 1994 of the privately owned GlenDimplex Group, which operates from the Republic of Ireland.[4]

The company's current MD is Robin van Rozen.[5]

  • Roberts Revival RD60 DAB+/DAB/FM Radio (Cobalt Blue)
  • Roberts Rambler radio LW/MW (1960s)

Notes
  1. Bought from Philips, previously owned by Pye and EKCO

References
  1. Barnett, Emma (19 August 2011). "The Roberts Radio is 80". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
  2. Fielding, James; Benson, Richard (October 2007). Made in Britain. Summersdale Publishers. pp. 211–213. ISBN 9781840246056. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  3. Watson-Smyth, Kate (1 March 2013). "Sense of majesty--Design: The Roberts radio". ft.com. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  4. "Glen Dimplex acquires Roberts Radio". Telecompaper. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  5. "Robin van Rozen to take over as Roberts chief exec". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
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