Lissen Ltd.
16-20 Woodger Road, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 (1923)
18-22 Friars Lane, Richmond, Surrey. (1928)
Angel Lane Edmonton, London (1925)

Lissen Ltd, founded in 1923 by Thomas Noah Cole, was a British electronics manufacturer specialising in radio components and receivers. After being acquired by Ever-Ready in 1928, Lissen entered the valve business in 1929. It initially sold rebranded valves from suppliers like BTH and Edison Swan before sourcing from multiple suppliers, though it did not develop proprietary valve designs.

Note: No connection to the modern music company of the same name.

Company Overview

• Founded: September 3, 1923, by Thomas Noah Cole and G.L. Ward as a private company.[1]
• Original Name: Operated initially as The Lissen Co. before incorporation.
• Capital: Established with £3,000 in £1 shares.

Operations and History

• Early Activities: Produced radio components, kits for home-built receivers, and crystal sets. Notable models included the Lissenola 3-Valve Receiver and Skyscraper 3 kits.
• Expansion: Restructured as a public company in 1931 with a capital of £1 million, diversifying into gramophones, spark plugs, and accumulators. [2]
• Acquisition: Acquired by Ever-Ready in 1928, which led to the production of radio valves and shared branding for radio sets.[3]

Key Events

• Founder Departure: Thomas Noah Cole left in 1934/1935 to establish Vidor/Burndept after legal disputes with Ever-Ready.
• World War II Impact: A factory was destroyed during the Blitz in 1941, prompting production relocation under the Ever-Ready brand.
• Closure: Lissen Ltd was formally wound up by Ever Ready in 1948, though Lissen-branded production had ceased by 1941.

Legacy

• Design Innovations: Known for Art Deco designs such as Egyptian Temple cabinets and modular components like the Plug-in Coil Lissenagon.
• Industry Influence: Played a foundational role in the UK radio industry with connections to Ever Ready, Burndept, and Vidor.

Valve Sourcing and Integration

1. Post-Acquisition Strategy (1928–1935):

• After its acquisition by Ever Ready in 1928, Lissen began selling valves in 1929. These were often surplus stock from manufacturers like BTH (British Thomson-Houston) and Edison Swan, sometimes fitted with custom bases but lacking proprietary internal designs.

2. Diversified Supply Chains:

• By the 1930s, Lissen sourced valves from various domestic and international suppliers rather than manufacturing them in-house.

Technical Constraints

• Lissen lacked facilities for producing glass envelopes, assembling electrodes, or vacuum sealing for valves. Instead, its focus remained on modular radio kits (e.g., Skyscraper 3) and Art Deco cabinets rather than advancing valve technology.

Legacy and Distinction

• While Lissen’s valve offerings complemented its radio kits (e.g., Lissenola 3-Valve Receiver), they did not contribute significantly to tube innovation. Its modular components and crystal sets were more prominent achievements.
• The departure of founder T.N. Cole marked the end of any significant valve-related activities at Lissen.

Contextual Role

Lissen Ltd’s position in the interwar radio industry was that of a mid-tier assembler. While Ever Ready utilised Lissen to reach consumers, valve manufacturing remained centralised with specialised firms like Mullard or Marconi-Osram. This strategic approach set it apart from vertically integrated competitors such as GEC or STC.

Lissen & Ever-Ready Model Numbers

Similar to Ever-Ready radios produced between 1935 and 1941, most Lissen valve radio models typically only featured their model number on the guarantee card, not on the chassis or rear panel. While some 1939 Lissen models displayed the name on the tuning scale, the model number was often absent. Although there's generally no direct correlation between Lissen and Ever Ready model numbers, the final two digits occasionally aligned from 1939 onwards. Trader Service sheets provide equivalents for certain models. Notably, not all models were marketed under both the Lissen and Ever Ready brands.

[1] Electrical Review Sep 14, 1923, Page 402.
[2] Electrical Review Jan 9, 1931, Page 72.
[3] Electrical Review Jan 19, 1929, Page 118.
[4] London Gazette Dec 21, 1948, Page 6629.