Ekco History Southend-on-Sea

This short video is about my interest in Eric Kirkham Cole (EKCO) and a short history of his radio factory at Southend-on-Sea.
It includes my visit to Southend Central Museum and the Museum at Sheringham in Suffolk.
Hope you enjoy

[@crayons1878]

Well put together and very interesting to. I’d just like to say that i grew up not far from ECKO plastics but had no idea that they were responsible for so many items and very stylish to. Seeing The glass holder and coloured tubs reminded me that my Nan still used these items in the 1970’s unfortunately after she passed away in the 1990’s they ended up probably being thrown away. Thank you for not only teaching me something new about my home town and jogging some happy childhood memories of my Nan.😀

[@adamfaith2321]

In one of our storerooms we still have one of Eric's side lines, some fully working EKCO fluorescent light fittings with Atlas tubes fitted from around the early 1960's, luckily the building was rewired 20 years ago. Thanks for the history of Eric Kirkham Cole.

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Thank you for this. I will be visiting Southend again in late August to view the new EKCO exabition at the Central Museam. Would it be possible to send a photo of the fittings. Take care Dave

[@stevehead365]

Thank you very much for your video on Ekco, hopefully more to come. I would love to see the exhibition in Southend.

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Thank you Steve, The EKCO exhibition at Southend Central Museum starts next summer but not sure of exact date, normally July to end of September. Take care Dave

[@Theoobovril]

This was interesting, Dave, nice.

[@davidhudson1168]

Very interesting, we had an EKCO tv when I was a boy, if I remember rightly it would only pick up BBC and my dad later bought a Marconiphone tv that had a switch marked band 1 and 3 and would pick up ITV and BBC2. I’ve started restoring and collecting Roberts radios, they also have an interesting story. Keep up with the videos there very good.

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Thank you for you comments and the early tv. I guess it may have been a duel standard with a dual band turret. Take care Dave

[@songsmith31a]

A well-known name from my youth, linked with Pye in the development of radio products in the UK. Both names are deservedly part of our national history.

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Thank you for your comments. Love the Mewstone. Is it inspired by the Mewstone off Plymouth? Dave

[@songsmith31a]

@@DavidHallettProjects Thank you for the response. I'm intrigued about how you came to link me with "Down By The Mewstone". Was that the poem...or the later song I completed - the result of the walk from Higher Brownstone above Kingswear to the estuary of the River Dart where there is another Mewstone rock. There is a family connection insofar that my late eldest sister knew the coastal defences there during WW2 and later wed a US Army officer who was wounded post D-Day and had been shipped back to the UK for recuperation. She travelled to the USA to marry him when war ended and spent the rest of her life in Louisiana and had ten children, now spread across that vast country. .

[@DavidHallettProjects]

@@songsmith31a Sorry to cause confusion. It was the song that attracted my attention. I lived in Plymouth for many years and had friends near 'The Great Mewstone' off Wembury beach in Devon. Just liked the song and it reminded me of my time in Devon. Thanks for the back story Best wishes Dave

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

I have several "E.K.Cole" radio's in my collection :- EKCO AD36, three "Radio Rentals" sets made by EKCO at their factory - model's 58, 60 & 378. You can always tell an EKCO radio just by looking inside at the parts, in the same way you could with "Philips" receivers and mid thirties "Cossor" receivers etc. I presume those houses behind the Eric Cole statue, are on the site of the former "EKCO" factory ? It's a shame I live so far away from Southend-on-Sea, I'm up north !! 🤣

[@DavidHallettProjects]

What a collection! Wish I could come close! Yes the new estate behind the statue was the site of the factory, all now gone. A pity you live so far away, I only have to travel from Bath. Next year is a full exhabition of EKCO products and documents if you can make it. Thanks for your comments. Take care Dave

[@terryblackman6217]

Nice piece of history. If you are going to dig out an EKCO radio please share it with us.

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Will publish a sequel soon, thank you for your comments, take care Dave

[@MaboPete]

Hello David, I enjoyed watching your video; it's very difficult to try to encompass the range of EKCO products in such a short space of time, or indeed explain some of the advances made by their technicians and engineers into other fields such as convection heating, radar and Scintillation counters, etc. The book 'EKCO Sounds' was actually reduced in word count to meet the publisher's requirements. Best Wishes, Peter

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Hi Peter, Last summer, I went back to Southend to visit the Ekco exabition at the Central Museum. It contained so many products, including an early colour television produced by Ekco engineers! It is such a pity the book contents was eddited down so much. Thank you for your interest. It's been a while but I will be uploading a new video soon. Take care David

[@MaboPete]

Hi David, Yes, the museum was donated and loaned a wealth of EKCO products, and makes a superb display. My last visit to the site was to explore/document the 'air raid tunnels' while the demolition was going on, but my wife and I had moved from the area by the time the monument To Eric Cole created by Anne was officially unveiled. I look forward to your next video :) Best Regards, Peter @@DavidHallettProjects

[@frankowalker4662]

Thank you, David, that was interesting. Just one complaint, It was'nt long enough. :) Stay safe and keep up the good work.

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Hi Franko, Thank you for your kind comments as always. Would you believe that hat video took me over 12 hours to produce and edit. I was anxious to publish before the Queens funeral tomorrow so truncated it a bit. I have lots more material on EKCO so may well publish a squall. Take care Dave

[@frankowalker4662]

@@DavidHallettProjects Yes, The Queen will be dearly missed, I understand. I look forward to a possible sequal in the future.

[@DavidHallettProjects]

@@frankowalker4662 Hi Frank, Thank you, having published that video I will be working on a less rushed video soo. Take care Dave

[@frankowalker4662]

@@DavidHallettProjects YAY. (LOL)

[@DE-eVOLVED]

Hi, David - myself and another team member went to Southend Museum today and were first in to see the exhibition. We are very interested in another aspect of the EKCO company that perhaps you may be able to shine some light on..?.. I enjoyed your video - many thanks - DE-eVOLVED

[@DavidHallettProjects]

Hi DR-eVolved Sure I can help but can you be more specific on exactly what I can shed light on? Dave

[@DE-eVOLVED]

@David Hallett Projects Hi thanks for your reply .. We know there was a total of 26 Shelters/ Tunnels 2 of which were inside the original factory (we know the location ..roughly where these 2 were ..but we want to know where the others were .. there is a Pathe Video that shows female workers leaving their work positions and the video says all '2000' workers can get undercover within 7 minutes ..the black and white video shows some of the entrances.. we want to locate these entrances. Many Thanks - DE-eVOLVED 👍👍

[@DavidHallettProjects]

@@DE-eVOLVED I

[@DavidHallettProjects]

@@DE-eVOLVED I have a local contact in Southend who may be able to help as family worked there.. Will get back to you if I can get more information Dave