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SIX-SIXTY VALVES STRANGE ADVERTS SHERLOCK HOLMES AND SECRET SOCIETIES

Posted by STEVE M on

What do you think to this 1928 Six-Sixty valve advert?

To some people, the tag line - The Great Mystery Receiver will be quite pertinent, after all, who were Six-Sixty, well, Six-Sixty was the brand name of the Electron Company Ltd. who commenced valve manufacture in 1924.  In 1926, they closed their manufacturing plant and entered into an agreement with Mullard valves for a period of ten years to market under their brand name, a range of sub-specification Azide PM series valves.  

However, after limping along for a while, Mullard purchased the company, renaming it as Six Sixty Radio Company Ltd. and continued with the sales arrangement until 1935 when the brand was sold to and absorbed into the Ever Ready company.

Anyhow, back to the advert, what about these hooded chaps holding their light under a bushel or a valve under a blanket.  Do you think they could be KKK?

With KKK being the Ku Klux Klan, an American secret oath-bound organisation with right wing leanings.   The name was formed by combining the Greek kyklos (κυκλος, meaning circle) with clan. The group was known for a short time as the "Kuklux Clan

However, due to Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary creation, Sherlock Holmes, many people believe the name was derived as was specified in the Sherlock Holmes story Five Orange Pips :-

“Have you never—” said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sinking his voice—“have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?”

“I never have.”

Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. “Here it is,” said he presently:“ ‘Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This  secret society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Southern states after the Civil War...."


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