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THE GREAT MULLARD MAGIC BLOG — mullard

MULLARD GIVES YOU A MELLOW TONE IN 1926

Posted by STEVE M on

MULLARD GIVES YOU A MELLOW TONE IN 1926

We all know the foot tapping strains of 'In a Mellow Tone"   also known as "In a Mellotone",  which is a 1939  jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington and lyrics written by Milt Gabler.  The song was itself was based on the 1917 standard " Rose Bloom" by Hickman and Williams which Ellington himself had recorded in 1932.  Subsequently, it was further immortalised as the theme tune to the Howard Stern American Talk Show during the period 1987 to 1994 on WXRK Radio.  That said, Mullard got there first as it was with so many things as this 1926 advertisement attests: -

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GLAMOUR OR SID - WHICH ONE FOR THE 1955 MULLARD CALENDAR

Posted by STEVE M on

GLAMOUR OR SID - WHICH ONE FOR THE 1955 MULLARD CALENDAR

As early as 1952, Mullard top brass were considering how best to promote their product range with the expounding of an idea which became all too prominent some 10 - 15 years later.      The idea was of course a calendar and not just any calendar but a glamour calendar, much board room discussion was made of the merits of Roedean-esqe girls showing cheeky smiles, a shapely ankle or even a svelte swimsuit with a plunging back line but the eventual conclusion was that such an approach might sully the wholesome Mullard image - the phrase 'sex sells' wasn't...

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MULLARD VALVES, A WORK OF ART

Posted by STEVE M on

MULLARD VALVES, A WORK OF ART

I recently met Steve Burke - Hare who is a Mortuary Manager and Medical Enbalmer with a penchant for valves.   Steve has engaged the talent of Monika, a Polish tattoo artist working from a studio in Macclesfield to illustrate his devotion to the thermionic cult.     Here you can see Monika at work and Mrs. Mullard Magic is a little in awe of Monika as she likes the idea of ladies inflicting pain and discomfort on a man: -  And now, you can see the fruits of her labours and I think you will agree, the results, in...

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SISTERS DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES AND KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

Posted by STEVE M on

SISTERS DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES AND KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

Today's blog entry shows a press photograph and article from the Wandsworth Beagle newsheet from 1954 and was taken at the Mullard Equipment Factory at Wandsworth. It shows Betty Calf, Hetty Calf and Lettie Calf assembling Mullard High Speed Valve Testers - truly a family affair - and not a tin of pineapple rings to be seen!  I wonder if anyone will 'get' that last comment - answers on a postcard............................

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I SAY, BASE ADAPTORS FOR YOUR VALVE TESTER - SIMPLY SPIFFING!

Posted by STEVE M on

I SAY, BASE ADAPTORS FOR YOUR VALVE TESTER - SIMPLY SPIFFING!

May 1854 brought a useful accessory addition to the Mullard High Speed Valve Tester (MHSVT).  Developed in conjunction with Messrs. Spear Engineering of Warlingham the range comprised of eight adaptors to facilitate the testing of valves for which no existing valve base was provided on the instrument. These were precision items, with the bodies of the adaptors being trned from duralumin - usually reserved for aircraft bodies - and just look at the adaptor below for testing the EY51 boost diode - impressive huh? The adaptors were engraved 1-8 with the figures clearly identifying each adaptor body and were priced...

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