The N.Z. Vintage Radio Project

NOTE: There are two distinct uses of 'Pacific' as a brand.  Originally the brand was owned by the Pacific Radio Company Ltd in Wellington and from around 1940 the brand was taken over by Akrad Radio Ltd in Waihi.  If the dial is a peephole, arc-shaped or round then it is most likely an original Pacific set - otherwise its likely an Akrad Pacific.

Pacific Radio Ltd was formed in 1933 in Wellington at the same time as Courtenay Radio Ltd.  This appears to have been a break-up of the Stewart Hardware Company that had previously been selling Courtenay radios made by Radio Corporation of New Zealand.  Pacific Radio was most likely formed by one of the executives of Stewart Hardware.  Of note, around the same time as this occurred Radio Corp moved into the Stewart Hardware building.

Pacific sets were said to be built as special runs by Radio Corp, and then as standard RNZ chassis models with Pacific badges and dials fitted in 1936 and '37 at which point RNZ ceased manufacturing private brand sets in order to focus on manufacturing their own newly-minted Columbus brand. 

Some time around this point the owner of Pacific Radio is said to have died, and the brand disappeared briefly before being picked up by Akrad Radio.

Early Pacific sets were known for their art-deco styling, although later sets became quite run-of-the-mill using standard cabinet designs.

Steve of the New Zealand Vintage Radio Project compiled a short video on the history of Pacific Radio Co. Ltd as part of a restoration series on the model 107.