COURTENAY

'Known For Tone'

The 'Courtenay' brand was introduced in NZ in 1930 and lasted until 1956.

'Courtenay' branded equipment was manufactured by Radio Corporation of New Zealand Ltd, they were distributed by Turnbull & Jones Ltd . Currently there are 92 documented models.

The first Courtenay receiver
The first ever Courtenay receiver

Originally 'Courtenay' was simply the name of the first model: a 3-valve receiver built by William Marks at his small radio workshop in Cornhill St in 1930.  This set was sold (and distributed) by Stewart Hardware from their premises in Courtenay Place. 

This lineup was gradually increased and within a year there were multiple models using the familiar numbered model codes that would remain with the brand until it was retired in 1956.

When Stewart Hardware reorganised in around 1933 a new company called Courtenay Radio Ltd was formed to handle distribution of the Courtenay brand.  Around this time W. Marks Ltd also rebranded as Radio Corporation (N.Z.) Ltd.

Courtenay Radio Ltd - company formed in 1933
Formation of Courtenay Radio Ltd
Evening Post, 17 June 1933, Page 16

 

In around 1935 Courtenay sales were taken over by Turnbull & Jones who would manage it for some 22 years, marketing a huge number of different models in that time.  These models were manufactured by Radio Corp NZ and as such, they generally used the same chassis as was used in RNZ's house brand, Columbus (and for a couple of years between 1933 and 1937 similar or the same as Pacific, CQ, Stella models of any given year).  Typically from 1937 onwards the only differences between brands was the dial and the cabinet.

92 Documented Courtenay Models
IMAGEYEAR MODEL CODE VALVES BANDS
1930 Courtenay Junior 3 + crystal detector
1930 Courtenay Senior
1931 Courtenay model 106 'Super Six' 6
1931 Courtenay model 5V TRF 5  Broadcast 
1931 Courtenay model 6 3
1931 Courtenay model 66 4
1932 Courtenay model 3 'Mantle' 3  Broadcast 
1932 Courtenay model 5A 5  Broadcast 
1932 Courtenay model 5B 5  Broadcast 
1932 Courtenay model 5C 5  Broadcast 
1932ish Courtenay model 6A 6  Broadcast 
1933 Courtenay model 103 5  Broadcast 
1933 Courtenay model 106 'Cathedral' 6  Broadcast 
1933 Courtenay model 140 7  Broadcast 
1933 Courtenay model 6BS 6  Broadcast 
1933 Courtenay model 7A 7  Broadcast 
1934 Courtenay model 103 5  Broadcast 
1934 Courtenay model 108 6  Dual Wave 
1934 Courtenay model 108 'Cathedral' 6  Dual Wave 
1934 Courtenay model 109 5  Dual Wave 
1934 Courtenay model 205 'Exponat' 5  Broadcast 
1934 Courtenay model 7BD 7  Dual Wave 
1935 Courtenay model 10 'Shortwave Converter' 2  Broadcast 
1935 Courtenay model 11 'International' 7  Dual Wave 
1935 Courtenay model 15 5  Broadcast 
1935 Courtenay model 15 'Overture' 5  Broadcast 
1935 Courtenay model 8 6  Dual Wave 
1935 Courtenay model 9 5  Dual Wave 
1936 Courtenay model 18 'Harmony' 6 (+ eye on some)  Dual Wave 
1936 Courtenay model 18V 6 (+ eye on some)  Dual Wave 
1936 Courtenay model 21 'Rhapsody' 6  Dual Wave 
1936 Courtenay model 33 'Minuet' 8  All Wave 
1937 Courtenay model 24 'Nocturne' 5 + eye  Broadcast 
1937 Courtenay model 25 'Nocturne' 5 (+ eye on some)  Dual Wave 
1937 Courtenay model 38 'Opera' 6 + eye  All Wave 
1937 Courtenay model 38 'Ballad' 6 + eye  All Wave 
1937 Courtenay model 43 'Round Dial' 8 + magic eye  All Wave 
1938 Courtenay model 35 5 + eye  Dual Wave 
1938 Courtenay model 36 6 + eye  Dual Wave 
1938 Courtenay model 68V 6 + magic eye  Dual Wave 
1938 Courtenay model 84 'Popular' 5 + eye  Broadcast 
1938 Courtenay model 85 'Popular' 5  Dual Wave 
1939 Courtenay model 151 5  Broadcast 
1939 Courtenay model 152 5  Dual Wave 
1939 Courtenay model 54 'Quartette' 5 + magic eye  Broadcast 
1939 Courtenay model 60 'Bentley' 5 + eye  Dual Wave 
1939 Courtenay model 64 6 + magic eye  Dual Wave 
1939 Courtenay model 65 'Enfield' 6 + eye  Dual Wave 
1939 Courtenay model 94 5  Broadcast 
1939 Courtenay model 95 'Popular' 5  Dual Wave 
1940 Courtenay model 022 'Mere' 5  Broadcast 
1940 Courtenay model 100 'Portable' 5  Broadcast 
1940 Courtenay model 12 'Tiki' 5  Broadcast 
1940 Courtenay model 162 'Junior Defiant' 6 + eye  Dual Wave 
1940 Courtenay model 172 6 + eye  Dual Wave 
1940 Courtenay model 173 'Rotu' 6 + magic eye  Dual Wave 
1940 Courtenay model 22 'Mere' 5  Broadcast 
1940 Courtenay model 52S 5  Dual Wave 
1940 Courtenay model 62 6  Dual Wave 
1940 Courtenay model 63 'All World' 6  All Wave 
1940 Courtenay model 75 'Super Defiant' 6 + eye 5
1941 Courtenay model 56 'Tui' 5  Dual Wave 
1941 Courtenay model 66 'Rata' 6  Dual Wave 
1941 Courtenay model 69 'Rangi' 6  All Wave 
1941 Courtenay model 70 6  Dual Wave 
1942 Courtenay model 90 6 + eye 5
1946 Courtenay model 17 5  Broadcast 
1946 Courtenay model 55 5  Dual Wave 
1946 Courtenay model 66BC 6  Dual Wave 
1947 Courtenay model 61 'Cossack' 6  Dual Wave 
1948 Courtenay model 27 'Grenville' 5  Dual Wave 
1948ish Courtenay model 301A 5  Broadcast 
1948 Courtenay model 32 6  Broadcast 
1948 Courtenay model 53S 5  Broadcast 
1948 Courtenay model 61 'Sussex' 6  Dual Wave 
1949 Courtenay model 166 'Cossack' 6  Dual Wave 
1949ish Courtenay model 414
1949 Courtenay model 5 'Talisman' 5  Broadcast 
1949 Courtenay model 50S 5  Broadcast 
1950 Courtenay model 19 'Ajax' 5  Broadcast 
1950 Courtenay model 26 'Grenville' 5  Dual Wave 
1950 Courtenay model 91 7 + magic eye 5
1951ish Courtenay model 032M 6  Broadcast 
1951 Courtenay model 26N 5  Broadcast 
1951ish Courtenay model 5M 'Talisman' 5  Broadcast 
1952ish Courtenay model 032 'Cossack' 6  Broadcast 
1952 Courtenay model 27M 'Grenville' 5  Dual Wave 
1952 Courtenay model 27N 'Grenville' 5  Dual Wave 
1953 Courtenay model 26P 5  Broadcast 
1953 Courtenay model 45 5  Broadcast 
1953 Courtenay model 46 5  Dual Wave 
1954ish Courtenay model 5B 'Talisman' 5  Broadcast