It’s possible to track the lineage of one electrical firm in Keighley from the 1920s through to the 1970s. The sepia inset shows engineer Hartley Wilkinson and is taken from a mid-1920s newspaper clipping with photograph taken by George Crowther.
The caption reads: “Good use of propaganda opportunities was made at the Keighley Hospital Gala by Mr H. Wilkinson, who has just taken over a wireless business in the Arcade, North Street, Keighley, Yorks. Mr Wilkinson entered in the class for decorated vehicles a sidecar used for the collection of accumulators in connection with his battery charging scheme, and on the top of the sidecar was an assortment of fittings and accessories, including a four valve set and a loud speaker. The set was connected with an aerial over the top, and, with a scheme of decoration carried out in blue and white. The cycle provided an interesting feature in the procession which passed through the crowded streets.”
Local historian Eddie Kelly (writing in July 2022) picks up the story: “The earliest reference I have of Hartley Wilkinson is a Keighley News advert dated 4th October 1924 when he was operating as a wireless engineer based at his parents home at 30 Malsis Road. By October 1927 he is listed in Kelly’s Directory at 37 North street, one of the smaller units inside the North Street arcade. He remained there until about 1948 when he moved to the larger double unit at 29 and 31 North Street, the corner unit adjacent to the former York Country Savings Bank facing into North Street.”
Wilkinson advertised his business in Keighley Hippodrome Theatre programmes in the early 1950s. In 1951 it was “for all your radio and electrical requirements” but in 1952 it became “where the best television comes from” (as shown here) as Wilkinson became an early adopter of this newly emerging broadcasting phenomena.
Eddie Kelly again: “On 17th April 1958 the business was acquired by Leonard Dyer & Co. who were Shipley based I think. Dyers continued to trade under Wilkinson’s name until June 1961 when they commenced using their own name. They moved to the new shopping precinct in August 1969 occupying (as original tenants) adjoining units at the corner of Bow Street and Queensway. The trading name was soon changed to Loyds Electrical during October 1970 and later Vallances in July 1976.”
There is a receipt from Leonard Dyers for a Bush Radio that was issued in July 1965 that shows that the proprietor is still H. Wilkinson and the address is still The Arcade on North Street. Plans for the occupancy of the units in the newly built town centre shopping arcade show Dyer’s occupying L-shaped unit 41, next door to Tesco on Bow Street and Direct Raincoat C. Ltd. on Queensway.
The main photograph shows Bow Street in 1970, with work being carried out to improve the bus station. You can see the Leonard Dyer store next door to Tesco. The photograph was supplied by Allan Smith. All items from the History Society’s digital archive on Flickr.
