and the Collins compendium on the Web

A brief History of the Collins Radio Company in Australia.

Nearly 70 years ago, Arthur Collins began making radio transmitters in a new business venture called the Collins Radio Company. In 1930, the Collins Radio Company (of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA) was established to produce radio equipment for the amateur market. By the end of World War II, the Collins Radio Company was involved in the development and production of a wide range of high-performance communication equipment. The Company and its name have changed over time, yet its legacy of excellence in communications and aviation electronics has never waivered. The Collins Radio Company opened their Melbourne office in St Kilda road in 1958 before moving to a location in Collins street, in the Melbourne CBD, a year or two later and was known as the Collins Radio Company (Australasia) Pty. Ltd. (CRCA). CRCA had marketing and dealer responsibilities for Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, South East Asia and the Far East. The staff originally consisted of marketing people including Reg Morkham who was appointed later on to the position of marketing manager. 1963 saw CRCA gain its first major overseas contract - avionics for the newly formed Royal Malaysian Air Force and establishment of a ground support facility in Kuala Lumpur. This contract resulted in CRCA's first manufacturing task for the design and building of test sets and the selection of Collins avionics for all future RMAF aircraft. This was followed by numerous successes in winning other contracts, particularly the Collins High Power High Frequency computer-controlled transmitters at Darwin for Radio Australia and the world's first commercial Earth Satellite station at Moree, NSW for OTC (now Telstra).

The first service centre as such was set up in an old disused butchers shop in Matthews ave, Airport west and consisted of two people, Jack Benther was the manager with an assistant. This started in 1958-1960. The service centre grew quite rapidly and moved into new premises , an old warehouse in Niddrie, about where the current freeway is, in 1962. They not only repaired Collins avionics, but started to manufacturer test equipment (and assembly) and had a staff of about 14 technical people. By this time the Collins St organisation was getting much bigger and expanding their markets into Asia. Reg Morkham moved to Kuala Lumpar to set up a marketing office.

In 1969 a large contract for the supply of HF-80 equipment, both in Australia and Asia was won for the company and a new manufacturing facility was established at Lilydale in the same year and the new service centre staff and assembly personal transfered from Niddrie to Lilydale. The Lilydale facility also supported the repair and maintenance of the KWM-2(A), KWS-1, KWM-380, HF-380, 51S-1, S-line series receivers and transmitters, and many other Collins Radio products.

The Service centre continued at Niddrie on a much lower level as the majority of their work dissappeared when they transferred to Lilydale. AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Pty Ltd) were able to take over the role of providing support to the Airlines in Melbourne, from the Collins Service Centre in 1969/1970. At the same period in time, Rockwell took over the Collins Radio Co. and Arthur Collins, the then president of the company, resigned. In Australia the company was called "Collins Radio Company Australasia Pty Ltd" utill 1979, when Rockwell wanted their name included.

In 1971-1972 the AWA repair workshop located at Essendon Airport burnt down and all repair work and personnel from AWA transfered to Lilydale and used the Collins service centre facilities to support the Airlines while their new workshop was being built. When AWA moved into their new workshop in 1974 some people remained with Collins at Lilydale and carried out repair work for the company.
For the next 8 years, from 1972 until 1980, the majority of the repair work at Lilydale was either associated with the Manufacturing facility or with the Department of Defence within Australia. (80% military, 20% commercial.)

In 1975 it became apparent in Cedar Rapids, USA, that there was a need worldwide to improve our support image for repair of Collins Avionics Air Transport and General Aviation Equipments if we were to be the leader in our field and win more share of the market for Collins products It became apparent that the major obstacle to increase business was the location of the service centre at Lilydale, so a decision was made to transfer the CATD and CGAD capabilities to Tullamarine in 1980.
The new facility was set up in Assembly Drive and became operational on 25th of May 1980. The Manager, Ben Thurlow, with other personnel, (secretary, administrator and 4 Technicians.) transfered from Lilydale to Tullamarine, with most personnel being paid to transfer into new homes in the region.

In November 1997 Rockwell purchased the British Aerospace, Melbourne Avionics Workshop facility (ex-AWA Avionics) at King Street, Airport West, and the aquired staff and facilities moved to the Service Centre at the corner of Sharps Road and Allied Drive, Tullamarine. The Facility in Lilydale was purchased by Boeing and subsequently closed down and with its closure went the support for the KWM-2, KWM-380, HF-380, S-lines and many other old and wonderful radios that we have come to treasure.

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FOOTNOTES

CAUTION:
When working in the transmitter be wary not only of the high voltage DC potentials, but be aware that RF can burn you more severely and is not forgiving of mistakes. Do not tamper with interlocks. They are there for your safety. Some KWM-2A's have an interlock under the PA cover. Heed the warning on the cover.

These equipments operate at voltages that bite, so lets be careful..OK!

And, if you have not aquired a manual for your equipment, get one! Most manuals are avaliable from a variety of sources, including the internet. Without the manual you are simply playing around in the dark.