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In 1924 trading company "N.V.
Handelsonderneeming voorheen Firma Folkeringa" was founded in
Groningen. The address was Butjesstraat 11. Folkeringa
imported, among other things, radios of the French brand
Grandin et Moreau (Le Téléphone sans Fil). |
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In 1926, Unigro Radio Industrie N.V. was started
as part of the trading company. The factory was situated in
Groningen at Verlengde Heereweg 22. In the trading registry the activities
of Unigro were described as: "trade in, and production of
radio supplies, bicycles and parts, optical and electrical articles".
Managing director was E.J.C. Folkeringa.
The factory produced radios
and radio parts from
1926 until 1932 (in that year the last catalogue appeared). Unigro
sold throughout the Netherlands and had branches in the cities
of Groningen,
Breda and Utrecht. |
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The first Unigro radio
made in 1926, the four valve receiver No. 1., was modelled on
the Radio-Universel P.U. 4
by Grandin et Moreau. Unigro sold both
models; the Unigro receiver was a bit more expensive. |
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The Grandin et Moreau Universal P.U. 4.
This
radio from 1924/1925 has 4 windows to inspect the bright
emitters inside. |
The Unigro No. 1.
The
resemblance is striking.
Only the 4 windows are lacking in this receiver from 1926. |
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Unigro specialised in cabinet or "Salon" radios,
often with built-in loudspeakers. The more expensive cabinets
were produced with detailed woodwork. Loudspeaker cloth was
decorated with musical instruments, flowers and birds. |
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In the summer of 1929 Folkeringa resigned as
managing director of Unigro and at the same address selling
agency Verkoopbureau
van Radioproducten "Vera" was founded, a wholesale
company in Philips
radio products. Folkeringa became managing director and W. Boelmans was
deputy manager. In the spring of 1930 the agency was
discontinued and Folkeringa returned as managing director of Unigro.
The activities of Unigro continued during that period. In 1931 a
three valve AC receiver was introduced. |
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During the same period radio
maker AKAH from Oude Pekela was active. AKAH operated in the
same market segment as it also made cabinet radios. |
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