Telavox

Telavox was a Danish consumer-electronics manufacturer established in Copenhagen in 1924 by Clemen Jørgensen, a clock-maker originally from Silkeborg. The business began in Jørgensen’s apartment, making horn loudspeakers, and developed during the interwar period into a factory-based producer of loudspeakers, radio sets, television equipment, and furniture-style cabinets for electronic products. Its history reflects the development of Denmark’s early radio industry, when technical components, cabinet-making, and industrial design were often closely connected. The company initially sold loudspeakers under the name Element through the wholesaler J. Axel Christensen & Co. It later used the D.N.D. name, an abbreviation of Den Nye Danske, meaning “The New Danish.” The name Telavox was subsequently proposed by inventor Peter L. Jensen, an acquaintance of Clemen Jørgensen who had established Magnavox in 1927. Telavox became the company’s principal identity as its product range expanded. In 1929, Jørgensen purchased a factory at Apollovej 31 in Vanløse, where the company established radio production. Telavox was also active as a cabinet manufacturer and produced cabinets for other radio businesses, including Philips in 1930. The company was known for careful craftsmanship, an attribute especially important in an era when radios and early televisions were commonly designed as substantial pieces of domestic furniture. After Magnus Jørgensen, Clemen’s brother and a furniture-maker who had become a partner, died in 1932, another younger Jørgensen brother assumed responsibility for the cabinet division. Telavox expanded its factory in 1937 and employed approximately 250 people by 1943. Clemen Jørgensen also developed a wind turbine with a maximum output of 10 kilowatts and installed it on the factory roof. He hoped wind-turbine manufacturing might eventually become a new business for the company, but the prototype was not commercialized. The Second World War caused a shortage of radio valves in Denmark, limiting normal radio production. Telavox responded by using its Vanløse factory to manufacture clocks. The first clocks were made in 1942, and Jørgensen designed a clock mechanism using a bimetallic balance intended to reduce the effect of temperature changes and improve accuracy. Between 1944 and 1952, the company produced approximately 150,000 clocks in ten case designs and four movement types. After the company changed hands, clock production was separated from the radio business and continued under the Clementa name through a separate company. On 1 April 1952, Telavox was sold to To-R, another Danish radio and television manufacturer. The acquisition ended Telavox’s existence as an independent company. Because the available historical material focuses on the original Danish manufacturer and does not document a continuing standalone operation, Telavox is treated here as a defunct historical corporate brand rather than a modern telecommunications or software company.

Clemen Jørgensen, born in 1893, moved from Silkeborg to Copenhagen in 1921. In 1924 he began making horn loudspeakers in his apartment, establishing the business that became Telavox. The operation moved in 1925 to a back room on Hostrupsvej, where the products were marketed as Element through the wholesaler J. Axel Christensen & Co. Later that year Jørgensen established production in a courtyard building at Borgergade 108. His brother Magnus, a furniture-maker, joined as a partner, and the loudspeakers were also sold under the D.N.D. name, short for Den Nye Danske. The company’s later name was connected to inventor Peter L. Jensen, who knew Jørgensen and suggested Telavox. Jensen had founded Magnavox in 1927. By 1929, Jørgensen had purchased a factory at Apollovej 31 in Vanløse. Telavox expanded from loudspeakers into radio manufacturing and also made cabinets for other manufacturers. One documented customer was Philips, for which Telavox produced cabinets in 1930. The company’s reputation rested substantially on cabinet quality and craftsmanship, reflecting the importance of furniture construction in early domestic radio and television products. Magnus Jørgensen died in 1932. A younger Jørgensen brother, also a furniture-maker and a member of the business since 1927, then led the cabinet division. The factory was enlarged in 1937, and the company had around 250 employees by 1943. Clemen Jørgensen also pursued an experimental energy project, designing a wind turbine with a maximum capacity of 10 kilowatts and installing it on the factory roof. Although it generated electricity for many years, the proposed wind-turbine manufacturing business was never commercialized. During the Second World War, shortages of radio valves in Denmark disrupted the company’s normal electronics production. Telavox diversified into clocks, beginning production in 1942. Jørgensen designed a mechanism with a bimetallic balance intended to limit errors caused by temperature variation. From 1944 until 1952, Telavox manufactured about 150,000 clocks, using ten case designs and four types of movement. The clock operation was distinct from the company’s radio and television activities after the 1952 sale and continued under the Clementa name through a separate company. On 1 April 1952, Telavox was sold to To-R, another Danish radio and television manufacturer. The transaction marked the end of Telavox as an independent company. The historical record supplied for the brand does not establish a subsequent standalone Telavox business, current ownership, or continuing product program.

• 1952

  Acquisition by To-R

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  To-R acquired Telavox on 1 April. The clock business was separated and continued under the Clementa name through a separate company.

• 1942

  Clock production begins

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  Radio-valve shortages during the Second World War led Telavox to begin manufacturing clocks at its Vanløse factory.

• 1937

  Factory expansion

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  The Vanløse factory was expanded as the company developed its manufacturing activities.

• 1932

  Change in cabinet-division leadership

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  After Magnus Jørgensen died, a younger Jørgensen brother assumed leadership of the cabinet division.

• 1930

  Cabinet production for Philips

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  Telavox produced cabinets for other radio manufacturers, including Philips.

• 1929

  Factory established in Vanløse

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  Clemen Jørgensen purchased the factory at Apollovej 31 in Vanløse, where Telavox also began producing radios.

• 1925

  Early commercial production and partnership

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  Production moved from Jørgensen’s apartment to Hostrupsvej and then to Borgergade 108. The products were marketed as Element and D.N.D., and Magnus Jørgensen joined as a partner.

• 1924

  Business founded in Copenhagen

  [1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  Clemen Jørgensen began producing horn loudspeakers in his apartment, establishing the business that later became Telavox.

A Danish, craftsmanship-oriented manufacturer of early domestic audio and television equipment, with additional expertise in furniture-style cabinets and mechanical clock production.

• Audio equipment · 1924

  Horn loudspeakers

  Telavox began with horn loudspeakers made by Clemen Jørgensen in 1924. Early products were sold under the Element and D.N.D. names before Telavox became the principal brand identity. They formed the foundation of the company’s later expansion into radio and television manufacturing.

• Radio receivers · 1929

  Radios

  Radio production was established after Telavox moved into its Vanløse factory in 1929. The company’s radio business combined electronic manufacturing with crafted cabinets, a characteristic format of domestic radios in the interwar period.

• Television

  Television equipment

  Telavox was also a manufacturer of television equipment before its acquisition by To-R. The available historical material does not identify specific television models or launch dates.

• Electronic-product cabinets

  Radio and television cabinets

  Cabinet-making was a significant part of Telavox’s manufacturing capability. The company produced cabinets for its own products and for other radio manufacturers, including Philips, combining furniture-making skills with the requirements of early consumer electronics.

• Mechanical clocks · 1942

  Telavox clocks

  Telavox entered clock manufacturing during the Second World War after radio-valve shortages disrupted electronics production. Clemen Jørgensen designed a clock using a bimetallic balance intended to improve accuracy across temperature changes. Approximately 150,000 clocks were made from 1944 to 1952 in ten case designs and four movement types.

• 1952

  Sale to To-RM&A

  Background

  Telavox was an established Danish radio and television manufacturer operating from Vanløse.

  Action taken

  On 1 April 1952, Telavox was sold to To-R, another Danish radio and television manufacturer.

  Aftermath

  Telavox ceased to operate as an independent company. Its clock production was split off and continued under the Clementa name through a separate company.

  Source

• 1942

  Diversification into clock manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  A shortage of radio valves in Denmark during the Second World War made normal radio production more difficult.

  Action taken

  Telavox used its Vanløse factory to manufacture clocks and developed a mechanism intended to reduce temperature-related inaccuracies.

  Aftermath

  Clock production continued through 1952 and was later separated from the radio business, continuing under the Clementa name.

  Source

• 1952

  To-R acquires Telavox[1]Telavoxen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  On 1 April 1952, Danish radio and television manufacturer To-R acquired Telavox, ending its operation as an independent company.

1. 1Telavoxen.wikipedia.org