PYE

Origins of Pye

The origins of PYE as an audio company date back to 1896 when W. G. Pye & Co. Ltd was founded in Cambridge, England, by William Pye, who was the superintendent of the Cavendish Laboratory workshop. Initially, the company focused on manufacturing scientific instruments. During World War I, the company expanded its operations to include the production of wireless components, which laid the groundwork for its entry into the radio receiver market.

In 1955, Pye diversified into music production with the establishment of Pye Records. However, the company’s involvement in the manufacture of turntables and other audio equipment began earlier, particularly after the company started producing wireless components in a factory known as Cambridge Works at Church Path, Chesterton. This factory played a significant role in the development of radio receivers and other audio equipment.

PYE TVT Ltd was established in 1960 as an independent group for developing and manufacturing sound and broadcast equipment used in studios, transmitting stations, CCTV, and outside broadcast vehicles. This division was absorbed by Philips Electronics in 1971 and continued to operate until the studio division closed in 1986. Some of the equipment built during this period included audio amplifiers, pre-amplifier modules, audio mixing and switching units, and compression amplifiers.

In recent years, the PYE brand and symbol were purchased by broadcast audio manufacturer Alice Ltd in 2022. Today, PYE® Audio continues to design and manufacture studio recording equipment, building on the legacy of the original company.