About the Company
RGD stands for Radio Gramophone Development Co., Ltd., a British electronics brand whose name appeared on a number of audio products including reel‑to‑reel tape recorders in the late 1950s / early 1960s. The company itself was originally established in the late 1920s and primarily made radios and gramophones, but audio tape recorders carrying the RGD name do exist.
Brand / Company: RGD (Radio Gramophone Development Co. Ltd.)
Country: United Kingdom (Birmingham)
Reel‑to‑Reel Activity: Circa late 1950s–early 1960s (as far as documented reel recorder models)
Market: Consumer audio / hobbyist segment
Technology: Vacuum‑tube (valve) electronics typical of the era
Company Background
RGD was founded in 1929 as Radio Gramophone Development Co., Ltd., headquartered in Birmingham, England. The firm produced radios, radiograms, and television sets through much of the mid‑20th century. It survived wartime manufacturing disruptions and continued into the post‑war era, eventually being absorbed into the Regentone empire in the 1950s, with the RGD name surviving as a brand label on various audio products.
In the 1960s, Regentone (carrying RGD branding on many audio products) was itself absorbed into STC / Kolster‑Brandes, and the RGD name gradually disappeared from mainstream electronics production.
Documented RGD Reel‑to‑Reel Models
RGD Mk 103 (circa late 1950s)
Brand: RGD
Category: Portable reel‑to‑reel tape recorder
Era: Around 1959 (estimated)
Electronics: Vacuum‑tube (valve) audio amplification
Features:
Three valve stages plus neon “magic” level indicators
Multiple tape speeds
Designed for home recording/playback
Standard mains voltage (200–250 V)
This model is documented in specialist catalogs as a 7″ reel portable tape recorder typical of late‑1950s UK consumer audio.
(Less Documented) Other RGD Tape Products
While only one clear reel‑to‑reel model (Mk 103) is widely recorded, there are general references online to “RGD reel recorders” that suggest a small handful of valve‑based tape machines were sold under the RGD brand.
Radiomuseum records also show RGD branded audio products (e.g., portable tape units), though many entries are for cassette recorders or combined radio‑tape units rather than standalone reel recorders.
Technology & Position
Valve Electronics
RGD reel recorders like the Mk 103 used vacuum tubes (valves) for amplification — standard for non‑professional tape machines in the 1950s.
Consumer‑Oriented
These machines were aimed at home audio enthusiasts, offering affordable magnetic tape playback/recording. They were not professional studio decks and lacked advanced transport mechanisms or multi‑speed hi‑fi systems found on larger brands.
UK Market Focus
RGD was primarily a British brand, competing in the UK consumer electronics market against better‑known names like Murphy, Pye, and Bush.
The reel‑to‑reel recorders carry RGD logos but were often sold alongside or rebadged from other manufacturers (a common practice at the time).
End of RGD Tape Production / Legacy
As transistor technology emerged in the late 1960s, and cassette formats began to replace open‑reel tape in the consumer space, RGD’s presence in tape recorders faded.
The brand name itself eventually disappeared after Regentone and STC consolidated their consumer electronics lines.
Today, RGD reel‑to‑reel machines are rare and mainly of interest to vintage collectors rather than mainstream audio historians.