Decca Records: Timeline

1914

Jan 31

Decca Trade Gramophone

A portable gramophone company uses the Decca trade name for the first time.

1929

Jan 31

Edward Lewis founds Decca Records

Edward Lewis founds Decca Records, taking over the Decca Gramophone Company.

Stan Goodall meeting Edward Lewis. Credit: Stan Goodall
Copyright Creative Youth.

Jan 31

Decca Record pressing plant arrives in New Malden

Lewis purchases the Duophone Record Company factory in New Malden, creating the Decca Record pressing plant.

Decca premises. Copyright Creative Youth.

1934

Jan 31

Decca America is formed

Lewis forms American branch of Decca with Jack Knapp.

1937

Jan 31

American Decca sold

Lewis sells off American Decca in 1937, wary of increasing Nazi aggression in Europe.

1943

Jan 31

Decca Radar developed

Company develops Decca Radar as part of British war effort.

1945

Jan 31

Decca develop full frequency range recordings (FFRR)

Decca subsequently use this radar technology to create full frequency range recordings (FFRR), which gives them superior sound quality to competitors.

1949

Jan 31

LP manufacture begins

Decca plant begins manufacturing long-playing records, otherwise known as LPs.

Credit: Ethel Oakley
Copyright Creative Youth.

1954

Jan 31

Development of the Decca Tree

Roy Wallace, Arthur Haddy and Kenneth Wilkinson develop the Decca Tree – a pioneering means of recording audio – for commercial use.

1957

Jan 31

Royal Visit

Prince Philip visits the New Malden factory.

1958

Jan 31

Stereo LP launch

Decca launch the stereo LP.

1960

Jan 31

No more 78s.

Decca stop selling 78s.

1962

Jan 31

Beatles rejection

Decca reject the Beatles after an audition.

1963

Jan 31

Rolling Stones signed

Decca sign the Rolling Stones.

1979

Jan 31

Sold!

Decca is sold to Polygram.

1980

Jan 31

The End of an Era

New Malden plant closes.

Decca Records: Timeline