A.G. Healing was an Australian manufacturing firm founded in 1896 by
Alfred George Healing. Initially producing
bicycles, in 1912 it became a
proprietary company
A proprietary company, the characteristic of which is abbreviated as "Pty", is a form of privately held company in Australia, Namibia and South Africa that is either limited or unlimited. However, unlike a public company there are, depending ...
, with 50 employees and 25,000 bicycles produced at the peak of production. The company diversified into the
importation of
radio receivers
In radio communications, a radio receiver, also known as a receiver, a wireless, or simply a radio, is an electronic device that receives radio waves and converts the information carried by them to a usable form. It is used with an antenna. The ...
in 1933, but with the introduction of
tariff
A tariff is a tax imposed by the government of a country or by a supranational union on imports or exports of goods. Besides being a source of revenue for the government, import duties can also be a form of regulation of foreign trade and pol ...
s to imported goods, it moved to the production of their own radios. In 1956 the company commenced manufacturing
television set
A television set or television receiver, more commonly called the television, TV, TV set, telly, tele, or tube, is a device that combines a tuner, display, and loudspeakers, for the purpose of viewing and hearing television broadcasts, or using ...
s,
refrigerators, and
washing machine
A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, washer, or simply wash) is a home appliance used to wash laundry. The term is mostly applied to machines that use water as opposed to dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids and ...
s.
In 1959 the company sold the bicycle division to focus on domestic appliances, and took over heavy engineering firm
A. E. Goodwin in 1961.
In 1969 the company posted a loss of almost $24 million and went into
receivership
In law, receivership is a situation in which an institution or enterprise is held by a receiver—a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights"—especially in c ...
, recovering to some degree until failing in 1975,
as Australia moved away from economic
protectionism
Protectionism, sometimes referred to as trade protectionism, is the economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, import quotas, and a variety of other government regulatio ...
.
References
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External links
Radio receivers produced by A.G. Healing
Defunct manufacturing companies of Australia
Electronics companies of Australia
Manufacturing companies established in 1896
1975 disestablishments in Australia
Australian companies established in 1896