Pye of Cambridge
The Story
Welcome ...
... to a site charting the history and achievements of the Pye of Cambridge Company.
From the
Tangent Galvanometer
... to the Mobile Outside
Broadcast Unit
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The Story of Pye
From WG Pye beginning the company in 1896 in his garden shed, through a vital support of the country during both World Wars, to a global technology company of up to 30,000 employees.
Some of the remarkable people who have shaped and moulded a worldwide technology company that improved the lives of many.
The vast range of products and technologies, ranging from hostess trolleys to TVs to military radar and communication equipment to outside broadcast vehicles.
Some of the 60 or more companies that designed, developed, manufactured and marketed a huge range of products and services.
Latest News
"WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?"
A new exhibition opened on 14th June 2024 in the Pye Building at the Cambridge Museum of Technology.
The display of products and history of the Pye company in the Pye Building at the Cambridge Museum of Technology is deliberately limited to the period up to approximately 1967. This is the year in which the Philips company acquired partial ownership of the Pye Group.
The most commonly asked question by visitors to the museum display is "What Happened Next?" What indeed happened to one of the largest companies in the Cambridge area with some 30,000 employees and a host of subsidiary factories worldwide.
This temporary exhibition attempts to answer that question with a series of product exhibits and memorabilia from the years following. This includes products and activities right up to the current day. In addition, some memories of the social side of the Pye company are also on display.
Diagrams by David Featherby and Richard Howes. Photography by Pauline Howes.
The "Story of Pye" Presentations
The "Story of Pye" presentations to local societies are now being re-started.
However, because some may have difficulty in attending the live presentations, we have prepared a video which covers some of this material.
The "I didn't know Pye did that" Corner ...
1966
Pye Implantable
Pacemaker
Type EM.1005
"The Pacemaker is designed for the treatment of complete heart block by providing electrical pulse stimulation of the cardiac muscle."
1950s
A standard industrial television camera was built into a pressure resistant housing to enable it to work underwater.
Later in the 1950’s the design was further improved and used to find the wreckage of crashed airliners.
1950s
The Transportable Reporter - a battery operated, rugged mobile radio telephone. For those on the spot communications and reporter "scoops".
1950/60s
Aircraft Instrument Landing System for use on airfields around the world.
A Year of Pye Photographs
January
Pye advertising in the 1990s
February
Pye Cambridge Station, viewing through control room to studio beyond
March
Meadowcroft, Church St, Cambridge - Home of Cathodeon, then a management "retreat"
Pye Staff in the early 1920s (Click on all photographs for larger versions)
December
The annual Pye outing to the seaside in the 1930s
November
The River Cam flood of 1978, the weekend before the grand opening of the new Pye Telecom building.
October
Pye "Wavy Roof" Building in St Andrew's Road, including the original radio mast
April
Early OB Vans in St Andrews Road
May
Colour TV Demo Studio at Radio Olympia 1949
June
First Colour OB Van for BBC 1967
July
Pye Annual Sports Day Programme
August
Lord Thorneycroft (L) (Chairman) making a presentation to Peter Threlfall (MD)
September
Pye Company Staff in 1926