Electronic Rentals and General Holdings
1948 Selecter Plantations, having lost its rubber plantations during WWII, became an investment company, and acquired a majority holding in Metropolitan Relays Ltd and a large minority interests in Scotts Libraries Ltd.
1949 Metropolitan Relays Ltd formed Birmet Television Manufacturing Co for the purposes of making televisions for rental at its Battersea factory.
Subsequently formed Metropolitan Radio and Television Ltd
1955 Formed Visionhire Ltd
1957 Acquired Pneumatic Tent Co
1958 Sold the libraries and the audio-relay networks
Visionhire (Great Britain) Ltd took on rental of televisions in the Manchester area
1959 Agreement with Philips Electrical for supply of televisions. Name of holding company changed to Electronic Rentals and General Holdings
1959 Incorporated as a public company
1964 Acquired Relay Vision[1].
1978 Owned two of the 6 television rental companies examined by the Price Commission - Relay Vision and Visionhire; the latter was one of 2 companies singled out as having a high degree of profitability and was recommended for a price freeze[2]
1987 Soon after the Stock Market Crash, Granada made a take-over for Electronic Rentals Group which had 450 television shops (but less than Granada's 620)[3]
See Also
Sources of Information
- The Times Oct. 14, 1959