MEMORIAL UNVEILED TO PIONEERING BRITISH ENGINEER, ALAN DOWER BLUMLEIN, THE SCIENTISTS AND RAF PERSONNEL WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TESTING WORLD WAR II INVENTION AIRBORNE RADAR

We are proud to announce the unveiling of this new memorial to eleven unsung war heroes, including the inventor of stereo recording, Alan Dower Blumlein, who lost their lives testing airborne radar in 1942. Blumlein, with 128 patents to his name at only 39 years of age, was a tragic loss to his young family […]
Read moreEMI HOME FRONT – 1939 to 1945

The EMI Archive Trust thanks the men and women based at the EMI Factory and Hayes, whose contribution was essential to the British War effort, in both civilian and military roles. Photographs: EMI Home Guard, C-Coy. 17th Btn. N.F. Team April 1944Speech: Winston Churchill – War of the Unknown Warrior – Broadcast July 14 1940 […]
Read moreD-Day Landings reported by ‘The EMI Home Guardian’ June 6th 1944

‘The EMI Home Guardian’ is a little known newspaper created for and by C-Coy. 17th Btn. and the Home Guard based on the EMI Factory site, Hayes, Middlesex throughout WWII. This extract, written 75 years ago, marks the D-Day Landings, 6th June 1944, one of the most remarkable Allied wartime operations. ‘The EMI Home Guardian’ Since […]
Read moreSecrets of the EMI Archive – 1

‘Nipper Runs Amok’ By David Hughes MBE – Trustee of EMI Archive Trust. Archives and secrets go together, and the EMI archive is no exception. Archives are not visitor attractions; they are not laid out beautifully in lovely display cabinets. The key words are preservation and safety. Initially, presumably, for good business practice, The Gramophone […]
Read moreActual record taken on the front line, France, near Lille – 9th October 1918

In honour of all those who lost their lives in the First World War. • Recording: Gas shell bombardment • Royal Garrison Artillery • Record: HMV 09308 • Company: The Gramophone Company • Location: Lille, near France • Date of recording: 9th October 1918 • Recorded by: William Gaisberg • Type of disc: 12-inch single […]
Read moreReview of Gauhar Jaan – The Datia Incident

Gauhar Jaan – The Datia Incident is a historical re-imagining of a key part in the remarkable story of India’s first recording artist. It follows young American recording engineer Fred Gaisberg (Jordon Kemp) journey to India to record Gauhar Jaan (Sheetal Kapoor) acclaimed voice for the British Gramophone Company. On his journey, he is told […]
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