Not currently on display at the V&A

Friedland electic doorbell and fittings

Doorbell
ca.1964
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Victor and Efim Friedland founded V. and E. Friedland in 1932 in London. They had fled Belarus following the Russian Revolution to settle in Germany, fleeing again to London in 1932 to found their business. In 1940 they relocated their operations to Lowerhouse Mill in Bollington and made essential voltage control that were fitted into aircraft including Spitfires, Lancasters and Hurricanes. The business subsequently diversified into plastics and after World War II became the biggest doorbell and chime producers in the world, as well as manufacturers of Frido footballs and Sasha dolls.

Norman Stevenson also designed other chime products for Friedlands including the Big Ben 104, Hi-Lo 952 and Warbler 453 and designed drawing instruments such as set squares and slide rules for A.G. Thornton Ltd (Manchester, 1880 - 1992).


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFriedland electic doorbell and fittings (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Acrylic and polystyrene cases and phosphor bronze contacts
Brief description
Friedland electric doorbell and fittings, designed by the company's design staff with Norman Stevenson, manufactured by V&E Friedland Ltd ca. 1964
Physical description
Friedland electric doorbell and fittings, acrylic and polystyrene cases and phosphor bronze contacts.
Credit line
Given by the Council of Industrial Design
Object history
Historical significance: Winner of the Design Centre Award in 1964.
Summary
Victor and Efim Friedland founded V. and E. Friedland in 1932 in London. They had fled Belarus following the Russian Revolution to settle in Germany, fleeing again to London in 1932 to found their business. In 1940 they relocated their operations to Lowerhouse Mill in Bollington and made essential voltage control that were fitted into aircraft including Spitfires, Lancasters and Hurricanes. The business subsequently diversified into plastics and after World War II became the biggest doorbell and chime producers in the world, as well as manufacturers of Frido footballs and Sasha dolls.

Norman Stevenson also designed other chime products for Friedlands including the Big Ben 104, Hi-Lo 952 and Warbler 453 and designed drawing instruments such as set squares and slide rules for A.G. Thornton Ltd (Manchester, 1880 - 1992).
Bibliographic reference
Crowther, Lily. Award Winning British Design 1957-1988. London: V&A Publishing, 2012. p.55
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.120-1965

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Record createdApril 26, 2011
Record URL
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