Peter Clark of Magnetic Sound Industries
Ғылым және технология
At 96 years of age, Peter Clark has an incredible story to tell. Born in 1922 in England, he lived through the years leading up to the war. Life was hard but simple. Along came WW2 and upset most people’s plans in Europe and the UK. Peter joined the RAF and prepared Spitfire aircraft for battle in a front line squadron during the Battle of Britain. Afterwards, he was moved to a bomber squadron where he worked as a flight mechanic and then flew in bombers as a Flight Engineer. Suffering a crash towards the end of the war, he was grounded. After WW2, he took his discharge in Australia and began the odd job, one of which introduced him to a "Wire Recorder". Wire recorders were developed during WW2 and used by Hitler to make speeches that were broadcast after he had completed them, frustrating the Allies as to where he was. In post war Australia, Peter recognized the potential of the Wire Recorder and started a business called "Magnetic Sound Industries". He believes he was the first to sell them in Australia and recorded politicians in parliament, including Sir Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia at the time. He recorded live gigs/talent shows at a famous haunt known as "Stone's Milk Bar in Coogee" which included many celebrities, up and coming and seasoned performers. From these wire recordings, he cut 78, acetate recordings, and sold these as records for 10 Shillings a pop!
When tape recorders came in, Peter Clark sold those through his shop in George St, Sydney. Everybody wanted one at the time and Wire Recorders quickly fell out of favour. Later, he expanded to record players, audio accessories, microphones and HiFi systems.
Peter Clark lived across the road from Dick Smith at one stage and the young teenager expressed an interest in electronics, so Peter brought home some bits of non working, wire & tape recorders and gave them to Dick to play with. Dick acknowledges that this was one of the reasons he ended up with a career in electronics but also took notes on how Peter advertised his business. Peter had been advised by a local advertising executive, that he should use his name and face to personalize his business, so very often he placed ads in "Radio and Hobbies" magazine, local papers and on local TV which announced products at "Peter Clark of Magnetic Sound Industries", featuring a portrait of Peter smiling broadly. Dick was heavily influenced by this and created his own version, which became synonymous with his business, using both his name and face to advertise.
After a lengthy reign at the top, retailing wire and tape recorders, HiFi and all their accessories, wholesalers waged a heavy campaign in competition and in 1978 Peter finally closed his doors in York St Sydney. Instead, he started a new business in Queensland called "Gold Coast TV Advertising Network" which he still runs today at 96! goldcoasttv.com.au
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This guy barely looks like he's 80! Truly amazing story.
What a great guy -- and perhaps the youngest "over 90 year-old" I've ever seen. Bouquets (as always) to the doco-makers, this is another outstanding episode.
Well done to all those who put this together. I well remember Mr Clark's radio and TV ads in the early 70s and bought my brother a rather spiffing pair of over the ear headphones from his York Street store. So grateful that I was fortunate enough to hear this potted history told so vividly. What a remarkably sharp mind and fine man. From wire tape recorders to KZread. Uplifting, a valuable piece of social history and the encapsulation of a life well lived!
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful interview 👍
Geez, I would like like to be able to string 2 words together if I ever lucked out and made it to 96. What a legend! Thanks much again Karl for showing great people from an era where people mattered.
What a great story. Really enjoyable to watch.
@StateofElectronics
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words
Looking very good for this age.
@DaRealBzzz
6 жыл бұрын
I've seen people doing worse in their 60s. That chap is going strong and I wish him all the best!
What a great bit of history!
He had just passed away on Boxing Day 2021, only just found out. I had the great opportunity when I was 23/24 (in 2014) to work with him at his company at Gold Coast TV Advertising Network for a couple of years. He would have been 91/92, and could not believe it when he finally told me. He stayed sharp minded all the way to the end, and had a great life full of adventure and success. Feel very grateful for the experience, and still can't believe he is gone.
A facinating bit of Australian history.
Thank you for enjoying this wonderful man's story. My father passed, December 26 2021 in Queensland, AU. He was 99 & 9 months. He stopped working Gold Coast Television Network at 97, after a fall that created continuous pain. He was 75 years old when he started GC TV Network. I hope his story inspires others to create and follow dreams and ideas, most especially when others say it is impossible!
@StateofElectronics
2 жыл бұрын
I am very sad & incredibly humbled to hear of his passing. Peter was an inspiration & a wonderful interviewee. I was truly amazed at his enthusiasm & lust for more at his age but also very aware of how lucky I was to capture his story. My thanks to Dick Smith for making this interview possible & for me to meet and engage with a truly remarkable individual. Stephanie, I’m very sorry for your loss but I am also very thankful that I had a chance to listen to his incredible life. RIP Peter.
@EarthSpiritJourney
2 жыл бұрын
@@StateofElectronics I am grateful for your lovely message od memories with my father. For me and our family, especially the grandchildren, you have provided a wonderful living history for them. I am in gratitude!
@StateofElectronics
2 жыл бұрын
@@EarthSpiritJourney Your welcome but you can thank Dick Smith for making it possible to film the interview in the first place.
@EarthSpiritJourney
2 жыл бұрын
@@StateofElectronics Yes, totally true and I have thanked Dick many times. He is also a remarkable man!
Excellent history lesson from a most interesting man.
A excellent interview,I bought a Tape Recorder cicia 1960 from Magnetic Sound in George St, Peter mentions the Germans they were using Tape Recoders not wire recorders as they had invented HF bias,The early wire recorders were noisey as the didnt use HF bias the time Peter was using Wire Recorders they would be using HF bias.But as Peter said they had many problems partculary when the fine wire broke and were replaced with Tape but a great interview for at the time of interview at 94 years old and he has stiil as they say got a full set of marbles.
@StateofElectronics
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your comment and clarification. I had suspected that as well. I agree with you, Peter has amazing abilities at his age :-)
I was the manager of Mag Sound from 1979...1984..... ABE Business machines bought t the
@MartinAHLoyd
2 ай бұрын
Well, well, how's it going Warren? You actually hired me at Mag Sound just prior to Tony Payola (ABE) taking over and I stayed another few years along with Paul Grant, pioneering the introduction of CD players in Aus, until Tony folded MSI and Paul & I focused on facsimile machines with ABE Fax. Best wishes mate - hope life is treating you well!
Awesome video, thank you.
Excellent 👍
Looks very well for his age
WOW !!!!
Very informative video. Shows that good content and production does not necessarily get lots of hits. Maybe it is just a very small section of the population that has any interest in this sort of thing.
A great mans passage in history! But.. could we loose that insipidly novice one string guitar bit out of the next video intro?