Firstly , Ekco only had links to Germany with their first compression moulded radio cabinets in the early 1930's . The presses were bought from Germany , set up & maintained by Germans until the late 30's.

The radio was designed by Chief Industrial Design J.K.White ( Jake ) it was a 'tea cosy ' concept i.e. the case was placed down over the chassis & secured from the underside. The grill was a new idea by Jake . low cost moulding in polystyrene , then paint stayed in gold lacquer. I joined the Industrial Design Studio from Southend Art School in 1951 & remember this being Ekco's first house portable radio set in polystyrene . PHS Journal Plastiquarian showed J K White & the U122 . 3-4 years back