In producing this document I have attempted to serve the interests of various categories of reader - those associated with Celestion past, present and future, the technical reader, and those with a general interest. Inevitably all three have been compromised, but I hope that the balance is fair.

    The bulk of the text covering 1930 to 1978 is based upon Gordon Kinsey’s excellent Company History, with a few appropriate additions and corrections. However, a great deal of new information concerning the 1924-35 period has recently come to light, and for much of this I am deeply indebted to Mr.L.French, Miss D.French and Mrs.M.Hemingway, son and daughters of Ralph French. I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Bill Strong, Maarten van Delft, Bob Smith, Sonia Calver, Oliver Prenn, Jasmine Booth, Graham Bank, Mick Masters and Mary Ranns, without whose co-operation this work would be much less complete.

    What began as an apparently simple matter of updating Kinsey’s work grew substantially as I realised there were several people who held small collections of unique material. I am sure that even now some have been overlooked. The History of Celestion encompasses a vast number of different companies and personnel, and I have attempted to acknowledge by name some of those earlier parties who are in danger of being forgotten. My research has been by no means exhaustive, but I believe I can claim that it is the most detailed to date.

    No work of this nature will ever be 100% accurate and complete, but if it takes someone another 18 years to update it then I shall be justified in calling it The History of Celestion!
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