Records of Radenite Batteries Limited. of subsidiary and of related companies

Donated to the City Record Office by Mr. E. P. Starley of 10, High Street. Kenilworth, 13th July 1992

Radenite was founded by Hermanus Willem van Raden, in partnership with Carey Burt Robinson. As early as 1898 they were making accumulators, and in the following year a Sunbeam car was fitted with one of their products. The firm began with offices at 142 Queen Victoria Road, Coventry, and works at 16 Spon Street, but moved to 567-575 Foleshill Road (formerly the Payne and Bates car factory) in November 1903. In the same year the firm became registered as a Limited Company. In 1907 van Raden sold his shares and ceased to be a director of the firm. J. P. Starley joined the firm in September 1918, and was a director from September 1924 until his death in December 1961. The company changed its name in September 1936, and in 1969 moved from Foleshill Road to Exhall when machinery for battery production was installed. The firm ceased to trade in 1984.