Bexleyheath Assembly-Line Production (1973)

In 1973, Orange opened a factory in Bexleyheath, scaling up production with a dedicated team and streamlined manufacturing process.

Mick Dines, Bexleyheath Factory Manager, remembers: “In 1973, as we looked to move on from Shorts Gardens, we found a place near James How Industries on Upland Road in Bexleyheath, Kent. James How was our UK distributor at the time and also made Rotosound strings. On one of our visits to pick up strings, we spotted a For Sale sign two doors down. We viewed the site and decided to buy it.

“That’s where we set up our first proper production line. We employed local people from Bexleyheath to assemble the amplifiers, roughly one amp per worker per day.”

Scaling Up at Upland Road

“There was loads of storage space, which meant we could finally buy packaging in bulk and keep it on hand. Back at Shorts Gardens, we’d build one cabinet at a time, box it up, and only then move on to the next. Now we could have 20 or 30 cabinets lined up on long benches, fitting speakers and wiring them up in sequence.

“The electronic workshop was at the front of the building, with cabinet assembly and finished goods at the back. Having our UK distributor just three doors down the road made life easier, too. Bexleyheath marked the beginning of a much larger-scale operation for Orange.

“When we had a shipment due for our American distributor, a 40-foot container would arrive at the end of the day. Most of the staff would work through the night to complete the build and load it.

“We’d pop out for a quick pint before the pubs closed at 11, then head back to finish the job, often packing up to 100 amplifiers and 100 speaker cabinets into the container. The next morning, the truck would collect it, and we’d start all over again!”