Onix Audio
Onix Audio was a trading name of a partnership formed in 1984 to manufacture a range of hi fidelity amplifiers, tuners and accessories in the UK.
History[edit]
The first ONIX branded amplifier with the name ONIX on the front panel the company produced was the ONIX AUDIO OA-20 in 1984. This being the collaboration of all three partners Adam Worsfold , Craig Hill & Tony Brady. The OA-21 was the next model added, this model having a pre-amplifier sub board with similar characteristics as the previous as well as the introduction of a moving coil (MC) and moving magnet (MM) alternate board change option.[1] In addition the OA-21 was fitted with a supply connector on the back that accepted the power supply option called a SOAP (Special Onix Audio Power) introduced by Onix in 1985. With the success of the OA-21 amplifier and the OA-20, Onix Audio released an improved OA-20 called the OA-22 that included two CD inputs to allow for the wave of high output CD players typical of the time. Onix Audio continuing to develop and evolve adding a FM tuner (radio), called the BWD-1 in 1987. The Onix BWD-1 provided musical integrity, and quality performance never seen in a tuner with an ability to prevent "drifting of stations " .[2] Onix Audio continued to upgrade their product lines and developed a new dedicated pre-amp called the OA-24 in 1989. In the same year a new updated version of the power supply SOAP 2 and other models including the OA21s that had electronic speaker short protection were introduced.[3] In 1990, the OA-401/40 watt and the OA-601/60 watt stereo amplifiers were added to the product range. Onix Audio is now OA21 Ltd in the UK .
1990-1997[edit]
In late 1990, the trading activities of ONIX AUDIO now 100% owned by Adam Worsfold were sold to a newly created limited company called OEL Ltd. Adam Worsfold retained a controlling interest of a 65% with Mr Micheal O Brien owner of Swisstone Electronics Ltd holding 35% of OEL Ltd. The new company becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Swisstone Electronics Ltd, this after Adam Worsfold sold his shares in July 1991 to M Obrien of Swisstone Limited. OEL Ltd changed its name to Kendal Electronics Ltd in January 1997 a move to preserve the reputation of OEL Ltd ,[4] . Kendal Electronics Ltd was then closed in February 1997 after a loss of market share and distributors world wide.
1997-2016[edit]
After 1997 the Chinese company Shanling Digital Technology, used the UK brand name ONIX . A UK trade mark registered in 1988 [5] by Adam Worsfold , this trade mark was used by Shanling but was not actually owned by them, when Shanling of China used it and as such was not authorized for them to use . This was later proven in the UK courts when an action to rectify the register was concluded [6] While Shanling used the brand they did not use any of the original designs or any of the foundation methods of the original company, and were typically making and marketing generic Chinese branded product[7] using "ONIX" just as a printed name on the front these products. None of the original design criteria or integrity of the original brand was built in and must be consider just OEM type products . In 2010 Adam Worsfold the original owner of the trade mark ONIX, filed a trademark rectification action against Shanling for incorrect assignment in the UK . This action was successful on November 5 2014 in the high court of London [8], the action to rectify the register back to the original owner was then carried out by the UK Trade Mark Office . In 2014 OA21 released a new product range under the brands ONIX .[9] , DNA and OA21.
References[edit]
- ↑ "The Onix 21 OA-21 Integrated Amp". The Absolute Sound. 12: 106–108. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ↑ High Fidelity, April 1991.
- ↑ Vintage Audio Bliss, March 2010.
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/re-use-of-company-names/re-use-of-company-names
- ↑ https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00001332605
- ↑ http://https://www.ipo.gov.uk/t-challenge-decision-results/o49714.pdf
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_brand
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Court_of_Justice
- ↑ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uk-ip-courts-pass-judgment-on-onix-trademark-confusion-554605291.html
External links[edit]
- HIFI Answers,Audiofile Magazine Review HI Answers 2017
- UK Intellectual Property Courts PDF Outcome ONIX TRADE MARK 2014
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