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Ron Levett, born in Alfriston, East Sussex, enlisted in 1943, and whilst posted to the British Liberation Army, took part in the liberation of Germany. He then returned to England, working in electronics and developing an interest in the new entertainment of the time - television.
At work, the firm's other interest was in cinema film. Goodsells were the local agents for Gaumont British film projectors, 16 mm sound equipment made by Bell & Howell of America. We supplied and maintained projectors for both East and West Sussex Education Authorities.
At this time schools were just beginning to be supplied with radios and Goodsells got the contracts for both halves of the county. We designed and built a pilot model with a built in control unit, a simple tone control and control shafts which protruded through the front of the wooden case, an engraved front panel and two loudspeakers in wooden cases to match the amplifier.
The design was given the go ahead and we started mass production, turning out about two-dozen units. We also had the contract to install the equipment in the schools. This meant finding a suitable point to place the amplifier, then running cables, usually along the outside of the building and fitting outlet sockets in the various classrooms.
The loudspeakers could then be connected to whichever class needed them. It usually took 2 or 3 men one day to complete a school. We spent nearly the whole of one summer carrying out this task.
The firm also carried out film shows for commercial customers. We did a series of shows for Oxo Ltd. A middle-aged woman was the demonstrator for these, which were held for groups such as the W.I and the Towns Women's Guild.
We carried the equipment consisting of the projector, the loudspeaker, the screen and the projector stand. We also took a large box of Oxo cubes and another two or three boxes of cups.
I made remember a trip to Worthing for a show at the W.I. and another in Hastings. On one occasion, I started the film and, the room being hot and stuffy, promptly fell asleep. A gentleman member of the audience tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'It's finished!'
There was a large hospital at Bevendean, Brighton for sufferers of Tuberculosis. The cure in those days was plenty of fresh air and the patients lay in bed with all the windows open. Since the hospital was at the top of the hill it was very cold for the operator during the winter months. We had to wear overcoats.
We gave them a show once a week, showing quite up to date films, which were sent by train to Brighton from the distributors in London. If the film was a good one, Frank and I were allowed to bring the equipment home and show it to our families over the weekend.
Once Sid was at the hospital showing a film and leaving the projector running, he went to get his supper. When he returned he found that the film had failed to wind onto the rear spool.
Consequently the whole of the film was lying on the floor. Luckily film does not naturally tie itself into knots and when he re-started the rear spool it just picked up the whole reel.
Ron Levett, 2001
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