10 (10) King Street, Cambridge

History of 10 King Street

1851

Benjamin Attack, 33, builder and brickmaker, b Cambridge

1861

Benjamin Attack

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1881

Robert Royston, 52, artistical painter, b Cambridge

Sarah, 52, b Cambridge

Arabella, 23, b Cambridge

Family were previously living at 27 Jesus Lane

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1901 (10)

Isabella Rutherford, 69, lodging house keeper, b Cambridge

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1913 (10)

Herbert Smee, bootmaker

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1 January 1952 – Peak’s introduces a television night-service
H. W. Peak Ltd. of King Street introduced what was described as the first provincial four-and-a-half-hour night television servicing scheme. Two engineers equipped with service vans and spare television sets remained on call during the evening and could be contacted by radio following a telephone call from customers whose televisions developed faults. John Peak explained that such a service was essential because television was primarily an evening pastime and breakdowns could otherwise leave viewers unable to watch programmes.

Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 52 01 01.

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7 January 1952 – Fire Brigade helps erect a television aerial
An unusual operation was undertaken to install a very high television aerial above the premises of H. W. Peak in King Street. Attempts by the Fire Brigade to place a rope over the aerial support using a turntable ladder and then a rocket proved unsuccessful. The task was finally completed when an arrow, fired by John Ridgeon of the Cambridge Bowmen, carried the rope over the crossbar, allowing the new aerial to be hauled into position for Peak’s television night-service.

Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 52 01 07.

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11 October 1952 – Peak’s backs a new television relay scheme
H. W. Peak’s television department supported proposals for a new television relay station that promised greatly improved reception for viewers in Cambridge. The scheme involved receiving the BBC signal on a high aerial on the Gog Magog Hills before retransmitting it across the city. John Peak believed the system would provide almost perfect reception in time for the Coronation and would remove the need for the large rooftop aerials then common on Cambridge houses.

Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 52 10 11.

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18 March 1954 – Peak advises buyers on television converters
An advertisement by H. W. Peak’s Radio and Television Department advised Cambridge customers not to pay extra for multi-channel television converters until they were actually needed. The firm argued that Cambridge remained outside the range of the proposed alternative television service and that converters fitted in advance might become obsolete before they could be used. Customers were therefore encouraged to wait until new transmitters served the city.

Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 54 03 18.

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2 September 1955 – Peak opens enlarged King Street showrooms
H. W. Peak marked the opening of its enlarged King Street showrooms with a feature celebrating the firm’s growth. Visitors were offered furniture, domestic electrical appliances, televisions and hi-fi equipment under one roof. The article noted that the business had begun almost fifty years earlier selling second-hand furniture and had expanded steadily, opening a large branch at King’s Lynn in 1937.

Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 55 09 02b

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3 September 1955 – Peak celebrates new King Street premises
To celebrate the opening of its new King Street showrooms, H. W. Peak staged an elaborate publicity event. Fireworks were launched from the roof of the illuminated and decorated building while balloons were dropped from aircraft over Cambridge. Each balloon contained a numbered card, with successful finders sharing prizes worth £200 in furniture. The event demonstrated the increasingly imaginative marketing techniques being employed by one of Cambridge’s leading furniture retailers.

Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 55 09 03.

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15 October 1955 – Peak brothers’ dispute reaches the High Court
A High Court case arose from confusion between two Cambridge house furnishing businesses operated by brothers using the name Peak. A customer intending to buy a refrigerator from Peak’s Furnishers in Fitzroy Street mistakenly purchased one from Peak’s in King Street, believing the businesses to be the same. After the appliance had been delivered she attempted to pay at the Fitzroy Street shop. The judge described the action as “a case of the utmost triviality” and remarked that it was surprising similar misunderstandings had not occurred more often.

Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 55 10 15.

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1962

(6-16) H W Peak Ltd