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PYE was founded in 1896 in Cambridge, England by William Pye, with the radio division (Pye Radio Ltd) formed in 1928 under Charles Orr Stanley's leadership. The company became a major British electronics manufacturer, specializing in professional studio recording equipment, audio amplifiers, pre-amplifier modules, mixing units, and compression amplifiers. PYE achieved significant milestones including merging with EKCO in 1960 and Philips acquiring majority shareholding in 1967. The original company was fully acquired by Philips in 1976, with the studio division closing in 1986. A modern incarnation, PYE Audio, continues the legacy in professional studio recording equipment, maintaining the brand's reputation for high-quality audio signal processing equipment. The company's historical significance in British audio engineering and broadcasting equipment development spans nearly a century, from early radio equipment to sophisticated studio technology that served the professional audio industry worldwide.