The 'radio factory'

On this building is written in large 'Radiofabriek'. Tieltenaar Clovis Vander Weyden was a son of 'garde Sus' - people used to have a nickname - and founded this special factory in 1935 together with his brothers Romain and Basiel. Originally they started the company in an outbuilding of the family home, but soon 35 people worked there. Contrary to what the name suggests, the company only made the furniture to place radios in it. During the difficult war years, diversification was necessary and during that period they produced wooden shoe soles and caps for handbags.

The peak fell after the Second World War: in the early fifties about 120 people worked here. This building was built in 1945. The golden years were quickly over and from 1955 things went downhill. In the sixties, Philips wanted to take over the factory, but Clovis' brothers did not like that. Finally, the factory doors closed in 1970.

Jan Rymenams