The “National Ekco” brand was the result of a joint venture between E.K. Cole Ltd.
(EKCO) of England and NELCO (an undertaking of the Tata Group) in India. This
partnership was formed in 1949, marking the entry of EKCO, known for its radio
and electronics manufacturing, into the Indian market. EKCO, origi-
nally founded by Eric Kirkham Cole in 1924 in Southend-on-Sea,
England, was a pioneer in radio and electronics, particularly known for
its use of Bakelite in radio casings and its advancements in television
technology.