Frederick Norman George Leevers (1911–1988)
Pioneer of British Sound Recording, Founder of Leevers-Rich and Composer
Frederick Norman George Leevers was born in Japan in 1911, he built a career that crossed several worlds: the development of talking pictures, professional sound recording, film production, magnetic tape technology and music composition.
Today, the name Leevers-Rich is remembered mainly by audio historians for its professional tape recorders, but Norman Leevers’ contribution began decades earlier. He was involved in the earliest years of sound cinema, created one of Britain’s important independent sound companies, and helped shape the technology used by film-makers and broadcasters for much of the twentieth century.
Early life and family background
Frederick Norman George Leevers was born in Japan in 1911, where his father, Frederick William Leevers, was working as an engineer. His mother was Annie Fawcett. When he was just short of a year old, the family returned to England. His sister, Adrienne Leevers, was born in Rugby Warwickshire. She went on to become a journalist, scholar, parliamentary candidate, educational pioneer and headmistress of one of England’s first comprehensive schools, before later moving to Africa to establish and run a school. (A separate blog post has been written about her). The 1921 census shows the family living at 60 Park Avenue North, Hornsey in Middlesex.
Training as a sound engineer
By the late 1920s, Leevers had entered the emerging field of sound engineering. He later used the professional designations: F. N. G. Leevers, B.Sc., A.C.G.I., M.B.K.S.
These indicate:
- B.Sc. (Eng) — Bachelor of Science from University of London (ref. High Fidelity September 1952)
- A.C.G.I. — Associate of the City and Guilds of London Institute
- M.B.K.S. — Member of the British Kinematograph Society
1928 – Sound-film work in Paris
In 1928, Leevers joined the C.F.T.H. Acoustic Laboratories in Paris, where he worked on sound-film equipment. This was a remarkable period in cinema history. The industry was moving rapidly from silent films to talking pictures, and engineers were solving the technical problems of recording, synchronising and reproducing sound. Leevers was therefore involved at the very beginning of the sound-film revolution. A later contemporary profile of Leevers recorded that he worked in Paris designing sound-film apparatus before returning to Britain to continue his career in film sound.
1930 – Film Recorders Ltd.
After his work in Paris, Leevers joined Film Recorders Ltd., continuing to specialise in sound recording technology. This period gave him further experience in the practical problems of film production and helped establish his reputation as a technical expert.
1933 – Chief Sound Engineer at British Screen Service
By 1933, Leevers had become: Chief Sound Engineer at British Screen Service. This was a significant achievement for a man still in his twenties. It demonstrated that he was already regarded as one of Britain’s leading specialists in film sound.
1936 – Founding of Leevers, Rich & Co. Ltd.
In 1936, Norman Leevers entered into partnership with Roy Rich and founded: Leevers, Rich & Co. Ltd.
A contemporary report published in Kinematograph Weekly in September 1946, marking the company’s tenth anniversary, described the beginning of the firm and named the two founders. The company’s first venture was a mobile sound recording unit for location work. This was a significant innovation. In the Kinematograph Weekly of 20 August 1936 p. 41a, it tells of a compact yet comprehensive recording truck being put on the road by two young men, Norman Leevers and Roy Rich of 47-48 Berners Street, W1. Designed for shooting on location. (a photo accompanied the article but it was too dark to be useful).
1937 – Expansion into post-synchronisation
The success of the mobile recording unit enabled the company to expand. In 1937, Leevers-Rich opened a small post-synchronising studio, extending its activities beyond location recording into studio-based sound production. The company developed expertise in:
- film dubbing;
- soundtrack production;
- post-synchronisation;
- sound effects;
- library music.
Within a few years, Leevers-Rich had become a significant independent technical unit within the British film industry.
1938 – International recognition
In 1938, Leevers travelled to Norway to assist with sound equipment for Norway’s first feature film. A contemporary newspaper report stated that British equipment and British recordists were to be resposible for sound recording. The recording truck operated by Leevers and Rich was shipped out to Norway on a two month’s contract. Norman Leevers was to supervise the recording.
23 June 1938 p. 52d
1939 – A growing sound business
The 1939 Register records Norman Leevers living in Barnet, Hertfordshire. He was listed as Managing Director and Technician of Electric Sound Recording Company. At this time he was single and living with his parents.
Marriage and War Years
In 1940 Norman married Margaret Bessie Andrew in Brentford, Middlesex.
During the Second World War, Leevers-Rich continued its sound recording activities. The company survived the Blitz of London. A contemporary report in the Kinematograph Weekly 8 May 1941p. 20a noted that although a neighbouring building was destroyed during the Blitz, the company’s delicate recording equipment survived.
1944 – Expansion into Wardour Street
In the latter part of 1944, Leevers-Rich moved to larger premises in Wardour Street, Soho, London. The company installed two studios equipped for: 35mm recording; and 16mm recording. By this stage, Leevers-Rich had become a substantial force in British film sound.
p. 43d
1946 – Ten years of achievement
In the 26 September 1946, Kinematograph Weekly p. 77a, an article celebrated the company’s first decade. The article reported that Leevers-Rich had completed:
- soundtracks for more than 3,000 35mm films;
- more than ten million feet of 16mm recording.
Post-war innovation – magnetic recording
After the war, Leevers-Rich expanded into professional magnetic recording equipment. The company developed professional tape recorders including:
- the Synchropulse;
- Series C recorders;
- Series D recorders.
These machines became widely used in professional film, television and broadcasting environments. The company became particularly associated with high-quality British professional recording equipment during the era when magnetic tape transformed the industry.
In the Kinematograph Year Book, 1947, there is a career summary for Norman Leevers.
- education;
- C.F.T.H. Acoustic Laboratories, Paris, 1928;
- Film Recorders Ltd., 1930;
- Chief Sound Engineer, British Screen Service, 1933;
- formation of Leevers, Rich & Co. Ltd., 1936.
Norman Leevers is named as the sound recordist for a film on the British Council Film archive showing Westminster Abbey. https://film.britishcouncil.org/resources/film-archive/westminster-abbey
Also
In the Kinematograph Weekly 14 May 1953 p. 9b it states that the Newman Memorial Plaque was presented to Norman Leevers, of Leevers-Rich and Co., for his development of kenematographic technique and in particular the Synchro pulse system.
Norman Leevers is mentioned multiple times in British newspapers. He is particularly mentioned in the Kinematograph Weekly. In the 15 May 1958 issue, p. 7, it was reported that the membership of the British Kinematographic Society was almost 1000. Norman Leevers was voted, unopposed, as the President of the new Council and was invested with the chain of office and commended for his valuable work for the society. He was the only person who had been president of the British Sound Recording Association and of the BKS.
Inventor and patent holder
Leevers continued to contribute technically. A 1950 patent record lists: “Method and device for sound film recording and playback” showing his continuing involvement in the development of sound technology.
An interesting article about the Leevers-Rich company is in the Studio Sound Tape Recorder December 1968 online https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-Studio-Sound/60s/Studio-Sound-1968-12.pdf
Composer
Norman Leevers was said to also be a composer. This is mentioned numerous times on Internet searches. However, no specific reference to any compositions have been found.
Later years and death
Norman Leevers continued his involvement with sound and recording technology into later life.
He died on 14 January 1988 age 76 years at Twickenham, Middlesex.
References
https://museumofmagneticsoundrecording.org/ManufacturersLeeversRich.html
British Newspapers Archive, particularly the Kinematograph Weekly
High Fidelity magazine: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-High-Fidelity/50s/High-Fidelity-1952-Sep-oct.pdf
Internet Archive: Gives Norman Leevers qualifications and career path. The Kinematograph Year Book [year unclear] https://ia801405.us.archive.org/19/items/kinematographyea33unse/kinematographyea33unse_djvu.txt
[the entry is copied below]
Norman Leevers, B.Sc, A.C.G.I. Graduate of London University. Since Talkies has specialised in the technical side of film pro- duction, and, in particular, overseas work. Was employed in the C.F.T.H. Acoustic Laboratories, Paris, 1928, designing sound-film apparatus. Joined Film Recorders, Ltd., in 1930, as research engineer. Became chief sound engineer to British Screen Service in 1933. Formed Leevers, Rich & Co., Ltd., in 1936, of which he is the Chairman and Managing Director. Managing Director of British Cine Recording, Ltd., and Director of Wallace Productions, Ltd. Addresses: — 34, St. Stephens Gardens, St. Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex ; and 80-82, Wardour Street, W.i. Phone : Popesgrove, 2346.
