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15-station Desk Intercom
Academy 'Camcorder' Radio
Accoson Sphygmomanometer
Acos SLM3 Sound Level Meter
Acoustic Coupler
Advance PP5 Stabilised PSU
Aibo ERS-111 Robotic Pet
Aiwa LX-110 Linear Turntable
Aiwa TP-32A Tape Recorder
Alba PTV-11 Mini TV Clock Radio
Alcatel Minitel 1 Videotex
Aldis Folding Slide Viewer
Alpha-Tek Pocket Radio
Airlite 62 Military Headset
Airlite 71 Aviation Headset
Aitron Wrist Radio
Aiwa TP-60R Tape Recorder
AKG K290 Surround 'Phones
Amerex Alpha One Spycorder
Amstrad em@iler
Amstrad NC100 Notepad
Amstrad VMC-100 Camcorder
AN/PRC-6 Walkie Talkie
Apple Macintosh SE FDHD
Amstrad CPC 464 Computer
AlphaTantel Prestel
Archer Realistic Headphone Radio
Astatic D-104 Desk Microphone
Atari 2600 Video Game
Atari 600XL Home Computer
Audiotronic LSH 80 'Phones
Avia Electronic Watch
Avid Pneumatic Headphones
AVO Multiminor
AVO Model 8 Multimeter
Bambino Challenger Radio
Bandai Solar LCD Game
Barlow Wadley XCR-30 Radio
BC-611/SCR-536 Handy Talkie
B&O Beocom 2000 Phone
B&O Beolit 609 EXP II AM Radio
Baygen Freeplay Lantern
Bellwood, Bond Spycorder
Benkson 65 LW/MW Radio
Benkson 68 Mini Tape Recorder
Benkson 79 Mini Tape Recorder
Benkson 92 Baby Sitter Alarm
Betacom BF1 Pianotel Phone
Betacom CP/6 Ferrari Phone
Bigston PS-5 Flat Panel Speakers
Binatone Digivox Alarm
Binatone Long Ranger 6 CB
Binatone Mk6 Video Game
Binatone Moontime Clock Radio
Binatone Worldstar Radio
Binotone Radio Binoculars
Bio Activity Translator
Biri-1 Radiation Monitor
Blick Time Recorder Clock
Bolex Paillard 155 Cine Camera
Bowmar LED Digital Watch
Boots CRTV-50 TV,Tape, Radio
Beseler PM2 Color Analyzer
British Gas Mk 2 Multimeter
Brolac Camera In A Can
Brydex Ever Ready Lighter
BSB Squarial
BT CT6000 Moneybox Payphone
BT Genie Phone
BT Kingfisher Answering Machine
BT Linesmans Phone 282A
BT Rhapsody Leather Phone
BT Slimtel 10 HT2A
Bush TR 82C MW/LW Radio
Cambridge Z88 Computer
Candlestick Telephone
Canon Ion RC-260 Camera
Cartex TX-160 Multiband Radio
Casio VL-Tone Keyboard
CD V-700 Geiger Counter
CD V-715 Survey Meter
CDV-717 Survey Meter
CD V-742 Pen Dosimeter
Casio CA-90 Calculator Watch
Casio WQV-1 Camera Watch
Central C-7980EN Multimeter
Channel Master 6546
Chinon 722-P Super 8 ciné
Citizen Soundwich Radio Watch
Citizen ST555 Pocket TV
Clairtone Mini Hi Fi Radio
Clarke & Smith 1069 Radio
Clipper TC-300 Tape Recorder
CocaCola Keychain Camera
Coke Bottle AM Radio
Commodore 64 Home PC
Commodore PET 2001-N
Companion CR-313 Walkie Talkies
Computer Novelty AM/FM Radio
Compact Marine SX-25
Concord F20 Sound Camera
Connevans LA5 Loop Amplifier
Coomber 393 Cassette Recorder
Coomber 2241-7 CD Cassette
Contamination Meter No.1
Cosmos Melody Organ
Craig 212 Tape Recorder
Craig TR-408 tape recorder
C-Scope ProMet II Detector
Dansette Richmond Radio
Daiya TV-X Junior Viewer
Dancing Coke Can
Dawe Transistor Stroboflash
Decca RP 205 Record Player
Decimo Vatman 120D Calc
Diamond Rio Media Player
Dictograph Desk Phone
Direct Line Phones x2
Dokorder PR-4K Mini Tape
Dosimeter Corp MiniRad II
DP-66M Geiger Counter
DP-75 Geiger Counter
Duvidal FT-66 Tape Recorder
Eagle Ti.206 Intercom
Eagle T1-206 Intercom
Eagle International Loudhailer
EhrcorderTP-421 Tape Recorder
Electrolysis Cell
Electron 52D Spycorder
Electronicraft Project Kit
Eddyprobe II Integrity Tester
Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart Radio
EMS Stammering Oscillator
Ericsson Ericofon Cobra Phone
Estyma Travel Radio Alarm
Etalon Luxor Light Meter
Euromarine Radiofix Mk 5
Exactus Mini Add Calculator
Fairylight Morse Set
FEP Microphone & Earphone
Ferguson 3247 Tape Recorder
Ferguson FC08 Camcorder
Ferguson FHSC 1 Door Cam
Fi-Cord 101 Tape Recorder
Fi-Cord 202 Tape Recorder
Field Telephone Set J
Fidelity HF42 Record Player
Fisher-Price 826 Cassette
Fleetwood Globe AM Radio
Fonadek Telephone Amplifier
Franklin LF-390 Guitar Radio
Gaertner Pioneer Geiger Counter
G&E Bradley CT471C Test Meter
Garmin GPS III Pilot Satnav
GE 3-5805 AM CB Radio
GE 3-5908 Help CB Radio
GEC C11B2 Electricity Meter
GEC Sashalite Photoflash
GEC Transistomatic
GEC Voltmeter
General Radiological NE 029-02
Gfeller Eiger Phone
Giant Light Bulbs
Giant Watch-Shaped Radio
Goodsell TC Record Player
Gowlland Auriscope
GPO Headset No. 1
GPO Keysender No 5
GPO RAF Microphone No. 3
GPO Telephone Series 300
GPO Telephone Type 746
GPO 12B/1 Test Meter
GPO Trimphone
GPO Ring Microphone No 2
Gramdeck Tape Recorder
Grandstand Astro Wars
Grandstand Video Console
Grundig EN3 Dictation
Grundig Melody Boy 1000 Radio
Grundig Memorette
Grundig TK-141 Tape Recorder
Grundig Yacht Boy 210 Radio
Guy's Britannic Calculator
H&G Crystal Radio
Harrier Pilot AM/FM/Air Radio
Hacker Radio Hunter RP38A
Hacker Radio Mini Herald
Hanimex Disc Camera
Harmon Kardon HK2000
Harvard Batalion Radio
Heathkit GR-70 Multiband Radio
Heathkit Oxford UXR2 Kit Radio
Henica H-138 Radio Lighter
Hero HP-101 Intercom
Hitachi MP-EG-1A Camcorder
Hitachi TRK-8015 Cass Recorder
Hitachi WH-638 Radio
Hitachi VM-C1 Camcorder
HMV 2210 Tape Recorder
Hohner 9806 Organetta
Homer KE-10 Intercom
Homer KT-505 Phone Amplifier
Homey HR-408 Recorder
Horstmann Pluslite Task Lamp
Hy-Line 110 Clock Radio Phone
Ianero Polaris Spotlight
Ingersoll XK505 TV, Radio
Intel QXP Computer Microscope
Interstate Video Game
International HP-1000 Radio
Internet Radio S-11
IR Binoculars No 1 Mk 1
ISI Rapid Abnormality Indicator
ITT KB Super AM/FM Radio
Ivalek De Luxe Crystal Radio
James Bond TV Watch
Jasa AM Wristwatch Radio
Juliette LT-44 Tape Recorder
Jupiter FC60 Radio
JVC GR-C1 Camcorder
JVC GX-N7E Video Camera
JVC HR-C3 VHS-C VCR
JVC HR-3300 VHS VCR
King Folding Binoculars
Kodak Brownie Starflash
Kodak 56X Instamatic
Kodak 100 Instamatic
Kodak Disc 6000
Kodak EK2 'The Handle'
Kodak EK160 Instant Camera
Kodak Pony 135
Koss ESP-6 Headphones
Kvarts DRSB-01 Dosimeter
Kvarts DRSB-88 Dosimeter
Kvarts DRSB-90 Geiger Count
Kyoto S600 8-Track Player
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CRYSTAL RADIOS
My first encounter with semiconductors was a Germanium 'point contact' diode, a small glass bulb with a couple of
wires sticking out of it. It was unbranded and unmarked and bought for a few
pence (the old sort) from a local army surplus shop. If you look closely at the photograph (this is a much later type) you can just about see the small pointed spring wire pressed against the tiny Germanium crystal.
Within a few days I had a
built a crystal radio from plans in one of those ‘101 Things for Boys to do’ books
some aunt or granny had bought for me. The radio was literally nailed together
on a piece of wood and comprised a hand wound coil on an empty toilet roll, a
variable capacitor from an old valve radio, some ancient bakelite headphones and a 50-foot wire strung up in the
back garden.
To this day I still get a kick out of crystal radios and
recently managed to track down a couple of old models that I used to own as a kid. The
Ivalek (right and below), which actually dates from the 50s, was made by the long defunct Ivory
Electric Company and was a real find. My brother had one, which I
coveted and he later generoulsy sold it to me for the princely sum of two and sixpence, as I
recall…
This particular one is quite an early example, a proper Bakelite case job with a galena crystal that has to be ‘tickled’ with a curly wire on the end of the little red knob. Finding a sensitive spot is something of an art and more often than not the only thing you'll hear in the earphones is the sound of your own hair growing but it's all part of the fiun.
The next crystal radio (right), badged H&G AG-220 (probably made for Headquarters and General) is very similar to
one I once owned. This model was produced in dozens of different guises. It
uses a germanium diode and was incredibly sensitive. The aerial was my
bedspring and I well remember listening to Light Programme and Home Service (now Radio 2 and Radio 4)
broadcasts late into the night.
Sadly my one is missing a tiny jewel on the front, otherwise it is in excellent condition and works really well. From a technology standpoint the crystal earpiece was the
real breakthrough. These oddly shaped flesh-coloured devices were unexpectedly
loud (and very tinny) but a huge improvement on the bulky headphones of the
day.
If you open up these radios there’s not much to see, but the little H&G
is a brilliant example of minimalist engineering. There are just three
components, the diode, a capacitor and the tuning coil with a sliding ferrite
rod, controlled by the knob on the front -- brilliant stuff! The design is also
extremely clever in that it doesn’t require an earth connection, which could be
difficult to arrange unless there was a gas pipe to hand.
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