Minature Receiver

[pwdrive]

I have known about this radio for a while, the RBZ made by Emerson, thought I would post this link to show the excellent engineering of this WW2 receiver.

http://www.qsl.net/k5bcq/RBZ/rbz.html

Lawrence.

[milairuk]

I have known about this radio for a while, the RBZ made by Emerson, thought I would post this link to show the excellent engineering of this WW2 receiver.

http://www.qsl.net/k5bcq/RBZ/rbz.html

Lawrence.

Amazing the quality of engineering over 70 years ago. It's a shame that the modern cheap as chips and throw away when next model come out society has long ago killed such quality. Still at least us old guys still strive for something decent !!

John

[pwdrive]

Hi John, yes, 5 valves in such a small space, the permeability tuning is a neat trick to save space. I wonder which was the smallest domestic valve mains receiver, anyone know?

Lawrence.

[Skywave]

Quite amazing how they managed to get all that hardware into such a small volume. Looks about the same size as an early mobile telephone (remember those?), yet the difference in the technology used in each is vast.

Al.

[AlanBeckett]

Am I being a bit dim here?
I could only find one page

Alan

[pwdrive]

Hello Alan, you are correct, there is only one page in that link, it was a page that I picked at random for the RBZ receiver.

Lawrence.

[AlanBeckett]

Lawrence,

OK. I was hoping for more. I expect he'll get there.

Alan

[pwdrive]

More details in general on the web but I have not done a comprehensive search yet Alan, what attracted me to the RBZ was the efficient use of space inside the receiver by using permeability tuning thus I would guess killing two birds with one stone, no need for a bulky tuning capacitor plus a more mechanically stable tuning system.
Another engineering favourite of mine is the Nagra SN series of tape recorders, their build quality is exceptional in my opinion.

Lawrence.

[AlanBeckett]

Lawrence

Permiability tuning was long used in car radios, but when did it come in?
I've got a couple of pre-war Pyes which use a conventional gang, and a couple of post-war EKCOs which use permiabilty

What vintage is the RBZ?

Alan

       

[pwdrive]

Alan, I am not sure when permeability tuning came in, it would be interesting to know which the first generally available receiver (car or domestic) was.
So far as I am aware the RBZ was a WW2 era development.
I am still convinced that, that workshop of yours is a Tardis..

Lawrence.