28-12-2013, 01:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 29-12-2013, 09:52 PM by Robert Darwent.)
Another Variant - The ETR92T
Some will already be aware of my enthusiasm for collecting the various models in the Bush MB60/TR82 series and that I wrote an article on the subject entitled "Variations on a theme: The Bush MB60 family" which appeared in the Winter 2010 issue of the BVWS Bulletin magazine (pdf of which is attached to post #15 of this thread).
That article ended with the final paragraph speculating on the possibility of further model variants out there waiting to be unearthed as it were. I should now like to report on a further little known model to add to the series.
A few months ago I carried out an internet search with the intention of trying to find further images of the ETR92 export set. Rather unexpectedly instead on an image hosting website I came across a model with a similar type number, the ETR92T, that I hadn't heard of before.
There were several good close-up images showing a set which I initially wrongly assumed to be a "marriage" of two or three of the known models in the series. It will be appreciated that the majority of the plastic case parts and the various chassis themselves are interchangeable between the different sets.
My sceptism was because of the colour combination used by the ETR92T. It has the same light blue/green coloured plastic case plus the chrome trim and "B U S H" lettering that is found on the familiar TR82C. But the middle section instead of being blue has a red rexine covering, as used by the MB60 and EBM60 battery valve models.
After contacting the owner of the images and then more recently obtaining another example of the ETR92T myself from a different source, there is now no doubt that the set is indeed a genuine model. However, I still find the colour scheme a strange choice, hence my immediate thoughts that it had been assembled by someone using spare parts.
The type/serial number plate underneath the middle of the case states "Bush (Ireland)", the model being made at Bush's factory based in Dublin's northern suburb of Whitehall. Like the colour scheme this fact is also unusual, as all the other models in the series were produced at Bush's factories in England.
The set offers long wave, medium wave and one short wave band from 1.7 to 5.0 MHz.
With the three wavechange buttons labelled simply L, M and S.
The short wave range is considerably lower than those offered on the three export models (EBM60, ETR82 and ETR92), so presumably the "T" in ETR92T may stand for '"tropical bands".
Internally the chassis appears to be derived from the ETR92 variant. Apart from very minor differences in the number of coils and trimmers fitted due to the different wavebands offered, it looks to be virtually identical.
As with the more common TR82 sets, the model specifies the use of a 9 volt Ever Ready PP9 or equivalent, rather than the 6 x D cells used by the ETR92. This would suggest the ETR92T was produced as a domestic model, since the main reason for specifying D cells on the export sets (ETR82 and ETR92) was because of the limited availability of the PP9 battery overseas.
In view of the ETR92T coming to light, I have reworked my earlier model table in the article to include it. At the same time I have taken the opportunity to reclassify the models only according to Bush's type numbering system which has resulted in there now only being 14 "official" models despite the new addition.
01. 237 - MB60 - LW/MW, Valve, Light grey case, Red rexine, Brass trim - c.1957
02. 240 - EBM60 (Export) - MW/2xSW, Valve, Light grey case, Red rexine, Brass trim - c.1957
03. 345 - TR82B - LW/MW, OC transistors, Coffee case, Brown rexine, Brass trim - c.1959
04. 346 - TR82C - LW/MW, OC transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1959
05. 355 - ETR82 (Export) - MW/2xSW, Valve/OC transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1959
06. 421 - ETR92 (Export) - MW/2xSW, OC transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1960
07. 438 - ETR92T - LW/MW/SW, OC transistors, Blue/green case, Red rexine, Chrome trim - c.1960
08. 462 - VTR103 - LW/MW/VHF, AF transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1961
09. 508 - TR82D - LW/MW, OC transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1962
10. 528 - TR82C Mk.II - LW/MW, AF transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1963
11. 530 - TR82D Mk.II - LW/MW, AF transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1963
12. 622 - VTR103C - LW/MW/VHF, AF transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1964
13. 653 - TR82CL - LW/MW/208, AF transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1964
14. 655 - TR82DL - LW/MW/208, AF transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1964
Regards
Some will already be aware of my enthusiasm for collecting the various models in the Bush MB60/TR82 series and that I wrote an article on the subject entitled "Variations on a theme: The Bush MB60 family" which appeared in the Winter 2010 issue of the BVWS Bulletin magazine (pdf of which is attached to post #15 of this thread).
That article ended with the final paragraph speculating on the possibility of further model variants out there waiting to be unearthed as it were. I should now like to report on a further little known model to add to the series.
A few months ago I carried out an internet search with the intention of trying to find further images of the ETR92 export set. Rather unexpectedly instead on an image hosting website I came across a model with a similar type number, the ETR92T, that I hadn't heard of before.
There were several good close-up images showing a set which I initially wrongly assumed to be a "marriage" of two or three of the known models in the series. It will be appreciated that the majority of the plastic case parts and the various chassis themselves are interchangeable between the different sets.
My sceptism was because of the colour combination used by the ETR92T. It has the same light blue/green coloured plastic case plus the chrome trim and "B U S H" lettering that is found on the familiar TR82C. But the middle section instead of being blue has a red rexine covering, as used by the MB60 and EBM60 battery valve models.
After contacting the owner of the images and then more recently obtaining another example of the ETR92T myself from a different source, there is now no doubt that the set is indeed a genuine model. However, I still find the colour scheme a strange choice, hence my immediate thoughts that it had been assembled by someone using spare parts.
The type/serial number plate underneath the middle of the case states "Bush (Ireland)", the model being made at Bush's factory based in Dublin's northern suburb of Whitehall. Like the colour scheme this fact is also unusual, as all the other models in the series were produced at Bush's factories in England.
The set offers long wave, medium wave and one short wave band from 1.7 to 5.0 MHz.
With the three wavechange buttons labelled simply L, M and S.
The short wave range is considerably lower than those offered on the three export models (EBM60, ETR82 and ETR92), so presumably the "T" in ETR92T may stand for '"tropical bands".
Internally the chassis appears to be derived from the ETR92 variant. Apart from very minor differences in the number of coils and trimmers fitted due to the different wavebands offered, it looks to be virtually identical.
As with the more common TR82 sets, the model specifies the use of a 9 volt Ever Ready PP9 or equivalent, rather than the 6 x D cells used by the ETR92. This would suggest the ETR92T was produced as a domestic model, since the main reason for specifying D cells on the export sets (ETR82 and ETR92) was because of the limited availability of the PP9 battery overseas.
In view of the ETR92T coming to light, I have reworked my earlier model table in the article to include it. At the same time I have taken the opportunity to reclassify the models only according to Bush's type numbering system which has resulted in there now only being 14 "official" models despite the new addition.
01. 237 - MB60 - LW/MW, Valve, Light grey case, Red rexine, Brass trim - c.1957
02. 240 - EBM60 (Export) - MW/2xSW, Valve, Light grey case, Red rexine, Brass trim - c.1957
03. 345 - TR82B - LW/MW, OC transistors, Coffee case, Brown rexine, Brass trim - c.1959
04. 346 - TR82C - LW/MW, OC transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1959
05. 355 - ETR82 (Export) - MW/2xSW, Valve/OC transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1959
06. 421 - ETR92 (Export) - MW/2xSW, OC transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1960
07. 438 - ETR92T - LW/MW/SW, OC transistors, Blue/green case, Red rexine, Chrome trim - c.1960
08. 462 - VTR103 - LW/MW/VHF, AF transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1961
09. 508 - TR82D - LW/MW, OC transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1962
10. 528 - TR82C Mk.II - LW/MW, AF transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1963
11. 530 - TR82D Mk.II - LW/MW, AF transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1963
12. 622 - VTR103C - LW/MW/VHF, AF transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1964
13. 653 - TR82CL - LW/MW/208, AF transistors, Blue/green case, Blue rexine, Chrome trim - c.1964
14. 655 - TR82DL - LW/MW/208, AF transistors, Cream case, Tan rexine, Chrome trim - c.1964
Regards
