Earliest UK B7G / Miniature valve Radios

Ernst Erb Asks Keith Watt:

Did a company in Great Britain manage to also make some portables with the then new all glass types (1T4 etc.) before the End of the WW2 or did only the US build these sets before getting into the war? I like these sets very much. If you create your batteries also for sale you can offer them in RMorg too.

Like Keith I am especially interested in Battery Radios and making the Battery Packs. The RCA miniature tubes were only used for covert sets etc during WWII (we have the two famous ones on the site  here, listed below)

It seems from study of Vidor & Ever Ready Models that they used Octal tubes in models that they would have liked to use 1R5, 1T4 etc in. Vidor CN353 personal,  Marconiphone and Ever Ready all did "RCA BP10 1940" style personal sets. But not till 1947, probably due to the tubes being unavailable. I think only the Romac as early as 1946. The Ever Ready Model C and Vidor Riviera both appeared first in Octal Riviera CN351 1945  and then B7G Riviera CN360 only in 1947.

Only some of these models are "Personal" in sense of the RCA BP10

Only models up to 1948 inclusive listed.

During WWII, Miltary Production only, Personal Size. Probably other models

In 1945 (larger sets):

 

Commercial RCA Series 1R5 1T4 1S5 etc

 

European & UK Series DK91 DF91 DAF91 etc (equivalent RCA)

 

UK MOV Series  X17 W17 ZD17 etc (equivalent RCA)

 

Also the Mazda series 1C1 1F3 1FD9 etc. series up to 1948:

Only the 1947 Rees Mace Gnome Attaché

Conclusion

While RCA type B7G valves available in UK during WWII, only Romac managed to get supplies to produce a "Personal" model and only in 1946. The rest arrive in 1947 and in 1947 some models use entirely US/RCA numbers then a mix of RCA part numbers and Philips type numbers, only reliably being European part numbers in 1948. This is clear from the "Trader Sheets" and the R&TVS books. The same applies to Table/Portable battery sets, except some start with Octal tubes and change to B7G on same Chassis in 1947/1948. Actually there is still during 1945 to 1950 some 2V filament Battery Valve transportable and table models produced.

There is a similar situation with Octal valves Sylvania/RCA US numbers vs Philips/Mullard European types in 1945 and during the WWII replacement of Mazda Octal and European Edge connect with US Octal imports during production especially from 1941/1942.

 

Related Articles

Here I write about the Model C and early Ever Ready All Dry Battery developments

Some General background about the B7G miniature valves (tubes). Before the Edge connect, Mazda Octal and Sylvania Octal "All Dry Battery" tubes/valve in 1939 in UK (Sylvania 1938 in USA) the popular portable solution was the 2V filament with a sealed Lead Acid "gel" cell, of 30AH to 75AH. HT from a "Portable" series battery or even a "Winner". Vidor used the Portable 61/L5039 up to late 1950s in one Attaché model with 25mA subminiature valves.

Feel free to add missing UK B7G battery models and relevent comments.

Do  read the articles about the original 1940s USA Personal models which also has a gallery of many Personal Models from USA, UK and Germany.

Having added most of the missing UK Ever Ready & Vidor Batteries related to Radio, I'm about to check and cross reference the US Eveready (anyone American want to help?). I also want to to cross reference all the German Varta and related types (anyone German want to help?).

I'm also thinking of the best way to upload battery replication designs. Most of the Batteries I've built are on my collection page. But I have more built and even more documented.

I'm happy to ship printed, stuck to card, cut and folded battery replicas by letter post that only need holders / clips added and batteries purchased locally.

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