Pioneer

Berec Radio; London

Data
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  • Year
  • 1955–1957
  • Category
  • Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 Tuner
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 79417

Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.

 Technical Specifications

  • Number of Tubes
  • 4
  • Main principle
  • Superheterodyne (common); ZF/IF 470 kHz; 2 AF stage(s)
  • Tuned circuits
  • 6 AM circuit(s)
  • Wave bands
  • Broadcast and Short Wave (SW).
  • Power type and voltage
  • Dry Batteries / 1,5 & 90 Volt
  • Loudspeaker
  • Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) Loudspeaker (moving coil) - elliptical / Ø 5 inch = 12.7 cm
  • Material
  • Metal case
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: Pioneer - Berec Radio; London
  • Shape
  • Tablemodel without push buttons, Mantel/Midget/Compact up to 14
  • Dimensions (WHD)
  • 295 x 185 x 155 mm / 11.6 x 7.3 x 6.1 inch
  • Notes

  • Blue metal louvred case, silver front. Surplus later sold as kits in UK. Perspex scale cover. Examples may have been resprayed.

    Four versions:

    A, B : MW (about 525 to 1650 KHz)  and different SW band according to region.
    C : MW (about 525 to 1650 KHz)  and 49m to 16m (about 6MHz to 17.5MHz)
    D : No MW, SW1: 120m to 41m (about 2.25MHz to 7.5MHz, SW2: 49m to 16m (about 6MHz to 17.5MHz). Surplus D have MW not SW1

    Serial numbers start with Rx where "x" is A, B, C or D.

    Replaces Saucepan Specials (Ever Ready Early SW & MW & SW, BEREC  J-A3F SW & J-A4F MW+ SW)

    3" x 5" elliptical speaker.

    Requires external aerial and earth.

    Uses B103 combo Battery pack, externally even though this is excess filament running time, due to climate (shelf life of "Layer" cells for HT less affected by heat).

    Listed in 1955 (August 22- September 1) Radio Show catalogue.
    Berec Pioneer Radio - New and improved version of the "Saucepan Special"
    4-valve superhet receiver. All components are tropicalised. Colour: Blue
    and Black. Cabinet: Stout metal cabinet with tight fitting back, specially finished
    for tropical conditions. Wave Ranges: Three types - "A", "B", "C" short
    and medium wave. Type "D" two short.
    Berec Batrymax B103 battery not accomodated within the cabinet.

    The exact same entry is in the 1956 Radio Show catalogue but the 1954 Catalogue has the two BEREC Saucepan models (J-A3F SW and J-A4F MW+ SW) but no Pioneer. Gladstone Radio is mentioned in Radio! Radio! as source of Pioneer Kits (1959 or 1960?), but Gladstone was a surplus equipment dealer, often of "remaindered" and bankrupt stock. There was even later an FM radio offered in the Pioneer case by Gladstone Radio.

    The last versions of Saucepan Radio were exhibited in 1954 at the UK Radio Show. In the Unesco Courier September 1959 Peter Fraenkel of CABS states "The original Saucepan Special has been replaced by a new model of a different shape".   Though the article published date is 1959, it was probably written in 1955-56, as suggested by Radio Show catalogue. As Supersonic Radio in Bulawayo had started production before 1958, possibly 1955 and transistor sets quickly replacing valve models 1958-59 the BEREC Pioneer would have been very late to market if released in 1959.

  • Net weight (2.2 lb = 1 kg)
  • 3.5 kg / 7 lb 11.3 oz (7.709 lb)

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The model Pioneer is part of the collections of the following members.

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