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BAYGEN FREEPLAY

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Front view [20K]
  • 1994
  • MW, SW and VHF wavebands
  • Wot no valves ?
  • Clockwork
  • Original cost unknown
NOTES

In 1991, inventor Trevor Bayliss was watching a television programme which covered the spread of the disease Aids in Africa, exacerbated by the difficulty in educating the population who had no access to radio or television. With many of the population without mains electricity and too isolated to even use batteries for a radio, Trevor Bayliss came up with the idea for a clockwork powered radio.

A clockwork mechanism is used to drive a small generator, pushing out maybe 50 or so milliwatts which is just sufficient to power a usable radio with sufficient volume to be heard by a group of people. His first prototype ran for about 15 minutes between re-winds ; however, despite appearing on a popular B.B.C. science program "Tomorrows World", UK backing did not materialise so the first production clockwork radios, the "Freeplay", were manufactured in Cape Town, South Africa.

SERVICE DATA Nope. Not needed.
CURRENT STATE Being new old stock it is in excellent fully working condition.

The set runs for about 30 minutes off of a single "wind" of 60 turns and the sound quality is as good. Living in a strong signal area I can't comment on the set's sensitivity.
WHERE FOUND September 2002 N.V.C.F. for £25.



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J.Evans 2002
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THE POST-60's RADIO GALLERY
Last updated
15th September 2002