What was the First British FM Receiver? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

'LIVEWIRE?' · 3rd Sep 2007, 10:01 am

Having two Bush VHF41s to repair, which date from late 1954/early 1955 prompted the above thought. Given that FM in the UK didn't start until 1955, the '41 must be one of the earliest FM radios. Does anyone know of an earlier one?
On a related topic, when did 10.7Mc/.s become the standard FM I.F.? According to the Trader Service Sheet 1203, the FM I.F. of the VHF 41 is 19.5Mc/s

radioman · 3rd Sep 2007, 10:31 am

How about the Cossor 523 ?
According to Trader sheet 1200, this was released in September '54, two months before the Bush set. The Cossors' I.F. is the standard 10.7MHz as well.

Regards,
Andy

mickjjo · 3rd Sep 2007, 11:49 am

How about the Philips 543A, (Radio! Radio! fig 763, p 194), Another 1954 set claimed to be one of the first AM/FM receivers. I have got one of those somewhere

.

Regards, Mick.

Duke_Nukem · 3rd Sep 2007, 2:05 pm

Well, the first domestic receiver was, in fact a television. There had been much talk about the possibility of FM broadcasts in the late 40's, and English Electric's first few tellies had FM radio coverage in readiness. Thats 1950/51.

Wonder if any of the sets lasted long enough for their FM to be actually used.

TTFN,
Jon

mikelect · 3rd Sep 2007, 2:56 pm

I remember FM test transmissions being broadcast on 405 TV channels on Sunday mornings in the 50's but can't be specific on the actual years

mike

Duke_Nukem · 3rd Sep 2007, 4:05 pm

Well, in the case of the English Electric sets, they were FM and, I believe covered the full range of 88-108MHz (yes, teh full 108MHz).

TTFN,
Jon

FERNSEH · 3rd Sep 2007, 4:16 pm

I believe that EMI produced an FM tuner in 1951.

Murphy introduced the A242 in 1954. It employed a strange valve line-up.
A Mullard EC92 and a Mazda 6L34 triodes are used in the FM tuner. The other valves are Mazda. 6C9, 6F15, 6LD3/EBC41 and a 6P1 as the output valve. The HT rectifier is an UU9/EZ40

Regarding the English Electric TV with FM radio. I have a model 1550 in my collection. Might worthwhile trying it out on FM sometime.

DFWB.

'LIVEWIRE?' · 4th Sep 2007, 9:52 am

Thanks for the interesting replies. I don't remember the FM tests on the TV channel in the early 50s(I was only 8 in 1951 and we didn't have a TV then). I think the first regular FM was broadcast from Wrotham (or Alex. Palace?) in 1955. What I do remember is FM Stereo tests in the mid 60s, using Third Programme FM as one channel and TV sound as the other

russell_w_b · 4th Sep 2007, 7:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'LIVEWIRE?'

... What I do remember is FM Stereo tests in the mid 60s, using Third Programme FM as one channel and TV sound as the other

Would that be 1967, when the BBC decided upon the Zenith G-E Stereophonic Broadcast system?

'LIVEWIRE?' · 4th Sep 2007, 11:38 pm

Russel W. B. you are quite correct, and I assume the TV sound channel used was BBC2, since that was FM, whereas at that time BBC1(405lines)sound was AM

3rd Sep 2007, 10:01 am	#1
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	What was the First British FM Receiver? Having two Bush VHF41s to repair, which date from late 1954/early 1955 prompted the above thought. Given that FM in the UK didn't start until 1955, the '41 must be one of the earliest FM radios. Does anyone know of an earlier one? On a related topic, when did 10.7Mc/.s become the standard FM I.F.? According to the Trader Service Sheet 1203, the FM I.F. of the VHF 41 is 19.5Mc/s

3rd Sep 2007, 10:31 am	#2
radioman Heptode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ayr, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 631	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? How about the Cossor 523 ? According to Trader sheet 1200, this was released in September '54, two months before the Bush set. The Cossors' I.F. is the standard 10.7MHz as well. Regards, Andy __________________ G-QRP #12697

3rd Sep 2007, 11:49 am	#3
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? How about the Philips 543A, (Radio! Radio! fig 763, p 194), Another 1954 set claimed to be one of the first AM/FM receivers. I have got one of those somewhere . Regards, Mick.

3rd Sep 2007, 2:05 pm	#4
Duke_Nukem Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,268	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? Well, the first domestic receiver was, in fact a television. There had been much talk about the possibility of FM broadcasts in the late 40's, and English Electric's first few tellies had FM radio coverage in readiness. Thats 1950/51. Wonder if any of the sets lasted long enough for their FM to be actually used. TTFN, Jon

3rd Sep 2007, 2:56 pm	#5
mikelect Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 799	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? I remember FM test transmissions being broadcast on 405 TV channels on Sunday mornings in the 50's but can't be specific on the actual years mike

3rd Sep 2007, 4:05 pm	#6
Duke_Nukem Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,268	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? Well, in the case of the English Electric sets, they were FM and, I believe covered the full range of 88-108MHz (yes, teh full 108MHz). TTFN, Jon

3rd Sep 2007, 4:16 pm	#7
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? I believe that EMI produced an FM tuner in 1951. Murphy introduced the A242 in 1954. It employed a strange valve line-up. A Mullard EC92 and a Mazda 6L34 triodes are used in the FM tuner. The other valves are Mazda. 6C9, 6F15, 6LD3/EBC41 and a 6P1 as the output valve. The HT rectifier is an UU9/EZ40 Regarding the English Electric TV with FM radio. I have a model 1550 in my collection. Might worthwhile trying it out on FM sometime. DFWB.

4th Sep 2007, 9:52 am	#8
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? Thanks for the interesting replies. I don't remember the FM tests on the TV channel in the early 50s(I was only 8 in 1951 and we didn't have a TV then). I think the first regular FM was broadcast from Wrotham (or Alex. Palace?) in 1955. What I do remember is FM Stereo tests in the mid 60s, using Third Programme FM as one channel and TV sound as the other

4th Sep 2007, 11:38 pm	#10
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: What was the First British FM Receiver? Russel W. B. you are quite correct, and I assume the TV sound channel used was BBC2, since that was FM, whereas at that time BBC1(405lines)sound was AM