Utility Radio
Encyclopedia
The Utility Radio was an all-mains 4-valve
domestic superhet
radio receiver, manufactured in Great Britain
during World War II
.
When war broke out in 1939 all the British radio manufacturers switched to producing a wide range of military radio equipment
for the armed forces
. Perhaps the most famous product was the R1155
communications receiver
used by the RAF. After a few years there was a shortage of radio repairmen as they had all been called up to maintain vital radio and radar equipment. Similarly there was a shortage of spare parts, particularly valves, as all production was for the services. This meant it was very difficult to get a radio repaired and with no new sets available there was a desperate need to overcome the problem.
The Government solved this by arranging for all radio manufacturers to produce a standard design with as few components as possible. Earlier the Government had introduced the 'Utility' brand to ensure that all clothing, which was rationed, was produced to a reasonable quality standard as prior to its introduction a lot of shoddy goods had appeared on the market. So the 'Utility' brand was adopted for this wartime radio.
The only significant shortcoming compared with pre-war radios was the absence of a long wave band and a simple tuning dial. This resulted in fewer tuning circuits and the absence of a wave-change switch. The tuning dial was a very crude affair compared with pre-war when the tuning dial was a work of art displaying dozens of stations throughout Europe. Dials were marked in metres with only the 'Home
' and 'Forces
' stations identified.
The sets used a four-valve superhet
circuit with an audio output of 4 watts at 10% total harmonic distortion; they performed as well as many pre-war sets. The valve complement consisted of a triode-hexode frequency changer
, a variable-μ RF pentode IF amplifier and a high slope output pentode. A copper oxide
diode was used for demodulation
and the HT
line was derived from a full wave rectifier. All valves were on International Octal sockets apart from the rectifier which was on a British 4-pin base. There were minor variations between set makers; for instance Philips
used IF
transformers with adjustable ferrite core
s (so-called slug tuning) rather than the conventional trimmer capacitors.
The general public were unable to tell the manufacturer of a particular set although each manufacturer used a code to identify themselves to dealers. For some curious reason the valves carried cryptic designations such as 274. They were produced by valve makers such as Mullard
, MOV, Cossor, Mazda and Brimar. Dealers, knowing the maker of a set and which valve manufacturer that maker used, could easily deduce which pre-war types these were.
The set could be seen as the British equivalent of the German Peoples' Receiver (Volksempfänger
). The external links below show that 44 different manufacturers produced the 'Utility' set, today only two brands remain: Roberts Radio
and Bush Radio.
Vacuum tube
In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...
domestic superhet
Superheterodyne receiver
In electronics, a superheterodyne receiver uses frequency mixing or heterodyning to convert a received signal to a fixed intermediate frequency, which can be more conveniently processed than the original radio carrier frequency...
radio receiver, manufactured in Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
When war broke out in 1939 all the British radio manufacturers switched to producing a wide range of military radio equipment
Radio equipment
Radio equipment, as defined in Federal Information Management Regulations, is any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used to communicate over a distance by modulating and radiating electromagnetic waves in space without artificial guide...
for the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
. Perhaps the most famous product was the R1155
R1155
The R1155 was a ubiquitous radio communications receiver used by the Royal Air Force in World War II. The R1155/T1154 combination was used in larger aircraft, particularly the Avro Lancaster and Short Sunderland, and also in some vehicles and air-sea rescue launches...
communications receiver
Communications receiver
A communications receiver is a type of radio receiver used as a component of a radio communication link.-Features:Commercial communications receivers are characterised by high stability and reliability of performance, and are generally adapted for remote control and monitoring...
used by the RAF. After a few years there was a shortage of radio repairmen as they had all been called up to maintain vital radio and radar equipment. Similarly there was a shortage of spare parts, particularly valves, as all production was for the services. This meant it was very difficult to get a radio repaired and with no new sets available there was a desperate need to overcome the problem.
The Government solved this by arranging for all radio manufacturers to produce a standard design with as few components as possible. Earlier the Government had introduced the 'Utility' brand to ensure that all clothing, which was rationed, was produced to a reasonable quality standard as prior to its introduction a lot of shoddy goods had appeared on the market. So the 'Utility' brand was adopted for this wartime radio.
The only significant shortcoming compared with pre-war radios was the absence of a long wave band and a simple tuning dial. This resulted in fewer tuning circuits and the absence of a wave-change switch. The tuning dial was a very crude affair compared with pre-war when the tuning dial was a work of art displaying dozens of stations throughout Europe. Dials were marked in metres with only the 'Home
BBC Home Service
The BBC Home Service was a British national radio station which broadcast from 1939 until 1967.-Development:Between the 1920s and the outbreak of The Second World War, the BBC had developed two nationwide radio services, the BBC National Programme and the BBC Regional Programme...
' and 'Forces
BBC Forces Programme
The BBC Forces Programme was a BBC radio station which operated from 7 January 1940 until 26 February 1944.-Foundation:Upon the outbreak of World War II, the BBC closed the existing BBC National Programme and BBC Regional Programme, combining the two to form a single channel known as the BBC Home...
' stations identified.
The sets used a four-valve superhet
Superheterodyne receiver
In electronics, a superheterodyne receiver uses frequency mixing or heterodyning to convert a received signal to a fixed intermediate frequency, which can be more conveniently processed than the original radio carrier frequency...
circuit with an audio output of 4 watts at 10% total harmonic distortion; they performed as well as many pre-war sets. The valve complement consisted of a triode-hexode frequency changer
Frequency changer
A frequency changer or frequency converter is an electronic device that converts alternating current of one frequency to alternating current of another frequency. The device may also change the voltage, but if it does, that is incidental to its principal purpose.Traditionally, these devices were...
, a variable-μ RF pentode IF amplifier and a high slope output pentode. A copper oxide
Copper oxide
Copper oxide is a compound from the two elements copper and oxygen.Copper oxide may refer to:*Copper oxide , a red powder;*Copper oxide , a black powder...
diode was used for demodulation
Demodulation
Demodulation is the act of extracting the original information-bearing signal from a modulated carrier wave.A demodulator is an electronic circuit that is used to recover the information content from the modulated carrier wave.These terms are traditionally used in connection with radio receivers,...
and the HT
High tension
High tension is a synonym for high voltage.It can also mean:* The HT, high tension or B battery supply to a traditional vacuum tube circuit, see HT * Haute Tension, a French horror film released as High Tension in North America...
line was derived from a full wave rectifier. All valves were on International Octal sockets apart from the rectifier which was on a British 4-pin base. There were minor variations between set makers; for instance Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
used IF
Intermediate frequency
In communications and electronic engineering, an intermediate frequency is a frequency to which a carrier frequency is shifted as an intermediate step in transmission or reception. The intermediate frequency is created by mixing the carrier signal with a local oscillator signal in a process called...
transformers with adjustable ferrite core
Ferrite core
A ferrite core is a structure on which the windings of electric transformers and other wound components such as inductors are formed. It is used for its properties of high magnetic permeability coupled with low electrical conductivity .There are two broad applications for ferrite cores which...
s (so-called slug tuning) rather than the conventional trimmer capacitors.
The general public were unable to tell the manufacturer of a particular set although each manufacturer used a code to identify themselves to dealers. For some curious reason the valves carried cryptic designations such as 274. They were produced by valve makers such as Mullard
Mullard
Mullard Limited was a British manufacturer of electronic components. The Mullard Radio Valve Co. Ltd. of Southfields, London, was founded in 1920 by Captain Stanley R. Mullard, who had previously designed valves for the Admiralty before becoming managing director of the Z Electric Lamp Co. The...
, MOV, Cossor, Mazda and Brimar. Dealers, knowing the maker of a set and which valve manufacturer that maker used, could easily deduce which pre-war types these were.
The set could be seen as the British equivalent of the German Peoples' Receiver (Volksempfänger
Volksempfänger
The Volksempfänger was a range of radio receivers developed by engineer Otto Griessing at the request of Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels....
). The external links below show that 44 different manufacturers produced the 'Utility' set, today only two brands remain: Roberts Radio
Roberts Radio
Roberts is a consumer electronics limited company based in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England. It has been producing radios for over 80 years. Initially the company only traded in the United Kingdom, but now exports worldwide...
and Bush Radio.
