Pye Transistor Sets

In the 1970s Pye clearly imported and badged a large number of small transistor sets from the far east, judging from the number that still seem to be around!


Q1 "President"

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - 6 Pye coded types

Date - Late 1950s ?

Status - No longer in my collection

This is one of Pye's range of non-portable transistor sets. The Q1 is intended to double as a cigarette case, but fortunately this example does not look or smell like it's been anywhere near a smoker. It is in very good condition, apart from some slight wear on the outside of the cabinet (easily resolved with some woodstain). The battery holder is missing (standard 4 x AA type), and the waveband switch just goes round without doing anything. It works on LW, and will no doubt work on MW once the switch is fixed.

My partner bought this set for me on eBay. He says there was a bit of a fight at the end so I suspect it wasn't that cheap....

I have since sold it again on eBay because (for personal reasons) I don't want to own anything relating to smoking.


SX1020 "Poppet"

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - unknown

Date - Late 1970s ?

Status - In my collection

This was a Christmas (2003) present, bought by my partner on eBay. It is in absolutely mint condition. When I received it, the unused earphone was still tucked in the battery compartment. It is possible that when I fitted two batteries to test it, that this was the first time it had been run since it was made. Or maybe the second, if the eBay seller had tested it too.


SX1050 "Piccolo"

Wavebands - MW, FM

Transistors - 11

Date - 1970s ?

Status - In my collection

This was another Christmas (2003) present, bought by my partner on eBay. It is dirty, there is some wear to the printing, those annoying diamond station stickers on the dial, a larger waveband sticker on the back and a big white patch that is the adhesive remains of a sticker on the left side. The battery holder is broken (standard 4 x AA type so easy to replace) and the controls crackle, but it does work.

This is one of those radios that I am undecided whether to keep or sell - but I will clean and fix it first whatever I do.


SX1072 "Poppet"

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - Six Far-Eastern Transistors

Date - 1970s ?

Status - In my collection

I bought this little 1970s pocket trannie at the Summer 2001 Wootton Bassett swapmeet for £10 from the bring-and-buy stall. I was attracted to it because it was complete with box, guarantee card and earpiece, and is in very clean and tidy condition. It is powered by two AA batteries, and works fine (as well as a far-eastern pocket trannie can ever be expected to work).


SX1120 "Pippin"

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - unknown

Date - 1970s ?

Status - In my collection

This was yet another Christmas (2003) present, bought by my partner on eBay. Pye clearly imported a lot of far-eastern trannies and gave them cute names - and a lot seem to have survived too.

This one is rather dirty and worn. It works on MW, but sounds like there is a local oscillator fault on LW.

This is another set that may be sold once it is repaired.


TA1020 "Poppet"

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - Six Transistors

Date - Late 1960s ?

Status - In my collection

This is another eBay purchase, costing under £10. It is complete in original box, with earphone and guarantee. The radio is rather dirty but has no damage. It is completely dead - no crackles, clicks or anything - so it's probably a fairly simple fault in the battery connections, earphone or speaker wiring.

It uses six transistors, four silicon and two germanium types. The circuit board is very similar to the Philips 90AL072, except the Philips uses all silicon transistors and has the earphone socket on the board.




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No part of this website may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from Paul Stenning.
All details are believed to be accurate, but no liability can be accepted for any errors.
The types of equipment discussed on this website may contain high voltages and/or operate at high temperatures.
Appropriate precautions must always be taken to minimise the risk of accidents.

Last updated 14th April 2006.