Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver experiment, 1936-1937

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model) Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model) Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model) Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model) Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model)

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model)
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model)
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model)
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model)
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model)
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model), made by John Sargrove, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, 1936-1937.

John Sargrove was a pioneer of Electronic Circuit Making Equipment (ECME), in order to automate the process of making radios. ECME could automatically produce complete radio circuit panels ready for assembly, at a rate of three per minute. A pre-moulded Bakelite panel was grit blasted, sprayed with metal and graphite, milled, lacquered and tested, emerging 20 seconds later for final assembly. The panels then only required a few components such as valves to be inserted by hand, and the completed assembly was fitted into a cabinet. This is an experimental model made by Sargrove between 1936 and 1937. His idea was never taken up generally, partly because it was seen as a threat to jobs, but represents the first modern approach to automatic operation in electronic manufacture.

Details

Category:
Electronic Components
Object Number:
1964-256
Materials:
bakelite and graphite
Measurements:
overall: 200 mm x 205 mm x 130 mm, 1.51kg
type:
radio receiver
credit:
Donated by John Adolphe Sargrove

Parts

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver experiment, 1936-1937

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver experiment, 1936-1937

Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model), made by John Sargrove, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, 1936-1937.

More

John Sargrove was a pioneer of Electronic Circuit Making Equipment (ECME), in order to automate the process of making radios. ECME could automatically produce complete radio circuit panels ready for assembly, at a rate of three per minute. A pre-moulded Bakelite panel was grit blasted, sprayed with metal and graphite, milled, lacquered and tested, emerging 20 seconds later for final assembly. The panels then only required a few components such as valves to be inserted by hand, and the completed assembly was fitted into a cabinet. This is an experimental model made by Sargrove between 1936 and 1937. His idea was never taken up generally, partly because it was seen as a threat to jobs, but represents the first modern approach to automatic operation in electronic manufacture.

Measurements:
overall: 200 mm x 205 mm x 130 mm, 1.51kg
Materials:
bakelite and graphite
Object Number:
1964-256 Pt1
type:
radio receiver
Bakelite panel from Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver experiment, 1936-1937

Bakelite panel from Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver experiment, 1936-1937

Bakelite panel from Sargrove sprayed-circuit radio receiver (experimental model), made by John Sargrove, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, 1936-1937.

Materials:
bakelite
Object Number:
1964-256 Pt2
type:
panel - surface component
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem