Two-valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine, 1947-1948

2 - valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine 2 - valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine 2 - valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine Two-valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine, 1947-1948 Two-valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine, 1947-1948

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

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

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2 - valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

2 - valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

2 - valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

2 - valve radio receiver made on the ECME machine, made by Sargrove Electronics Ltd, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, 1947-1948

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 example of one the radio receivers made using this process. Sargrove's 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:
Radio Communication
Object Number:
1967-215
Materials:
bakelite and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 200 mm x 178 mm x 115 mm, 1.03kg
type:
radio receiver
credit:
Donated by John Adolphe Sargrove