Six-stage super heterodyne receiver processed on the ECME system, 1936-1955

Made:
1936-1955 in Walton-on-Thames
manufacturer:
Sargrove Electronics Limited
maker:
John Adolph Sargrove
Six-stage superheterodyne receiver processed on the ECME system Six-stage superheterodyne receiver processed on the ECME system

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Six-stage superheterodyne receiver processed on the ECME system
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Six-stage superheterodyne receiver processed on the ECME system
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Six-stage super heterodyne receiver processed on the ECME system, probably made by Sargrove Electronics Ltd, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, 1936-1955.

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 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:
1967-216
Materials:
plastic (unidentified), bakelite, copper (metal) and metal (unknown)
Measurements:
overall: 185 mm x 310 mm x 210 mm, 4.27kg
type:
radio receiver
credit:
Donated by John Adolphe Sargrove