Wartime civilian receiver (AC), made by Wartime Joint Enterprise, British, 1944-1945

In order to overcome the shortage of broadcast receivers that developed during the Second World War, a collection of 44 British electronics and radio manufacturers came together under the banner of 'Joint Wartime Enterprise', and sponsored by the British Government, to build the "wartime civilian receiver" also known as the "utility set." The "utility set" was an inexpensive radio radio receiver built to a standard design by several manufacturers and for which spare parts would be easily available and could come from any manufacturer. In total, over a quarter of a million sets were produced.