Bush Transistor Sets

Because there were so many sets on the Bush page, I have now divided into two separate pages, one for valve sets and this one for transistor sets.


TR82C

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - OC44, OC45, OC45, OC71, OC78D, OC78, OC78

Date - 1959

Status - In my collection

This is, I understand, Bush's first transistor radio, and it uses seven transistors and one diode. The "C" at the end of the model number indicates the case colouring as chrome trim and blue sides. A "B" version is also available, having brass trim and brown sides.

Early versions used three OC75 transistors in place of the OC78D and OC78 devices. A few component values were changed to suit.

The main signs of age with this set are the clear tuning dial, which generally becomes cloudy, and the back panel, which is often chipped around the edge. Also (as with any transistor set) look for damage caused by leaking batteries.

The set is built on an aluminium chassis with the transistors, IF cans, transformers and larger capacitors on top, and the smaller components underneath. The sound quality is good, and puts many of today's transistor radios to shame!

The restoration of one of these sets is described in the Recent Repairs section of this website.


TR82C (Later Version)

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - AF117, AF117, AF117, OC71, OC81D, OC81, OC81

Date - 1963

Status - Contributed photo and repair setails

Later TR82 sets used the infamous AF117 transistors in place of the OC45/45s of the earlier models. These of course are well known for developing internal short circuits, so many later sets are likely to pop when switched on but not receive anything.

Tim Pullin describes his repaif or one of these TR82s in the Recent Repairs section.


TR82/97

Wavebands - MW, LW, VHF

Transistors - unknown (probably a single IC)

Date - 1997

Status - Obtained briefly (on sale-or-return) for review

This is a reproduction of the classic TR82. Unlike the TR82, this set has the VHF band added and may be mains powered. It is in fact closer to the VTR103 than the TR82. The set is claimed to be a limited edition.

Although from a quick glance it looks fairly good, there are in fact a number of major differences between this and the original, which suggests a lack of attention to detail by whichever far-eastern company now produce Bush branded products. There is a review of this set and some photos on this website.

I understand that Bush products are now distributed by Alba UK, who also distribute products under a number of other brands including Goodmans, Murphy, Alba, Hinari, Power Devil, Betacom, Amstrad Telecom etc.


TR91

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - OC44, OC45, OC45, OC71, OC78D, OC78, OC78

Date - 1960

Status - In my collection

This is one of a class of radios known as "cordless sets". They were intended to be used in place of valve table radios, but were battery powered transistor designs. However they were not popular with the buying public at the time. Most people bought portable transistor sets, even though the only time many were moved was when the batteries needed changing!

The circuit is very similar to the TR82 above. It is built on a metal chassis and does not use a PCB. The battery compartment can house either a regular PP9 battery or a somewhat larger long-life 9V battery. Alternative battery connections are provided for this purpose.

I bought this set from the Autumn 2001 NVCF for £5 (reduced from £10). It was very dirty and had a couple of stains on the top where a leaking can of woodstain or varnish had been placed. I was able to clean these away, although in a couple of places I had to attack the cabinet with sandpaper because the stain had eaten into the surface a bit.

Electrically the set worked, and was improved by a few new capacitors in the audio stages. There was an irritating rattle which turned out to be due to a loose rivet holding two parts of the chassis together (superglue silenced it). The full repair details are described here.


TR104 "Long Player"

Wavebands - MW, LW (1500m)

Transistors - AF117, AF117, AF117, OC81D, OC81, OC81

Date - 1961

Status - In my collection

I bought this set for just £1 in the December 2003 Wootton Bassett auction. The set uses a PP7 battery, and is therefore quite deep. It is built on a small metal chassis. There is no separate waveband switch - instead the preset 1500m (previously Light, now Radio 4) is selected when the tuning control is set to one end. This example is filthy (as is the leatherette case). It pops when switched on and makes various whooshing noises but doesn't receive anything. I suspect the AF117 in the local oscillator is faulty (all the AF117s already have their ground leads crudely disconnected).


TR106

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - AF117, AF117, AF117, OC71, OC81D, OC81, OC81

Date - 1962

Status - In my collection

This was a Christmas (2003) present, bought by my partner on eBay. The buttons need gluing back in place, but otherwise it is in good clean tidy condition and working order.


TR122

Wavebands - MW, LW

Transistors - AF117, AF117, AF117, AC125, AC126, AC128, AC128

Date - 1971 ?

Status - In my collection

This interesting transistor set is patriotically marked "Commonwealth" on the tuning scale, and discretely labeled "Made in India" on the back. The rear label also says "Manufactured by a company in association with the Rank Organisation".

The circuit is entirely conventional, and looks like something many manufacturers were producing a few years earlier. The ERT service sheet is dated December 1971, which would suggest that the set was released earlier that year

My set works OK, but has an intermittent problem that I have not yet tracked down. I suspect it is within one of the transistors.


TR130

Wavebands - MW, LW, 208 or BS

Transistors - AF117, AF117, AF117, OC71, OC81D, OC81, OC81

Date - 1966

Status - In my collection, and contributed description

I recently bought one of these sets at the Summer 2001 Wootton Bassett swapmeet for £10. It is in very clean and tidy condition, but has an intermittent fault (I suspect it is due to one of the AF117s).

Mark Else provided the following description:

Reputed to be Britain's best selling radio in the late 60's (Bush said so). The service sheet states that the set's third tuning selection was pre-tuned to Radio Luxembourg on 208 metres. The circuit diagram supports this. My memory however is of the third position being for 'bandspread' selection. A later model (the TR230), nearly identical externally, had its third position pre-tuned to Radio 1 on 247 metres (now occupied by Virgin 1215). That set was quite different internally, employing a TAD100 integrated circuit for most of its RF and IF circuitry. These points apart, the TR130 is a straightforward radio receiver of its time.

Simon Hockenhull describes the repair of his TR130 in the Recent Repairs section.


VTR103C

Wavebands - MW, LW, VHF

Transistors - AF114, AF115, AF116, AF116, AF116, OC71, OC81D, OC81, OC81

Date - 1961

Status - In my collection

The set uses nine transistors and three diodes. It is the later version of the TR82C, the main difference being the inclusion of VHF.

Like the TR82C, this set is built on an aluminium chassis. Maybe Bush were not convinced about PCBs, as I have not seen any Bush valve sets that used them either...

I bought this set in the auction at the Spring 2004 Harpenden swapmeet for about £25. It works well (with all the original AF11x transistors), although the waveband switches are a bit sticky. Apart from a tiny chip at the bottom edge of the front, it is complete and tidy, but needs cleaning.

The sides are brown and the front/back cream with chrome trim.

Pete Roberts descries the repair of a VTR103 here.




This website, including all text and images not otherwise credited, is copyright © 1997 - 2006 Paul Stenning.
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.