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Last updated on
27 OCTOBER 2022
CONTACT ME: If you would like to email me,
please type the following into the "To:" line of your email app, replacing
"(at)" with "@", "dot" with "." and omitting spaces:
les (at) daveysradios dot org dot uk
I look forward to hearing from you.
Les Franklin.
DISCLAIMER: The site author is unqualified to offer advice
on suitability of components, or failure to operate satisfactorily of any
radio set or other equipment made to any design described or mentioned
on this site.
Some of the equipment described or mentioned on this site
may use or generate high voltages, both when powered and after being powered,
or produce high temperatures. Some designs use non-isolated power supplies,
and are considered unsafe by modern standards. Users of this site must
satisfy themselves that they understand the risks of working on all such
potentially hazardous equipment, that they understand the information given or
referred to on this site, and that any such information upon which they rely
is accurate. If unsure they should seek the help of a qualified person.
Neither the site author nor any party connected with hosting or
transmission of this site can accept responsibility for loss, damage, injury
or death arising as a result of using information given or referred to on this
site. Usage of this site is deemed as acceptance of these terms in
their entirety.
COPYRIGHT © L C Franklin, 2010-2021, or as stated. No part of
this site may be copied, reproduced or re-published in any way except for strictly
personal, non-commercial purposes. Users of this site agree not to adapt,
alter or create a derivative work from its content.
Regarding non-commercial republishing of
material from this site (e.g. on another non-commercial web site), the site author
will be pleased to consider requests for permission to reproduce material of which he
is the sole owner (e.g. his own photographs, diagrams or text). However he has no
right to grant permission to reproduce material that appears on this site by permission of
other rights holders, whether companies, corporate bodies or individuals. Such
requests should be addressed to the original rights holders. No details of
or links to the site, or files, abstracts, downloads or printouts from it may be
passed on by way of trade or in exchange for a fee. Please also see
this item on News Archive page.
MUCH MATERIAL ON THE SITE
IS REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF ORIGINAL RIGHTS HOLDERS ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
ABOVE CONDITIONS ARE OBSERVED; VIOLATION MAY INVALIDATE SUCH PERMISSIONS, JEOPARDISE
THE RELATIONSHIP THE SITE AUTHOR HAS WITH RIGHTS HOLDERS, OR PUT AT RISK HIS ABILITY
TO SECURE FUTURE PERMISSIONS.
On this site, Studio ‘E’ and Focus refer
to the BBC children’s television programmes of the late 1950s.
The present ownership of these names is acknowledged. The
ownership of all other trade marks or trading names mentioned on
this site is also acknowledged.
Every effort has been made to secure appropriate permissions for
reproducing copyright material such as images, circuits, illustrations
and quotations. Those granting such permissions have been
credited where possible alongside each source in the belief that they
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or where it has proved impossible to establish rights conclusively, those
concerned are asked to accept the site author's apologies and contact him.
WIKIPEDIA - Articles referencing this site or its predecessor have appeared on
the Wikipedia site. To protect my interests, I have registered as
Friskanellin at Wikipedia.
COMMENTS - The site author welcomes constructive comments about the
site itself, information about any Davey designs, or radio sets built to those
designs whether recently or long ago. He assumes that anyone sending
general comments or reminiscences is agreeable to their use on this site;
however he will seek explicit permission to reproduce such items as photographs,
circuits and descriptions of sets.
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companies who store and process individuals' data. In particular, it gives individuals
the right to have their data erased or opt out of receiving unwanted messages. Although
the legislation does not apply to people processing others' personal data for their personal
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whether or not they wish to continue to receive my email updates. New correspondents
will also be asked after they contact me.
This web site has no facilities for collecting data from visitors, and does not use cookies.
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This site has its origins in 2009, when I started researching Gilbert Davey's radio
writing. This began when I found most of the parts from a simple one-valve
radio set built for me by my father way back in 1957. It had been built to a
design presented by Davey on a BBC children's television magazine programme
called Studio ‘E’ - a precursor to Blue Peter. I
wanted to rebuild it! Problem was - I had long ago thrown away the leaflet
that was published for the series.
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Gilbert Davey in 1981: detail from a photo
taken to mark the publication of his last book.
Copyright © Peterborough Evening Telegraph/
Johnston Press plc; reproduced by kind permission.
Prepared from a British Library image,
copyright © British Library Board:
Shelfmark 3837-44 (1981) NPL.
With acknowledgments to Claire Davey.
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I had a hunch that I was not the only ageing baby-boomer who hoards junk - and
memories - for fifty years and more! I guessed that there were many more
one-time Davey fans out there, who might now have the time to indulge in a little
old-fogeydom by remembering the pleasures - or perhaps the pains - that the
hobby had brought them long ago. I found a discussion forum thread where
several contributors bemoaned the loss of the same leaflet.
I built a "conjectural" reconstruction of the one-valver, using the original components
I had kept, with new parts where necessary. In March 2010, I launched this web
site (originally titled The Studio ‘E’
One-Valve Radio), which described the planning and building of this set,
and threw down a challenge: "Is this right? If it isn't, prove it by
coming up with the leaflet!".
It took 14 months for the right person (Doug Brown) to visit the site and send me
scans of his Studio ‘E’ leaflet. With his permission and
that of the BBC, I was able to make the long-lost leaflet available once more to the
many enthusiasts who remembered this famous design, although the satisfaction of
the achievement was tinged with sadness as it came only a few days after I had
received news of Gilbert Davey's death in April 2011. The rediscovery of this
famous Davey design realised my initial aim in setting up the site.
But my long-term aim was, and is, to expand the site into a wider resource for Davey
devotees. In March 2012 it was re-launched with a new structure better suited
for this expansion. Much new material has been added, notably to the
DAVEY SOURCE PAGES >, where all listings have been expanded and
(early 2015) a new page covering Davey's forgotten pre-war
writing has been added. But more remains to be done!
To find out what's on the site, use the navigation buttons on the
left, or go to the Site Map below. Look out for
new items, flagged  throughout the text
(these flags are removed at the subsequent update to give way to new ones).
Important additions are also listed at the top of the
NEWS AND LINKS > page. When re-visiting, make
sure to refresh each page.
Before I launched my site, there was little on the internet about Gilbert Davey or
his radio designs. This site - and its earlier incarnation - have begun to put
that right. I am proud of the praise received both for its presentation and
authority of content. Just as important, my hunch was right! I have
received dozens of messages from site visitors, describing in the most vivid terms -
despite the passing decades - how Gilbert Davey's work served in one way or another
to launch them on their radio hobbies or careers.
I am grateful to the British Library for their research resources and for permission
to reproduce images, and to the rights-holding individuals, publishers and organisations
(named throughout) for permissions to reproduce their material. Special thanks
are due to the family and friends of Gilbert Davey himself for their support.
I am grateful too for the many contributions of every sort received from site visitors.
Hugh Castellan deserves particular mention for his outstanding contributions.
Whether you know Gilbert Davey's name and reputation or not, I hope you enjoy this site.
If you do enjoy it, please let me know, and please pass on my URL to anyone you
think might find something of interest too.
Les Franklin.
Site Map
All other pages on the site are listed below.
GILBERT DAVEY – A sketch of the man who introduced
radio construction to several generations of boys, many of whom became radio or
communications professionals.
THE BEGINNER'S 1-VALVER - The evolution of this famous
long-lived design illustrates how Davey responded to changing needs.
THE BBC SETS > - The Studio ‘E’
1-valver and the Focus Transistor Set: downloads for these famous
designs, and lots more:-
My Original Studio ‘E’ Set -
Undiluted nostalgia - memories of my original Studio ‘E’ 1-valve set.
My Rebuilt Studio ‘E’ Set -
Details and pictures of my Studio ‘E’ set, now rebuilt (for the
second time!) largely according to the leaflet.
The Studio ‘E’ Leaflet -
This famous 1957 leaflet was lost for years, but
downloads are now available here -
please read the copyright and usage notes on that page,
and the copyright notice on this page. Comments on the leaflet
and on the design itself.
The Studio ‘E’ Scripts -
Extracts from the scripts preserved by Gilbert Davey himself since the
one-valver series was broadcast in 1957.
Studio ‘E’ under fire! -
A newly discovered series of letters from the prestigious pages of Wireless World
in which Davey defends the Studio ‘E’ set's regenerative design
against fears of a National Interference Crisis. These letters throw much light
on Davey's approach to designing and writing for young constructors, and include a
delightful evocation of the “magic” of the radio hobby by a third party coming to
Davey's defence.
The Focus Transistor Set -
This series raised almost as much interest as the earlier one-valver series.
Downloads of the leaflet for this
early Davey transistor design -
please read the copyright and usage notes on that page, and the copyright
notice on this page. Some stories by those who remember the
series. Notes on the leaflet and the design.
My Focus Set -
My recently built version of this simple set.
THE TRANSISTOR REFLEX SETS
- This portable receiver clearly became very popular, as it was published seven
times from 1962 to 1981. Evolution of the design, and pictures of my
version, built during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.
DAVEY SOURCE PAGES > - A growing resource for those
who built Davey designs years ago, or who simply wish to know more about them:-
Pre-War Writing -
A developing resource detailing Davey's forgotten pre-war articles for
Practical Wireless and other journals. Includes
downloads for seven of Davey's pre-war PW articles -
please read the copyright and usage notes on that page, and the copyright
notice on this page..
The Boy's Own Paper -
Complete listing of designs and articles for BOP, which won Davey a
huge following among its readers.
BOP Offshoot Publications -
Gilbert Davey's articles in the compendium books produced by BOP's Editor, Jack Cox.
Fun with Radio -
Davey's most well-known book, which ran to six editions.
Other "Fun with . . ." Books -
The other titles introduced young constructors to every aspect of the radio and
electronics hobby.
YOUR DAVEY SETS -
Davey designs built by contributors to this site:
Hugh Castellan's sets - Hugh has built four early Davey designs from the
Boy's Own Paper, including two that could have been lost but for his efforts.
Downloads
with full details of these two "lost" designs, the
Holiday Radio
and the
Simple Three-valve Radio,
including the original BOP articles, are now available on this page -
please read the copyright and usage notes on that page,
and the copyright notice on this page.
Hugh has also constructed a Studio ‘E’ one-valver
according to the leaflet - compare his set with my new rebuild!
All Hugh's sets are well researched, beautifully made, and are a splendid
contribution to this site.
Sets by other builders - A one-valver built by a radio
construction newbie who was thrilled at the result,
a splendid shortwave two-valver,
two more one-valvers,
a simple transistor set,
and two silicon-chip-based receivers.
That's thirteen sets (plus a memory of one) at the last count. I look forward to
receiving details and pictures of YOUR Davey set!
CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES -
Details of two home-made coils to use in place of the all-too-scarce commercial
types. One of these is published here as a
download (from Boy's Own Paper material) for a versatile Davey
two-band design - please read the copyright and usage
notes on that page, and the copyright notice on this page.
A list of suppliers for other components, and other sources of useful information.
NEWS AND LINKS > - Latest news, links to other sites of
interest, and:-
News Archive - News items more than one year old.
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