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1962 Perdio PR33 "mini 66"

Shirt pocket radio, thermoplastic cabinet
4 1/4 x 2 7/8 x 1 1/4 inches / 108 x 73 x 32 mm
2-band MW/LW
Six transistors (Mullard OC81D, 2x OC81, plus three unidentified), one diode
Superheterodyne circuit
Standard or tubular 9-volt battery
Manufactured by Perdio Electronics Ltd.; London

One of a very few shirt pocket transistor radios made in Great Britain in the early '60s. The mini 66 has gilded stamping on its cabinet face, making the face markings very vulnerable to wear over time — and as time has told, few mini 66s have survived the journey well. This example did well for itself by having been kept inside its beautiful soft red leather carrying case over the years.

The mini 66 is a two-band radio – medium wave and long wave, calibrated in meters rather than frequency – but, as with the Dansette RT66, the LW “band” here is not a band at all, just a single frequency setting – in this case, 200 kHz (1500 meters), what was then BBC’s “Light Programme” station.

The three identifiable transistors in this example are skinny aluminum tall-can Mullards. The other three are short aluminum cans packed too tightly in the circuit for me to identify, other than that partial views show they may be Impex transistors. A Radiomuseum page gives these three as being an OC44 and two OC45s.

James Butters's excellent and informative Perdio mini 66 page provides more information about this set as well as a lot of beautiful photos.


Perdio PR33 mini 66

Perdio PR33 "mini 66"


Perdio PR33 mini 66

Perdio PR33 "mini 66"


Perdio PR33 mini 66

back face


Perdio PR33 mini 66

in red leather carrying case


Perdio PR33 mini 66

copy of "Operating Instructions" — click on the photo for a larger image


Perdio PR33 mini 66

chassis — click on the photo for a larger image


Perdio PR33 mini 66

chassis — click on the photo for a larger image

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