Do I own a rare radio?

[RV6Pilot]

I was bought this Murphy radio in late 1983. It is a retro airband set, model number BE-112. The QC sticker in the battery compartment shows 10/83. It still works but I have moved on to digital

I can't find any info online about this set, text or images, and that leads me to believe I have the only one in the world LOL.
I'm not selling it but thought I would share the image with you all. Perhaps others are 'googling' this model number and will be interested to read this.

[Mike. Watterson]

There are lots of transistor sets that might now be "rare". Curiously it's some of the common ones (Sony ICF2001D, some World Band Grundig models) that get £100+ rather than £5.
Rarity, intrinsic worth, historical significance and what it gets on eBay can be unrelated.
I think 1983 was after the demise of Rank/Bush/Murphy products and then it was just a badge, not sure if it was Harvard International. I have a different more commonly seen 1980s Murphy with MW, VHF-FM and Air bands, curiously with two sets of tuning capacitors in it. It's walkie-talkie styled and two versions, one with "rubber duck" style aerial and one telescopic.
A good AM / VHF-FM radio gives better coverage and more real stations than DAB, which benefits nationwide operators with multiple "stations". A decent AM & VHF-FM set can even give lower distortion on FM *OR* AM than DAB, because the DAB bit rate is typically half what it should be to save money.

Keep a set of alkaline batteries (they CAN last nearly 15 years unused in a cool place), a torch and your Murphy in an cool dry place for an emergency. Maybe even wrap radio in Aluminium foil.

[paulsherwin]

I think Mike is right, and this radio is from the Harvard era of Murphies. As such, it will be a standard generic model from one of the Far East manufacturers (most likely, somebody in Taiwan). Such standard models were supplied in large quantities to national importers with any desired logo printed on them.

There may not be many of this particular model left now, so it may be rare in that sense, but it isn't worth very much in cash terms.

[greg_simons]

Looks like a cheap far eastern knock off with the Murphy brand stuck on it, sorry to disappoint.
Greg.

[Nuvistor]

It still works, use the radio and enjoy it.

[Studio263]

Originally Posted by RV6Pilot

I can't find any info online about this set, text or images, and that leads me to believe I have the only one in the world LOL.

Really? It confirms my belief that the internet isn't the universal source of information that its supporters like to think it is.

Murphy branded sets of this era were distributed extensively through home shopping catalogues like Kays. Sets from unknown far eastern factories like this one aren't that exciting but they seem to work for ever, even under the harshest of conditions. There's probably at least one playing away quite happily to someone right now. That's real quality and fitness for purpose.

[FERNSEH]

After the collapse of Rank Radio International in 1980 the Murphy brand name was acquired by a firm called J.J.Silber, a company that dealt with photographic equipment.

DFWB.

[Mike. Watterson]

Originally Posted by Studio263

Really? It confirms my belief that the internet isn't the universal source of information that its supporters like to think it is.

Universal source of Trivial Information, with a strong bias to after 1998, USA and Celebrities. That's before you consider porn and cats.
Very poor on detailed info and many libraries now only keep recent books.
Your belief is correct.
The Radio Museum https://www.radiomuseum.org/ is maybe biggest online radio site. There is a big Dutch site, a French one and a couple of good USA ones. I've found loads of radios not on them. Some physically, some in adverts, service manuals, online auction listings. A recent find was in a local charity shop, FM auto scan radio with jack cable for phone or MP3. Cardboard case. My local radio collector friend has had more than 6 not listed anywhere at the time (1926 Superhet, a 1920s TRF, an Italian late 1930s aircraft transmitter, two Export sets sold in Africa, a 1950s African made set and others).
Some Makers only put model (or even brand!) on the instructions or warranty card up till 1946.

[Mike. Watterson]

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

After the collapse of Rank Radio International in 1980 the Murphy brand name was acquired by a firm called J.J.Silber, a company that dealt with photographic equipment.
DFWB.

Thanks.

So Harvard International had the Bush label alone. Later sold to GUS (Argos). Not sure if the supermarket (Sainsbury?) bought the labels GUS had collected. GUS split off Homebase and that went badly for the Australian buyer!

[Restoration73]

A range of Silber marketed CB radio transceivers appeared branded Murphy.

[FERNSEH]

The letter sent by Rank Radio International to all Murphy dealers informing them that the Murphy trade mark had been bought by J.J.Silber Ltd.

I've got lots more correspondence from RRI about the sale of the companies' brand names and future service arrangements for in-guarantee products and future supply of spare parts.

DFWB.

[RV6Pilot]

Oh well, Its not going to make me a millionaire!! Thanks for the replies, good to know some history about the set. Studio263 you are correct, It was actually bought from Kays Catalogue.