PP9 Batteries - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Reelman · 23rd Jun 2023, 10:31 pm

Just a heads up, Wilco are selling Ever-Ready zinc-chloride ones for £2.50 instead of £4 in their sale. Can’t see a date on them though….

Peter

steve.seven · 24th Jun 2023, 7:13 pm

I purchased some from my local Wilco store for the same £2.50 reduced price, very hard to understand the date codes on them,
mine read PD:12213G & PD:0921HG.

Time and usage will tell if they are old stock, but a good for keeping the Hackers powered in the meantime.

Boulevardier · 24th Jun 2023, 8:07 pm

I wonder if, with this price reduction, Wilko are clearing out their remaining stock of PP9s prior to discontinuing them. Their normal price of £4 makes running a Hacker a "cutting-back-on-food-budget" job, and I imagine many wouldn't even consider it.

Mike

McMurdo · 25th Jun 2023, 5:03 pm

It's worth saying that even if your local Wilko does not have stock, you can order them online for collection at your local branch. They're on sale 'online' too.

Panda23 · 30th Jun 2023, 10:21 pm

Thanks for that, I managed to buy one from Sutton in Ashfield and my brother bought two from Mansfield. It did say online that they were out of stock in any store within about 100 miles.

DMcMahon · 2nd Jul 2023, 5:30 pm

No stock showing at my various local stores, will have to try visiting one to see if any actually in stock, may be lucky as Post above.

Was not able to order online for collection at local store.

David

Phil__G · 3rd Jul 2023, 2:19 pm

I make repro batteries by printing these scans with internal 18650s or whatever:
http://www.mccrash-racing.co.uk/sc/data/batteries.zip

DMcMahon · 5th Jul 2023, 5:17 pm

Tried my local store today but no stock of the PP9, they had loads of the large 6 volt batteries.

David

Reelman · 5th Jul 2023, 7:06 pm

Well, I wish I’d been on commission from Wilco as PP9s appear to have sold out throughout the country, many of them presumably bought by forum members!

If they obtain anymore they will be at the original price of £4 now.

Peter

Junk Box Nick · 5th Jul 2023, 7:24 pm

My local Wilkos seem to lack stock of many things. Hmmm...

Ironically, one occupies some premises previously occupied by Kwik Save. I remember well how the shelves emptied there.

DMcMahon · 6th Jul 2023, 12:47 pm

No stock of the PP9 at my local branch, they did have lots of the large 6 volt batteries.

David

Vintage Engr · 6th Jul 2023, 2:16 pm

Likewise in my area, I foolishly did a 25 mile round trip to find out!
I gave up & bought from Battery Station.

David.

usradcoll1 · 6th Jul 2023, 2:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reelman

Just a heads up, Wilco are selling Ever-Ready zinc-chloride ones for £2.50 instead of £4 in their sale. Can’t see a date on them though….

Peter

Is the PP9, the same as the US 216, 2U6 or Japanese 006P used in pocket-sized transistor radios. That battery has been around for over 60 years.
Dave, USradcoll1, just wondering!

paulsherwin · 6th Jul 2023, 2:49 pm

That's the PP3. The PP9 is also 9V but much bigger.

The PP (Power Pack) series was a range of 6V and 9V layer batteries developed by Ever Ready from their HT (B+) batteries. They were widely used by British radio manufacturers from the late 50s to the 80s, but most types are now very difficult to find.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-volt_battery

usradcoll1 · 7th Jul 2023, 2:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

That's the PP3. The PP9 is also 9V but much bigger.

The PP (Power Pack) series was a range of 6V and 9V layer batteries developed by Ever Ready from their HT (B+) batteries. They were widely used by British radio manufacturers from the late 50s to the 80s, but most types are now very difficult to find.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-volt_battery

The PP9 appears in be the same as the US Eveready 276. They were used in the first larger transistor radio of the mid 50's. Emerson and Motorola come to mind, two in parallel! The UK offerings seem to be better quality.
Dave, USradcoll1

paulsherwin · 7th Jul 2023, 2:30 pm

(British) Ever Ready and (American) Eveready were separate companies but with a tangled interwoven history. The decline of Ever Ready is a sad story. See https://www.independent.co.uk/news/b...n-1494225.html.

Reelman · 23rd Jul 2023, 1:22 pm

Despite the web saying otherwise I was able to buy the last remaining PP9 at £2.50 from Wilco, Crystal Peaks, Sheffield yesterday. When quizzed the sales lady said that the web site was often wrong on the stock situation.

Peter

DMcMahon · 28th Jul 2023, 9:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcMahon

No stock of the PP9 at my local branch, they did have lots of the large 6 volt batteries.

David

When I went there I initially could not find batteries so asked an assistant and she pointed to them in the distance. As I walked towards them I got excited when I saw large 6V batteries which I thought were PP9's, very disappointed to find they were 6V (PP6 ?).

David

Dave Moll · 28th Jul 2023, 10:26 am

I think the 6V (lantern) batteries are generally known as 996.

Boulevardier · 28th Jul 2023, 10:55 am

Yes, I've noticed that our Wilkos ususally seem to have a number of the 6V batteries ("Lantern Batteries"?) in stock, even when they have no PP9s. I wonder why. Who uses them and what for.? I can't remember seeing one in use for decades, and I'm not aware of anything that still uses them.

Mike

23rd Jun 2023, 10:31 pm	#1
Reelman Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,655	PP9 Batteries Just a heads up, Wilco are selling Ever-Ready zinc-chloride ones for £2.50 instead of £4 in their sale. Can’t see a date on them though…. Peter

24th Jun 2023, 7:13 pm	#2
steve.seven Pentode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 199	Re: PP9 Batteries I purchased some from my local Wilco store for the same £2.50 reduced price, very hard to understand the date codes on them, mine read PD:12213G & PD:0921HG. Time and usage will tell if they are old stock, but a good for keeping the Hackers powered in the meantime.

24th Jun 2023, 8:07 pm	#3
Boulevardier Octode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 1,550	Re: PP9 Batteries I wonder if, with this price reduction, Wilko are clearing out their remaining stock of PP9s prior to discontinuing them. Their normal price of £4 makes running a Hacker a "cutting-back-on-food-budget" job, and I imagine many wouldn't even consider it. Mike

25th Jun 2023, 5:03 pm	#4
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,165	Re: PP9 Batteries It's worth saying that even if your local Wilko does not have stock, you can order them online for collection at your local branch. They're on sale 'online' too. __________________ Kevin

30th Jun 2023, 10:21 pm	#5
Panda23 Pentode Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 146	Re: PP9 Batteries Thanks for that, I managed to buy one from Sutton in Ashfield and my brother bought two from Mansfield. It did say online that they were out of stock in any store within about 100 miles.

2nd Jul 2023, 5:30 pm	#6
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,362	Re: PP9 Batteries No stock showing at my various local stores, will have to try visiting one to see if any actually in stock, may be lucky as Post above. Was not able to order online for collection at local store. David

3rd Jul 2023, 2:19 pm	#7
Phil__G Heptode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 911	Re: PP9 Batteries I make repro batteries by printing these scans with internal 18650s or whatever: http://www.mccrash-racing.co.uk/sc/data/batteries.zip

5th Jul 2023, 5:17 pm	#8
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,362	Re: PP9 Batteries Tried my local store today but no stock of the PP9, they had loads of the large 6 volt batteries. David

5th Jul 2023, 7:06 pm	#9
Reelman Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,655	Re: PP9 Batteries Well, I wish I’d been on commission from Wilco as PP9s appear to have sold out throughout the country, many of them presumably bought by forum members! If they obtain anymore they will be at the original price of £4 now. Peter

5th Jul 2023, 7:24 pm	#10
Junk Box Nick Octode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 1,571	Re: PP9 Batteries My local Wilkos seem to lack stock of many things. Hmmm... Ironically, one occupies some premises previously occupied by Kwik Save. I remember well how the shelves emptied there.

6th Jul 2023, 12:47 pm	#11
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,362	Re: PP9 Batteries No stock of the PP9 at my local branch, they did have lots of the large 6 volt batteries. David

6th Jul 2023, 2:16 pm	#12
Vintage Engr Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK. Posts: 734	Re: PP9 Batteries Likewise in my area, I foolishly did a 25 mile round trip to find out! I gave up & bought from Battery Station. David.

6th Jul 2023, 2:49 pm	#14
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,151	Re: PP9 Batteries That's the PP3. The PP9 is also 9V but much bigger. The PP (Power Pack) series was a range of 6V and 9V layer batteries developed by Ever Ready from their HT (B+) batteries. They were widely used by British radio manufacturers from the late 50s to the 80s, but most types are now very difficult to find. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-volt_battery

7th Jul 2023, 2:30 pm	#16
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,151	Re: PP9 Batteries (British) Ever Ready and (American) Eveready were separate companies but with a tangled interwoven history. The decline of Ever Ready is a sad story. See https://www.independent.co.uk/news/b...n-1494225.html.

23rd Jul 2023, 1:22 pm	#17
Reelman Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,655	Re: PP9 Batteries Despite the web saying otherwise I was able to buy the last remaining PP9 at £2.50 from Wilco, Crystal Peaks, Sheffield yesterday. When quizzed the sales lady said that the web site was often wrong on the stock situation. Peter

28th Jul 2023, 10:26 am	#19
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,050	Re: PP9 Batteries I think the 6V (lantern) batteries are generally known as 996. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

28th Jul 2023, 10:55 am	#20
Boulevardier Octode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 1,550	Re: PP9 Batteries Yes, I've noticed that our Wilkos ususally seem to have a number of the 6V batteries ("Lantern Batteries"?) in stock, even when they have no PP9s. I wonder why. Who uses them and what for.? I can't remember seeing one in use for decades, and I'm not aware of anything that still uses them. Mike