Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mike65ie · 20th Feb 2009, 6:25 pm

We had one of these when I was a nipper and have been thinking about trying to get hold of one but are they actualy any good?

geofy · 20th Feb 2009, 7:47 pm

ITT/KB are top quality, so yes they are worth getting.

Regards

Geof

paulsherwin · 20th Feb 2009, 7:54 pm

I think there were several different models that used this name, just as with the Polo and other ITT radios, so make sure you get the one you want.

The Tiny was the bottom model in the ITT range so you shouldn't expect miracles, but they were decent mid-market radios and are very usable today.

Paul

Hybrid tellies · 20th Feb 2009, 8:56 pm

As said by the others, these were good quality mid range little radios which did sound surprisingly good for their size. I would safely say that their performance both audio and RF hold up well against many a more modern radio.

mike65ie · 20th Feb 2009, 9:10 pm

Cheers, this is the model in question.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/itt_tiny_super.html

Brian R Pateman · 20th Feb 2009, 10:56 pm

Very nice little sets, reliable and nicely presented.

They should be easy enough to find, boot fairs and e-bay would be good places to look.

The usual problems are likely to be corrosion following leakage from batteries left in when the sets was "retired" and damage due to wear and tear - they are a very portable set after all.

Good luck, I hope you manage to find a nice one.

Regards,

Darren-UK · 21st Feb 2009, 2:29 am

I bought one of these brand new for the sole purpose of listening to VHF transmissions that were, err.... 'officially discouraged' then as they are now. I recall that this model would do what I wanted, whereas many others of the time would not.

Once the novelty wore off I used the radio in a more general sense and I remember it was nicely presented, to use Brian's words, and it performed very well. Sound quality wasn't too tinny either, especially considering it's relatively small size

I also recall having a carrying case for it too, in finest quality padded plastic, but I can't remember if it came complete with that or if it was an extra.

It gave me many many years of trouble-free service and only got chucked out when it was accidentally dropped and suffered cabinet damage as a result.

So that's my experience of this model; neat, convenient size, reliable and very reasonable sound quality - for its time anyway.

howard · 21st Feb 2009, 12:48 pm

Hello Mike,

I have a small collection of ITT transistor radios built in the 1970s including a mint Tiny 109B which I bought for 99p, and it is superb !

For the UK (and no doubt the Irish) market, these radios were usually Taiwan built Schaub-Laurenz designed sets, indeed the examples with a Schaub-Laurenz badge were built in Germany. Considering how well the sets in my collection work, I reckon the quality of the Taiwan built sets was just as good as the German built sets.

Howard

geofy · 21st Feb 2009, 3:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by darren-uk

It gave me many many years of trouble-free service and only got chucked out when it was accidentally dropped and suffered cabinet damage as a result.

tut tut, could have been used for spares

I once borrowed an ITT portable stereo radio-recorder and was surprised how detailed the recordings made where for a portable, just as good as a mains unit. I also had a in-between job, which I sometimes wish was still my main job, of working as a driver for ITT, getting around in a brand new Bedford TK pantechnican delivering electrical bits and pieces.

Geof

Line whistle · 21st Feb 2009, 10:04 pm

Hi,
My parents bought me one in 1974. From what I rememember it gave good sound quality for what it was. Mine was LW/MW/ VHF. It had a "dead spot" on the volume control but wasn't a problem. It died around 1981 and unfortunately was thrown away. By then I had grown to dislike the then current music and listened to records instead. I have an ITT KB brochure which I think shows these sets, I'll see if I can post some pics.
Cheers, Des.

mike65ie · 22nd Feb 2009, 12:36 am

Cheers for all the feedback.

Line whistle · 22nd Feb 2009, 4:39 pm

Hi,
This is what I have, not sure if it's of any interest. They are from a brochure dated 1971.
Cheers,
Des.

Darren-UK · 22nd Feb 2009, 5:04 pm

Interesting literature there Des, nice to see it. It's perhaps interesting to note than when describing their models ITT would put VHF first. For example VHF, M, L whereas wavebands were more usually quoted like L/M/VHF (or FM).

Despite my praising of the Tiny Super earlier in this thread I always think this and other models in the range had a look of Fidelity about them. That's perhaps more so as time has marched on. In fairness though, the styling (especially the imitation-wood grille) was all the rage at that time and even Grundig used it at one point.

paulsherwin · 22nd Feb 2009, 5:21 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by darren-uk

Despite my praising of the Tiny Super earlier in this thread I always think this and other models in the range had a look of Fidelity about them. That's perhaps more so as time has marched on. In fairness though, the styling (especially the imitation-wood grille) was all the rage at that time and even Grundig used it at one point.

Yes, this style was hugely popular for a few years around 1970. I have a Bush Sandpiper from then which is a direct equivalent of an ITT Tiny, and it has the fake wood grille too. I think we tend to associate it with Fidelity because they carried on using it after other manufacturers had moved on.

The Grundig YB210 was available in two different styles, one having the fake wood and the other having a metal grille.

Paul

Tim · 22nd Feb 2009, 6:11 pm

I have a Tiny 33(repairs MIGHT still be in Sucess stories) in regular use as my work radio. They do indeed sound good and have adequate volume for a set running from 4 AA batteries. Mine only tunes to 104 on VHF though, but as I normally only listen to Radio 2 and 4 this isn't an issue.

llama · 22nd Feb 2009, 7:55 pm

I bought one in 1972 (might have been a 33) and I think it still goes well. I'll just mention a couple of possible weaknesses to look out for, though maybe I was rough with mine.

The raised black plastic running down each side of the metal bar of the handle can break away. The other problem I had was the white moulded plastic that forms the back of the dial and holds the dial-cord pulleys broke. I was fortunate in working with STC at the time and their stores-guy found me one.

Graham

20th Feb 2009, 6:25 pm	#1
mike65ie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Waterford Ireland Posts: 3	Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? We had one of these when I was a nipper and have been thinking about trying to get hold of one but are they actualy any good?

20th Feb 2009, 7:47 pm	#2
geofy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,798	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? ITT/KB are top quality, so yes they are worth getting. Regards Geof

20th Feb 2009, 7:54 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,975	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? I think there were several different models that used this name, just as with the Polo and other ITT radios, so make sure you get the one you want. The Tiny was the bottom model in the ITT range so you shouldn't expect miracles, but they were decent mid-market radios and are very usable today. Paul

20th Feb 2009, 8:56 pm	#4
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? As said by the others, these were good quality mid range little radios which did sound surprisingly good for their size. I would safely say that their performance both audio and RF hold up well against many a more modern radio. __________________ Simon BVWS member

20th Feb 2009, 9:10 pm	#5
mike65ie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Waterford Ireland Posts: 3	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? Cheers, this is the model in question. http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/itt_tiny_super.html

20th Feb 2009, 10:56 pm	#6
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? Very nice little sets, reliable and nicely presented. They should be easy enough to find, boot fairs and e-bay would be good places to look. The usual problems are likely to be corrosion following leakage from batteries left in when the sets was "retired" and damage due to wear and tear - they are a very portable set after all. Good luck, I hope you manage to find a nice one. Regards, __________________ Brian

21st Feb 2009, 2:29 am	#7
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? I bought one of these brand new for the sole purpose of listening to VHF transmissions that were, err.... 'officially discouraged' then as they are now. I recall that this model would do what I wanted, whereas many others of the time would not. Once the novelty wore off I used the radio in a more general sense and I remember it was nicely presented, to use Brian's words, and it performed very well. Sound quality wasn't too tinny either, especially considering it's relatively small size I also recall having a carrying case for it too, in finest quality padded plastic, but I can't remember if it came complete with that or if it was an extra. It gave me many many years of trouble-free service and only got chucked out when it was accidentally dropped and suffered cabinet damage as a result. So that's my experience of this model; neat, convenient size, reliable and very reasonable sound quality - for its time anyway.

21st Feb 2009, 12:48 pm	#8
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? Hello Mike, I have a small collection of ITT transistor radios built in the 1970s including a mint Tiny 109B which I bought for 99p, and it is superb ! For the UK (and no doubt the Irish) market, these radios were usually Taiwan built Schaub-Laurenz designed sets, indeed the examples with a Schaub-Laurenz badge were built in Germany. Considering how well the sets in my collection work, I reckon the quality of the Taiwan built sets was just as good as the German built sets. Howard

21st Feb 2009, 10:04 pm	#10
Line whistle Hexode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 341	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? Hi, My parents bought me one in 1974. From what I rememember it gave good sound quality for what it was. Mine was LW/MW/ VHF. It had a "dead spot" on the volume control but wasn't a problem. It died around 1981 and unfortunately was thrown away. By then I had grown to dislike the then current music and listened to records instead. I have an ITT KB brochure which I think shows these sets, I'll see if I can post some pics. Cheers, Des. __________________ www.freewebs.com/405tv

22nd Feb 2009, 12:36 am	#11
mike65ie Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Waterford Ireland Posts: 3	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? Cheers for all the feedback.

22nd Feb 2009, 4:39 pm	#12
Line whistle Hexode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 341	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? Hi, This is what I have, not sure if it's of any interest. They are from a brochure dated 1971. Cheers, Des. Attached Thumbnails __________________ www.freewebs.com/405tv

22nd Feb 2009, 5:04 pm	#13
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? Interesting literature there Des, nice to see it. It's perhaps interesting to note than when describing their models ITT would put VHF first. For example VHF, M, L whereas wavebands were more usually quoted like L/M/VHF (or FM). Despite my praising of the Tiny Super earlier in this thread I always think this and other models in the range had a look of Fidelity about them. That's perhaps more so as time has marched on. In fairness though, the styling (especially the imitation-wood grille) was all the rage at that time and even Grundig used it at one point.

22nd Feb 2009, 6:11 pm	#15
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? I have a Tiny 33(repairs MIGHT still be in Sucess stories) in regular use as my work radio. They do indeed sound good and have adequate volume for a set running from 4 AA batteries. Mine only tunes to 104 on VHF though, but as I normally only listen to Radio 2 and 4 this isn't an issue. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

22nd Feb 2009, 7:55 pm	#16
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,482	Re: Can anyone give me a review of the ITT/KB Tiny Super? I bought one in 1972 (might have been a 33) and I think it still goes well. I'll just mention a couple of possible weaknesses to look out for, though maybe I was rough with mine. The raised black plastic running down each side of the metal bar of the handle can break away. The other problem I had was the white moulded plastic that forms the back of the dial and holds the dial-cord pulleys broke. I was fortunate in working with STC at the time and their stores-guy found me one. Graham