KB Nine Transistor KR017 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

crackle · 14th Dec 2011, 9:36 pm

Hello
Has any body got any information on a KB Nine Transistor KR017
AM FM radio. I have just got one and I cant find any information on the internet.
I am just after general information like year and circuit if posible.

Thanks
Mike

crackle · 15th Dec 2011, 8:57 pm

Hi
I have a photo of the inside now in case this helps to date it. I would suggest about 1965?
It was made in Okinawa.
Any other information please, would be a great help.
It is all working but I would not say the sound quality is up to much little disappointing after the Tiny 33
Thanks
Mike

Malcolm G6ANZ · 15th Dec 2011, 10:51 pm

Mike, 1965 sounds about right. My father got one for his father when his old valve radio died. If I remember correctly the quality was not as good as the old valve one (Philips 206A) and the tuning was very touchy.
I don’t think it had a reduction drive on the tuner.

Malcolm

crackle · 16th Dec 2011, 12:04 am

Hi Malcolm
Thanks for the reply, do you reckon I have the only surviving example of this radio

The audio quality is not good, I think this is down to the speaker design which has hardly any corrugations round the rim to allow for depth of movement. You are right the tuning wheel is a direct drive to the TC, but it is 3 inches in diameter so there is adequate control.
The build quality is not that good, there were strands of what looks like contact glue all over.
The best bit is the telescopic aerial which has a ball and socket swivel when fully extended.
The transistors are all Matsushita make.
Maybe this set represents a period in the KB history between suppliers where quality suffered, then picked up again when they started being marketed with the ITT KB brand.
Mike

Darren-UK · 16th Dec 2011, 12:18 am

There was also an RGD branded version of this radio, but I can't recall its model number other than that it was RR200-and-something. Maybe KB and RGD were owned by the same parent at that time, I don't know.

14th Dec 2011, 9:36 pm	#1
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	KB Nine Transistor KR017 Hello Has any body got any information on a KB Nine Transistor KR017 AM FM radio. I have just got one and I cant find any information on the internet. I am just after general information like year and circuit if posible. Thanks Mike Attached Thumbnails

15th Dec 2011, 8:57 pm	#2
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: KB Nine Transistor KR017 Hi I have a photo of the inside now in case this helps to date it. I would suggest about 1965? It was made in Okinawa. Any other information please, would be a great help. It is all working but I would not say the sound quality is up to much little disappointing after the Tiny 33 Thanks Mike Attached Thumbnails

15th Dec 2011, 10:51 pm	#3
Malcolm G6ANZ Octode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 1,042	Re: KB Nine Transistor KR017 Mike, 1965 sounds about right. My father got one for his father when his old valve radio died. If I remember correctly the quality was not as good as the old valve one (Philips 206A) and the tuning was very touchy. I don’t think it had a reduction drive on the tuner. Malcolm

16th Dec 2011, 12:04 am	#4
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: KB Nine Transistor KR017 Hi Malcolm Thanks for the reply, do you reckon I have the only surviving example of this radio The audio quality is not good, I think this is down to the speaker design which has hardly any corrugations round the rim to allow for depth of movement. You are right the tuning wheel is a direct drive to the TC, but it is 3 inches in diameter so there is adequate control. The build quality is not that good, there were strands of what looks like contact glue all over. The best bit is the telescopic aerial which has a ball and socket swivel when fully extended. The transistors are all Matsushita make. Maybe this set represents a period in the KB history between suppliers where quality suffered, then picked up again when they started being marketed with the ITT KB brand. Mike

16th Dec 2011, 12:18 am	#5
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: KB Nine Transistor KR017 There was also an RGD branded version of this radio, but I can't recall its model number other than that it was RR200-and-something. Maybe KB and RGD were owned by the same parent at that time, I don't know.