PrinzSound portable radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Sparks · 12th Aug 2020, 10:58 am

My sister has one of these, dating back to 1975. Does anyone know who the manufacturer is likely to have been? Thankyou.

paulsherwin · 12th Aug 2020, 11:09 am

Prinzsound was a Dixons house brand in the 70s, before pseudo Japanese branding became common. It's most likely made by one of the Hong Kong OEM makers, though production in Taiwan was starting then too. If it says 'Empire Made' anywhere then it's from HK.

AC/HL · 12th Aug 2020, 11:47 am

That roller has a Philips look to it?

paulsherwin · 12th Aug 2020, 11:51 am

It's the styling of the time Bill - lots of manufacturers used those thumbwheel tuning arrangements then, including the entire Grundig 'Boy' range.

Records · 12th Aug 2020, 12:20 pm

I have a late EKCO badged PYE radio from 1978 that has the same thumb wheel, although it was made in Japan for PYE

G6Tanuki · 12th Aug 2020, 12:37 pm

Yes the roller-tuning was a distinctly-70's thing: I remember repairing a Benkson radio [horrible cardboard-cased thing] for a schoolmate and that had the roller.

As to the manufacturer of the particular radio in question - I'd say probably Hong Kong. There was a time when 'Empire Preference' - a low- or zero-tariff - was applied to imports from parts of the Commonwealth/Empire, allowing them to undercut imports from Taiwan and Japan.
Generic cheap radios like the one referred to were often made by subcontractors using a relatively-standard design - which makes getting a [positive ID on the actual maker a real problem.

Sparks · 12th Aug 2020, 1:50 pm

Thankyou all. I haven't seen the radio itself for years but I concur that it dates from a period when 'Made in Hong Kong' was a household expression. I thought it might be a rebadged ITT number.

paulsherwin · 12th Aug 2020, 2:10 pm

I think ITT were using Taiwanese suppliers by then. It's not impossible that it comes from the same OEM contractor, but it isn't just a rebranded ITT model. There are broad similarities in styling but that's about it.

dazzlevision · 12th Aug 2020, 3:40 pm

A photo of the innards with the back cover removed may well help us ID the specific manufacturer.

Sparks · 12th Aug 2020, 4:12 pm

Thanks dazzle. Unfortunately it isn't my radio and I don't have it to hand so I can't arrange this.

12th Aug 2020, 10:58 am	#1
Sparks Heptode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 597	PrinzSound portable radio My sister has one of these, dating back to 1975. Does anyone know who the manufacturer is likely to have been? Thankyou. Attached Thumbnails

12th Aug 2020, 11:09 am	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,937	Re: PrinzSound portable radio Prinzsound was a Dixons house brand in the 70s, before pseudo Japanese branding became common. It's most likely made by one of the Hong Kong OEM makers, though production in Taiwan was starting then too. If it says 'Empire Made' anywhere then it's from HK.

12th Aug 2020, 11:47 am	#3
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: PrinzSound portable radio That roller has a Philips look to it?

12th Aug 2020, 11:51 am	#4
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,937	Re: PrinzSound portable radio It's the styling of the time Bill - lots of manufacturers used those thumbwheel tuning arrangements then, including the entire Grundig 'Boy' range.

12th Aug 2020, 12:20 pm	#5
Records Hexode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Harwich, Essex, UK. Posts: 429	Re: PrinzSound portable radio I have a late EKCO badged PYE radio from 1978 that has the same thumb wheel, although it was made in Japan for PYE __________________ Being me is easy, its the image thats hard..ELVIS

12th Aug 2020, 12:37 pm	#6
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,996	Re: PrinzSound portable radio Yes the roller-tuning was a distinctly-70's thing: I remember repairing a Benkson radio [horrible cardboard-cased thing] for a schoolmate and that had the roller. As to the manufacturer of the particular radio in question - I'd say probably Hong Kong. There was a time when 'Empire Preference' - a low- or zero-tariff - was applied to imports from parts of the Commonwealth/Empire, allowing them to undercut imports from Taiwan and Japan. Generic cheap radios like the one referred to were often made by subcontractors using a relatively-standard design - which makes getting a [positive ID on the actual maker a real problem.

12th Aug 2020, 1:50 pm	#7
Sparks Heptode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 597	Re: PrinzSound portable radio Thankyou all. I haven't seen the radio itself for years but I concur that it dates from a period when 'Made in Hong Kong' was a household expression. I thought it might be a rebadged ITT number.

12th Aug 2020, 2:10 pm	#8
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,937	Re: PrinzSound portable radio I think ITT were using Taiwanese suppliers by then. It's not impossible that it comes from the same OEM contractor, but it isn't just a rebranded ITT model. There are broad similarities in styling but that's about it.

12th Aug 2020, 3:40 pm	#9
dazzlevision Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,609	Re: PrinzSound portable radio A photo of the innards with the back cover removed may well help us ID the specific manufacturer.

12th Aug 2020, 4:12 pm	#10
Sparks Heptode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 597	Re: PrinzSound portable radio Thanks dazzle. Unfortunately it isn't my radio and I don't have it to hand so I can't arrange this.