JCB batteries - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

saddlestone-man · 22nd Aug 2018, 11:37 am

I've used a few JCB branded batteries over the past couple of years and they seem to be ok. I presume they don't make the batteries alongside the yellow excavators, so does anyone know who makes them and general comments on how good they are.

Best regards .... Stef

AC/HL · 22nd Aug 2018, 11:50 am

Absolutely no connection, as with other once respected brand names.
A critical review here: http://www.forum.radios-tv.co.uk/vie...hp?f=48&t=4521

paulsherwin · 22nd Aug 2018, 12:21 pm

JCB have licensed the brand to lots of unlikely companies including clothing and shoe manufacturers.

Jon_G4MDC · 22nd Aug 2018, 6:33 pm

Same with Caterpillar - once upon a time their boots (safety and ordinary) were pretty good IMHO.

So far not seen any batteries by them. It wouldn't make me buy any.

ionburn · 22nd Aug 2018, 6:48 pm

I have some. They were cheap when I bought them, but seem to be Ok. They are made in China (at least mine are) like most things these days.

Alvin · 22nd Aug 2018, 7:35 pm

I'd never seen or heard of them before today when I spotted them for sale in one of the shops on the Bluebell Railway heritage line and wondered what this forum would make of them...................and now I know!!

Alvin

kalee20 · 22nd Aug 2018, 7:37 pm

All we need now then is 'Flying Bomb' branded diggers, and we've come full circle!

Jon_G4MDC · 22nd Aug 2018, 8:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalee20

All we need now then is 'Flying Bomb' branded diggers, and we've come full circle!

That has quite made my day.
I haven't finished thinking out what it might mean - as yet.

paulsherwin · 22nd Aug 2018, 8:17 pm

I always thought that was a very strange brand name, even allowing for translation errors. Maybe it sounds different in the Mandarin original.

Mooly · 22nd Aug 2018, 8:34 pm

And quite collectable apparently. Have a look at the usual places...

kalee20 · 22nd Aug 2018, 8:45 pm

I onlt saw them for sale once - and there was a photo of something powered by one in Everyday Electronics - but the name stuck with me.

Cobaltblue · 22nd Aug 2018, 8:57 pm

Hong Kong which I think is the probable home of Flying Bomb speak Cantonese rather than Putonghua (Mandarin) which I speak a bit of badly

I suspect there was some characters that looked good I will ask my Chinese friends but certainly Fei 飛 (fly) is always a good character.

It's used quite a lot as a given name for children of the lost generation.

Worth a bit of investigation.

Cheers

Mike T

'LIVEWIRE?' · 22nd Aug 2018, 9:42 pm

As an aside, I have a JCB branded 'dustbuster' rechargeable vacuum cleaner. It's some years old, but keeps working. No doubt made in China, like most things!

MotorBikeLes · 22nd Aug 2018, 10:08 pm

I have seen JCB batteries, but never bought any, though I do have an actual JCB (my second in a bit over 45 years).
My sister bought me a "Monty" portable back in 1962, and that came with a "Flying Bomb" PP3. Using the radio a lot would get through a battery in less than a week, so I made extension leads and tethered a GB battery to the back. I think they were about 1/- each, with the Ever Ready being 1/3d to 1/6d each.
Les.

McMurdo · 22nd Aug 2018, 10:53 pm

I know Harvard International had something to do with JCB electrical products, they had alot of 'licensed' branded products from all across the price range including Dirt-Devil-branded vacuum cleaners and JCB power tools.

This branding business is mighty confusing!

Refugee · 23rd Aug 2018, 12:43 am

I have got a JCB branded disc cutter in my tool kit.
It replaced a Maplin one that died on me once I showed it a bit of hefty angle iron.

boxdoctor · 23rd Aug 2018, 9:23 am

Seems J.C.B. batteries are not as good as the name suggests, according to the data here :
http://www.batteryshowdown.com/
Tony.

CambridgeWorks · 23rd Aug 2018, 9:41 am

Alternatively, a lot of the big electronics companies have excavators bearing their brand name. Eg Hitachi, who also have branded batteries.
I found jcb pp3 to be ok.
Rob

turretslug · 23rd Aug 2018, 9:55 am

Japan (notably) does have an interesting corporate culture where a concern like Hitachi might be involved in the manufacture of everything from microprocessors to container ships!

I expect the JCB battery labelling is little more than a typical branding exercise by cold-blooded folk in suits;

Far Eastern battery OEM: We need to expand our sales in the UK.

JCB: We need to expand public familiarity with our brand, and project an air of technological sophistication beyond hi-vis and mud.

Shake hands, watch share price.

saddlestone-man · 23rd Aug 2018, 10:28 am

My local Home Bargains shop sells a range of JCB batteries, including a blister pack of various (15 in total I think) button batteries. They are sold as watch batteries and very useful for use in small toys, etc for which these batteries can be expensive.

Best rgds. Stef.

22nd Aug 2018, 11:37 am	#1
saddlestone-man Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 391	JCB batteries I've used a few JCB branded batteries over the past couple of years and they seem to be ok. I presume they don't make the batteries alongside the yellow excavators, so does anyone know who makes them and general comments on how good they are. Best regards .... Stef

22nd Aug 2018, 11:50 am	#2
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: JCB batteries Absolutely no connection, as with other once respected brand names. A critical review here: http://www.forum.radios-tv.co.uk/vie...hp?f=48&t=4521

22nd Aug 2018, 12:21 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: JCB batteries JCB have licensed the brand to lots of unlikely companies including clothing and shoe manufacturers.

22nd Aug 2018, 6:33 pm	#4
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: JCB batteries Same with Caterpillar - once upon a time their boots (safety and ordinary) were pretty good IMHO. So far not seen any batteries by them. It wouldn't make me buy any.

22nd Aug 2018, 6:48 pm	#5
ionburn Heptode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 583	Re: JCB batteries I have some. They were cheap when I bought them, but seem to be Ok. They are made in China (at least mine are) like most things these days.

22nd Aug 2018, 7:35 pm	#6
Alvin Heptode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: East London, UK. Posts: 761	Re: JCB batteries I'd never seen or heard of them before today when I spotted them for sale in one of the shops on the Bluebell Railway heritage line and wondered what this forum would make of them...................and now I know!! Alvin

22nd Aug 2018, 7:37 pm	#7
kalee20 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK. Posts: 7,082	Re: JCB batteries All we need now then is 'Flying Bomb' branded diggers, and we've come full circle!

22nd Aug 2018, 8:17 pm	#9
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: JCB batteries I always thought that was a very strange brand name, even allowing for translation errors. Maybe it sounds different in the Mandarin original.

22nd Aug 2018, 8:34 pm	#10
Mooly Octode Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,351	Re: JCB batteries And quite collectable apparently. Have a look at the usual places...

22nd Aug 2018, 8:45 pm	#11
kalee20 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK. Posts: 7,082	Re: JCB batteries I onlt saw them for sale once - and there was a photo of something powered by one in Everyday Electronics - but the name stuck with me. Attached Thumbnails

22nd Aug 2018, 8:57 pm	#12
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: JCB batteries Hong Kong which I think is the probable home of Flying Bomb speak Cantonese rather than Putonghua (Mandarin) which I speak a bit of badly I suspect there was some characters that looked good I will ask my Chinese friends but certainly Fei 飛 (fly) is always a good character. It's used quite a lot as a given name for children of the lost generation. Worth a bit of investigation. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk Last edited by Cobaltblue; 22nd Aug 2018 at 9:10 pm. Reason: Clarified use of the name Fei and I can't spell

22nd Aug 2018, 9:42 pm	#13
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: JCB batteries As an aside, I have a JCB branded 'dustbuster' rechargeable vacuum cleaner. It's some years old, but keeps working. No doubt made in China, like most things!

22nd Aug 2018, 10:08 pm	#14
MotorBikeLes Nonode Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Kirk Michael, Isle of Man Posts: 2,350	Re: JCB batteries I have seen JCB batteries, but never bought any, though I do have an actual JCB (my second in a bit over 45 years). My sister bought me a "Monty" portable back in 1962, and that came with a "Flying Bomb" PP3. Using the radio a lot would get through a battery in less than a week, so I made extension leads and tethered a GB battery to the back. I think they were about 1/- each, with the Ever Ready being 1/3d to 1/6d each. Les.

22nd Aug 2018, 10:53 pm	#15
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: JCB batteries I know Harvard International had something to do with JCB electrical products, they had alot of 'licensed' branded products from all across the price range including Dirt-Devil-branded vacuum cleaners and JCB power tools. This branding business is mighty confusing! __________________ Kevin

23rd Aug 2018, 12:43 am	#16
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,553	Re: JCB batteries I have got a JCB branded disc cutter in my tool kit. It replaced a Maplin one that died on me once I showed it a bit of hefty angle iron.

23rd Aug 2018, 9:23 am	#17
boxdoctor Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ripley, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 785	Re: JCB batteries Seems J.C.B. batteries are not as good as the name suggests, according to the data here : http://www.batteryshowdown.com/ Tony.

23rd Aug 2018, 9:41 am	#18
CambridgeWorks Nonode Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 2,859	Re: JCB batteries Alternatively, a lot of the big electronics companies have excavators bearing their brand name. Eg Hitachi, who also have branded batteries. I found jcb pp3 to be ok. Rob __________________ Apprehension creeping like a tube train up your spine - Cymbaline. Film More soundtrack - Pink Floyd

23rd Aug 2018, 9:55 am	#19
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 4,395	Re: JCB batteries Japan (notably) does have an interesting corporate culture where a concern like Hitachi might be involved in the manufacture of everything from microprocessors to container ships! I expect the JCB battery labelling is little more than a typical branding exercise by cold-blooded folk in suits; Far Eastern battery OEM: We need to expand our sales in the UK. JCB: We need to expand public familiarity with our brand, and project an air of technological sophistication beyond hi-vis and mud. Shake hands, watch share price.

23rd Aug 2018, 10:28 am	#20
saddlestone-man Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 391	Re: JCB batteries My local Home Bargains shop sells a range of JCB batteries, including a blister pack of various (15 in total I think) button batteries. They are sold as watch batteries and very useful for use in small toys, etc for which these batteries can be expensive. Best rgds. Stef.