jewel: Jewel

BVWS Bulletin Vol 27, Number 2. Has an article by Gerald Wells which gives some interesting information about the Jewel Company & radio set. For those that do not have access to this bulletin I have summarised the key points.

 

The company was created in 1957 by a parent company ARMOND TAYLOR, manufacturers of paxolin products. Jewel Radio started production of its first model the “Jewel”. However this set was not successful & the factory closed suddenly during the first year. It is thought that approximately 1000 sets were produced, with a failure at of 20%.

 

In March 2001 the factory was sold, but it still contained the production equipment & sets as left when the doors were closed in 1957. The owner contacted Gerald Wells of the Vintage Radio Museum (Dulwich, London, UK), & offered the contents to the Museum. Approximately 200 sets (all the rejects) & some partially built sets were recovered. These sets were repaired by the museum & have been distributed or sold.

 

The set is very unusual not only in its appearance but also how it works. It uses a UL41 (normally for AC/DC sets) & 3 battery valves (1.4v 50mA). The heater of the UL41 is supplied by a mains transformer, a cathode resistor creates a bias voltage. This voltage is used to feed the heaters of the 3 remaining battery valves. Another unusual feature is the tuning capacitor, it has no rigid plates. A strip of flexible copper is wound onto an insulated metal drum as the tuning knob is turned. This strip has capacity with the drum, the value dependant on the amount of strip wound against the drum. It is perhaps no wonder so many sets were rejects, but it does provide a wonderful curiosity for collectors.