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Last updated on
17 MARCH 2012
CONTACT ME: I don't want to receive any more spam email than I do now, so I have not
included a clickable email link. If you would like to email me,
please type the following into the "To:" line of your email app, replacing
"(at)" with "@", "dot" with "." and omitting spaces:
les (at) daveysradios dot org dot uk
I look forward to hearing from you.
Les Franklin.
DISCLAIMER: The site author welcomes constructive comments about the
site itself, information about any Davey designs, or radio sets built to those
designs whether recently or long ago. He assumes that anyone sending
general comments or reminiscences is agreeable to their use on this site;
however he will seek explicit permission to reproduce such items as photographs,
circuits and descriptions of sets. He is unqualified to offer advice
on suitability of components, or failure to operate satisfactorily of any
radio set or other equipment made to any design described or mentioned
on this site. Some of the equipment described or mentioned on this site
may use or generate high voltages, both when powered and after being powered,
or produce high temperatures. Some designs use non-isolated power supplies,
and are considered unsafe by modern standards. Users of this site must
satisfy themselves that they understand the risks of working on all such
potentially hazardous equipment, that they understand the information given or
referred to on this site, and that any such information upon which they rely
is accurate. If unsure they should seek the help of a qualified person.
Neither the site author nor any party connected with hosting or
transmission of this site can accept responsibility for loss, damage, injury
or death arising as a result of using information given or referred to on this
site. Usage of this site is deemed as acceptance of these terms in
their entirety.
Copyright © L C Franklin, 2010-2012, or as stated. No part of
this site may be copied, reproduced, or republished in any way
except for strictly personal, non-commercial purposes.
Users of this site also agree not to adapt, alter or create a
derivative work from its content.
Articles referencing this site or its predecessor have appeared on
the Wikipedia site. To protect my interests, I have registered on
Wikipedia as "Friskanellin".
On this site, Studio ‘E’ and Focus refer
to the BBC children’s television programmes of the late 1950s.
The present ownership of these names is acknowledged. The
ownership of all other trade marks or trading names mentioned on
this site is also acknowledged.
Every effort has been made to secure appropriate permissions for
reproducing copyright material such as images, circuits, illustrations
and quotations. Those granting such permissions have been
credited where possible alongside each source in the belief that they
were qualified to do so. If credit has been accorded incorrectly,
or where it has proved impossible to establish rights conclusively, those
concerned are asked to accept the site author's apologies and contact him.
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This site has its origins in 2009, when I started researching Gilbert Davey's radio
writing. This began when I found most of the parts from a simple one-valve
radio set built for me by my father way back in 1957. It had been built to a
design presented by Davey on a BBC children's television magazine programme
called Studio ‘E’ - a precursor to Blue Peter. I
wanted to rebuild it! Problem was - I had long ago thrown away the leaflet
that was published for the series.
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Gilbert Davey in 1981: detail from a photo
taken to mark the publication of his last book.
Copyright © Peterborough Evening Telegraph/
Johnston Press plc; reproduced by kind permission.
Prepared from a British Library image,
copyright © British Library Board:
Shelfmark 3837-44 (1981) NPL.
With acknowledgments to Claire Davey.
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I had a hunch that I was not the only ageing baby-boomer who hoards junk - and
memories - for fifty years and more! I guessed that there were many more
one-time Davey fans out there, who might now have the time to indulge in a little
old-fogeydom by remembering the pleasures - or perhaps the pains - that the
hobby had brought them long ago. I found a discussion forum thread where
several contributors bemoaned the loss of the same leaflet.
I built a "conjectural" reconstruction of the one-valver, using the original components
I had kept, with new parts where necessary. In March 2010, I launched this web
site (originally titled The Studio ‘E’
One-Valve Radio), which described the planning and building of this set,
and threw down a challenge: "Is this right? If it isn't, prove it by
coming up with the leaflet!".
It took 14 months for the right person (Doug Brown) to visit the site and send me
scans of his Studio ‘E’ leaflet. With his permission and
that of the BBC, I was able to make the long-lost leaflet available once more to the
many enthusiasts who remembered this famous design, although the satisfaction of
the achievement was tinged with sadness as it came only a few days after I had
received news of Gilbert Davey's death in April 2011.
The rediscovery of this famous Davey design realised my initial aim in setting up the
site. But my long-term aim was, and is, to expand it into a wider resource
for Davey devotees, so it has been re-launched with a new structure better suited for
this expansion. Much new material has already been added, but more
remains to be done! The DAVEY SOURCE PAGES > in
particular will undergo progressive amendment as my research continues.
To find out what's now on the site, use the navigation buttons on the
left, or go to the Site Map below. I hope that both
past and new visitors will soon find their way around the new pages.
Almost all the material familiar to past visitors is still here.
The Studio ‘E’ material - including leaflet downloads - can now
be accessed via THE BBC SETS > page. I will soon withdraw
the details of my "conjectural" Studio ‘E’ set - which was some
way off the mark - and will substitute details and pictures of my new set, when rebuilt
once more, in accordance with the resurrected BBC leaflet.
Before I launched my site, there was little on the internet about Gilbert Davey or
his radio designs. This site - and its earlier incarnation - have begun to put
that right. I am proud of the praise received both for its presentation and
authority of content. Just as important, my hunch was right! I have
received dozens of messages from site visitors, describing in the most vivid terms -
despite the passing decades - how Gilbert Davey's work served in one way or another
to launch them on their radio hobbies or careers.
I am grateful to the British Library for their research resources and for
permission to reproduce images, and to the rights-holding publishers and organisations
(individually named throughout) for permissions to reproduce their material.
I am also grateful for the many contributions of every sort received from visitors
to the site since it was first launched, and especially so to the family and friends
of Gilbert Davey himself.
Whether you know Davey's name and reputation or not, I hope you enjoy this site.
If you do enjoy it, please let me know, and please pass on my URL to anyone you
think might find something of interest too.
Les Franklin.
Site Map
All pages (except this WELCOME page) are listed here.
GILBERT DAVEY – A sketch of the man who introduced
radio construction to several generations of boys, many of whom became radio or
communications professionals.
THE BEGINNER'S 1-VALVER - The evolution of this famous
long-lived design illustrates how Davey responded to changing needs.
THE BBC SETS > - The Studio ‘E’
1-valver and the Focus Transistor Set: downloads for these famous
designs, and lots more:-
My Original Studio ‘E’ Set -
Undiluted nostalgia - memories of my original Studio ‘E’ 1-valve set.
My Rebuilt Studio ‘E’ Set -
Details and pictures of my "conjectural" Studio ‘E’ set, built 2009.
To be updated soon.
Your Studio ‘E’ Rebuild -
A list of suppliers, and details of a home-made coil to use in place of the
all-too-scarce commercial coil originally specified.
To be updated soon.
The Studio ‘E’ Leaflet -
Comments on the 1957 leaflet and on the design itself. Image downloads -
please read the copyright and usage notes.
The Studio ‘E’ Scripts -
Extracts from the scripts preserved by Gilbert Davey himself since the
one-valver series was broadcast in 1957.
The Focus Transistor Set -
NEW -
This series raised almost as much interest as the earlier one-valver series.
Some stories by those who remember the series. Notes on the
leaflet and the design. Image downloads - please read the copyright
and usage notes.
DAVEY SOURCE PAGES > - A growing resource for those
who built Davey designs years ago, or who simply wish to know more about them:-
The Boy's Own Paper -
EXPANDED -
Near-complete listing of designs and artcles for BOP, which won Davey a
huge following among its readers.
BOP Offshoot Publications -
EXPANDED -
Gilbert Davey's articles in the compendium books produced by BOP's Editor, Jack Cox.
Fun with Radio -
EXPANDED -
Davey's most well-known book, which ran to six editions.
Other "Fun with . . ." Books -
The other titles introduced young constructors to every aspect of the radio and
electronics hobby.
Research still ongoing.
YOUR DAVEY SETS - Davey designs built by contributors to this site:
Hugh Castellan's sets - Hugh has built four early Davey designs from the
Boy's Own Paper, including two that could have been lost but for some
prolonged detective work. All are well researched, beautifully made, and
are a splendid contribution to this site. Hugh has now beaten me to it,
and constructed a Studio ‘E’ one-valver according to the leaflet!
Sets by other builders - We start with a one-valver built by a radio construction
newbie who was thrilled at the result.
I look forward
to receiving details and pictures of YOUR Davey set!
NEWS AND LINKS > - Latest news, links to other sites of
interest, and:-
News Archive - News items more than one year old.
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