The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the MAAS website contains a range of Indigenous Cultural Material. This includes artworks, artifacts, images and recordings of people who may have passed away, and other objects which may be culturally sensitive.

Collection

2007/17/14 Radio receiver, 'Handie Talkie' portable radio, and documents, wood / glass / electronic components / metal / paper, designed by Radio & Hobbies radio engineers, made by David Hain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1947. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 1, 2007/17/14 Radio receiver, 'Handie Talkie' portable radio, and documents, wood / glass / electronic components / metal / paper, designed by Radio & Hobbies radio engineers, made by David Hain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1947. Click to enlarge

‘Handie Talkie’ portable radio

Made by Hain, David in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1947.

The ‘Handie Talkie’ radio was built by the donor from designs and parts supplied through the ‘Radio & Hobbies’ journal (October 1947, Vol.9 No.7). The donor was fond of this particular radio and his recollections regarding it were handwritten on the reverse of a photograph of the radio. The notes detail his expertise and fondness for the radio:

‘This little radio has a long history. I built it long before the advent of transistors. It was a Radio & Hobbies project. I altered the design several ...

Summary

Object No.

2007/17/14

Object Statement

Radio receiver, 'Handie Talkie' portable radio, and documents, wood / glass / electronic components / metal / paper, designed by Radio & Hobbies radio engineers, made by David Hain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1947

Physical Description

Radio receiver, 'Handie Talkie' portable radio, and documents, wood / glass / electronic components / metal / paper, designed by Radio & Hobbies radio engineers, made by David Hain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1947

Portable wooden radio with textured brown vinyl covering and three slot speaker grille in upper half and three control knobs in lower half. Volume knobs on left and tuning on right. Plywood surround for knobs painted gold and white. Leather handle attached at either side.

Two pieces of paper with hand drawn circuit diagrams in blue and black pen.

One photographic print of the radio in a workshop with hand written notes on reverse.

One copy of Radio and Hobbies magazine October 1947, Vol.9 No.7.

Short URL

https://ma.as/362363

Production

Made

Hain, David Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 1947

Notes

Radio and Hobbies magazine October 1947, Vol.9 No.7, included this radio design in that issue. The R&H fixed the supply of chassis and cabinets with dial plate and knobs to match. The article on the "Handie Talkie" commencing on page 24 details the parts required and construction method for the radio.

History

Notes

Some time prior to the death of the donor notes regarding the history of this radio were handwritten on the reverse of a photograph of the radio. The notes detail his expertise and fondness for the radio. The notes are transcribed here:

'This little radio has a long history. I built it long before the advent of transistors. It was a Radio & Hobbies project. I altered the design several times, took it on holidays to Lake Burrill and elsewhere. When transistors became available I used it as a test bed for many circuits. I learnt a lot. I forgot the present status of its works, but I have an affection for it.'

Source

Credit Line

Gift of David W Hain, 2007

Acquisition Date

15 February 2007

Cite this Object

Harvard

'Handie Talkie' portable radio 2019, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 9 December 2019, <https://ma.as/362363>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/362363 |title='Handie Talkie' portable radio |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=9 December 2019 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}
Creative Commons Licence

Copyright for the above image is held by MAAS and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please contact MAAS Rights and Permissions for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives licence

  Submit an image license enquiry.

Know more about this object?

TELL US

Have a question about this object?

ASK US