Any Brits have one of these?

american lockpicker · **on:** July 05, 2009, 03:33:28 AM

http://www.ccrane.com/radios/am-fm-radios/roberts-revival-radio.aspx

I plan to buy a brown one when its back in stock.

rp252 · **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:09:15 PM

Afraid I don't sorry. Looks like an interesting bit of kit. Good luck with it

Benner · **Reply #2 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:55:22 PM

Ah, Roberts radio. I've heard many people say how these were the best radios around and that there quality was second to none and at the risk of sounding greatly unpopular, I can tell you that it's all a load of absolute crap! How this company got the rep it did I have no idea. I have serviced many of the original Robert's and like everyone else in my workshop, we were amazed at just how much this company can charge for something which looks like MDF with cheapish components randomly screwed inside the casing. They produce an OK ish sound, but, personally, I'd be spending my money elsewhere.

Roadie · **Reply #3 on:** July 05, 2009, 01:59:08 PM

I'll echo what Ben said, you can get a much much better product for a lot less than that, $200 for an outdated piece of equipment seems ridiculous to me

But that's just my opinion

nuphoria · **Reply #4 on:** July 05, 2009, 03:18:37 PM

Overpriced due to lots of money spent on advertising and PR.... that's what you'll be paying for I think!

american lockpicker · **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2009, 06:39:53 PM

I figured it was so expensive due to the fact it was assembled in England.

Benner · **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2009, 06:48:32 PM

Quote from: american lockpicker on July 05, 2009, 06:39:53 PM

I figured it was so expensive due to the fact it was assembled in England.

They have always been expensive since they were released years ago. I think they went for the Stella approach (reasurringly expensive).

Chako · **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:42:26 PM

Something like this might be better...and a whole lot cheaper.

Eton makes wonderful emergency radios that don't sound all that bad. Perfect for the long hike, emergency use, etc...

Just a thought.

american lockpicker · **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:43:47 PM

I've been looking at Freeplay, Tangent, or Roberts.

Benner · **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:45:13 PM

Quote from: american lockpicker on July 05, 2009, 08:43:47 PM

I've been looking at Freeplay, Tangent, or Roberts.

Freeplay as a brand are regarded as being quite good.

american lockpicker · **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:50:38 PM

Are the freeplays assembled in the UK also can the batteries be easily changed?

Benner · **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2009, 08:51:58 PM

Quote from: american lockpicker on July 05, 2009, 08:50:38 PM

Are the freeplays assembled in the UK also can the batteries be easily changed?

Couldn't tell you I'm afraid, didn't see too many of those when I was in that field.

appletree_man · **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2009, 05:51:43 AM

I've got a few small radios stashed around the house. My favourite is a little £2.99 job. It has SW/AM/FM. I've got a no name wind up one as well, it works good and even has an emergency light in it.
My philosophy is usually to buy quantity over quality (except with SAKs & MTs). In a lot of cases the so called quality items will fail before the cheapo.

Quote from: american lockpicker on July 05, 2009, 08:50:38 PM

Are the freeplays assembled in the UK also can the batteries be easily changed?

I thought they were assembled somewhere in the third world is a purpose built factory to give the local people work. I'm sure I saw that in a documentary about Trevor Bayless.

american lockpicker · **Reply #13 on:** July 06, 2009, 06:10:38 AM

Heres the only thing I found: "The BayGen Freeplay® Radio, endorsed by no less than 20 international humanitarian organizations, is assembled largely by a workforce of the disabled..."

Neil · **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2009, 12:19:56 AM

I quite like old Roberts radios. They fully disassemble with ease making cleaning up the ones I get from carboot sales a breeze. Easy profits

They also look nice.

The new plastic ones do not impress. They seem no better than anyone elses.

Benner · **Reply #15 on:** July 19, 2009, 12:22:39 AM

Quote from: Neil on July 19, 2009, 12:19:56 AM

I quite like old Roberts radios. They fully disassemble with ease making cleaning up the ones I get from carboot sales a breeze. Easy profits They also look nice.

The new plastic ones do not impress. They seem no better than anyone elses.

They do indeed disassemble with ease. One tap and they fall apart into a pile of components.

New or old, I thought they were all poo. But others mileage will vary.

Neil · **Reply #16 on:** July 19, 2009, 12:46:18 AM

Out of curiosity which radios that came your way did you rate? Not that I'm in the market for one. I just use whatever I can pick up for a couple of quid

Benner · **Reply #17 on:** July 19, 2009, 12:54:39 AM

Quote from: Neil on July 19, 2009, 12:46:18 AM

Out of curiosity which radios that came your way did you rate? Not that I'm in the market for one. I just use whatever I can pick up for a couple of quid

There was always something a bit special about a tube radio (think Zenith were particularly good) but I didn't see many of those sadly.

Digital wise, I was always impressed by Pure. Never cracked one open though.

thesuper · **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2009, 12:11:07 PM

I agree with several of you guys, I have had several "old fashioned" type Roberts radios, they do look cool and "retro", but in reality they arent that fantastic, especially the newer ones which are I believe assembled in the Far East. And if they go wrong they cost a fortune to repair! I also have several very expensive Pure radios (DAB,fm ,am) costing over £200 each, they are far superior in build quality and reception in my opinion. Even their cheaper radios are quality items.

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Any Brits have one of these?

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