The Bush TR82C and TR82D are two of the most recognisable British portable transistor radios of the late 1950s and early 1960s. They can often be seen in TV programmes of that era. With their large circular tuning dials, distinctive carrying handles and rounded cabinets, they are now classics of British industrial design.
The important distinction is that the C and D suffixes principally identify cabinet finishes, not different levels of performance.
The early TR82C has an older circuit, whereas the later TR82C Mark II and TR82D are substantially the same electronically. The TR82 series arrived in 1959, when transistor radios were beginning to replace portable valve receivers.
Earlier portable radios required relatively expensive batteries, often with a separate high-voltage supply for their valves. Transistor sets could operate from a single low-voltage battery, making them substantially more practical.
The TR82 became one of the classic British transistor-radio designs and remained visually distinctive long after smaller pocket radios became fashionable.
TR82C Mark I (1959 onwards)
The original version used germanium transistors:
| Stage | Transistor |
|---|---|
| Frequency changer | OC44 |
| First IF amplifier | OC45 |
| Second IF amplifier | OC45 |
| Audio stages | OC71 and OC78-family types, depending on revision |
Early production sets had variations in their audio transistor complement. These earlier OC-series transistors are generally more reliable than the AF117s introduced later.
TR82C Mark II and TR82D
Later versions used the following seven transistors:
| Stage | Transistor |
|---|---|
| Frequency changer | AF117 |
| First IF amplifier | AF117 |
| Second IF amplifier | AF117 |
| Audio preamplifier | OC71 |
| Audio driver | OC81D |
| Push-pull output | 2 × OC81 |
The service manual for this radio is available in the Members’ Area.
