The Pye PE80 Cambridge International is one of the most impressive British valve radios of the 1950s. Introduced in 1953 by Pye Ltd. of Cambridge, it was a top-of-the-range receiver intended for people who wanted excellent sound quality and the ability to listen to radio stations around the world.
Unlike ordinary domestic radios, the PE80 was an ambitious piece of engineering, featuring nine valves, eleven wavebands, sophisticated tuning facilities and a powerful push-pull audio amplifier.
It represents something of a high point in the development of British AM valve radios. By this period, manufacturers had spent decades refining radio reception, producing receivers with increasingly sophisticated tuning and better sound reproduction.
The PE80 had a particularly handsome wooden cabinet, with contrasting walnut veneers, a large speaker grille across the front, a sloping top-mounted tuning scale and controls positioned on the sides.
Valves:
- EF41 – RF amplification
- ECH42 – Frequency conversion
- EF41 – Intermediate-frequency amplification
- EBC41 – Detection and associated audio/AGC functions
- EM34 – Magic-eye tuning indicator
- EBC41 – Audio amplification and associated functions
- EL41 × 2 – Push-pull audio output
- EZ40 – Full-wave rectifier
The service manual for this radio is available in the Members’ Area.
