Micro-FM
1965
Yet another miniature radio kit was launched in 1965 - the
Micro-FM. It was hailed by Sinclair as "the world"s
first pocket-size FM tuner-receiver" with impressive
design features: "polished and brushed two-tone aluminium
front panel", "spun aluminium tuning control".
"In styling," we are informed, "this is the
most elegant, most professional-looking design in miniaturized
equipment ever made available to constructors, and is one
you will be very proud to possess."
The punters, even those hobbyists from whose ranks Sinclair
had risen and who presumably shared his view that "small
is beautiful", had to be given some reason to fork out
the not inconsiderable sum of £5.19.6d other than the
innovative circuit. Unfortunately, according to Alfred Marks,
"it never worked. It did not have a proper aerial and
just did not go." It is not surprising, therefore, that
it was not a great success, but evidently someone must
have liked it - a year later, illegal clones of the Micro-FM
were circulating in the Far East.
Back
to top
© Chris
Owen 1994-2003 |