| This unit is basically a 12 watt
mono amplifier, powered by an orthodox arrangement of the
venerable EL84 as a push-pull, with an AM/FM receiver
attached. It also has inputs for microphone and
record-deck (or 'gram', as it is called) and the ability
to transmit the output over a 70V line. Clarke & Smith manufactured a range of
equipment that was, "Designed in consultation with
certain Education Authorities and approved by the Schools
Broadcasting Council of the United Kingdom". The
glorious Socialist state that was England between
Macmillan and Callaghan decreed that the BBC should stand
fast to it's Reithian ideal and provide a School's Radio
Service to educate the children of the masses.
The Model 8812 Receiver was
'designed to meet the needs of medium sized schools' and
was capable of feeding six extension speakers
simultaneously - a small monitor speaker on the front of
the unit being able to allow the 'programme controller'
to listen in.
Built to 'battleship standard' it
is very heavy duty and exquisitely precise in it's
internal layout and wiring. I have included it here as a
fondly remembered example of the kind of gear our taxes
purchased (well, my parent's taxes) for use in the
schools of the 'New Jerusalem' that England tried so hard
to be in the 1960's.
The original test manual may be
downloaded from HERE LizardTech DjVu format, 12
pages, 144Kb
Postscript: Clarke &
Smith diversified in to many areas in the 60's and 70's.
Frank Clarke, the founder, was actively involved until
his death in 1997 but the company is, unfortunately, no
more.
Last updated 1st May 2006
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