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THE GREAT MULLARD MAGIC BLOG

LADIES LOVE THE MULLARD VALVE TESTER

Posted by STEVE M on

LADIES LOVE THE MULLARD VALVE TESTER

The Mullard High Speed Valve Tester was so simple to use anyone could use it.   Mullard made much of this in contemporary journals and here we see a photo from one of them in which a sweet young lady is delicately using a beastly Mullard High Speed Valve Tester. But let's put sexist stereotypes aside for a moment and look instead at the reality of valve testing at Mullard in the 1950s - did you know that at the Mullard Service Department at Waddon, the majority of staff were 'wimmin' yes, really, and to prove it here, below,  I have...

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The Air Ministry (AM) Anglepoise Lamp (5C/1079) - wherever do you get bits for one?

Posted by STEVE M on

The Air Ministry (AM) Anglepoise Lamp (5C/1079) - wherever do you get bits for one?

This style of Ministry of Defence (MOD) lamp was used in several different types of British aircraft during the WW2 and post-WW2 era. Its primary use was as a Navigator’s workstation lamp. The voltage rating varied according to the aircraft, but a typical value was 24v DC. Diverse names for these lamps include Air Ministry, Herbert Terry, Anglepoise and Chart Board. The official identification of this aircraft lamp was 5C/1079 - with 5C being an Air Ministry code for electrical equipment. The range of applications was wide and encompassed aircraft like the Wellington bomber and Varsity trainer.  But the most widespread use was in...

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MULLARD INTRODUCES NEW TOOLS FOR THE SERVICE ENGINEER IN 1950!

Posted by STEVE M on

MULLARD INTRODUCES NEW TOOLS FOR THE SERVICE ENGINEER IN 1950!

"Inevitable progress towards the common employment of miniature all glass valves has introduced many new problems for manufacturers and dealers."     This is what Mullard told us in late 1950 and they were referring of course to the introdution of the new (to the UK)  B9A valves and were concerned that this may happen once they came in general circulation:- This wouldn't do at all so Mullard helpfully introduced three tools to aid service engineers and dealer personnel alike - these still resurface today and I have lost count of the number of times a bemused and inquisitive finder...

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THE MULLARD ONE ARM BANDIT FROM DECEMBER 1950

Posted by STEVE MYCIUNKA on

THE MULLARD ONE ARM BANDIT FROM DECEMBER 1950

Many users found the depression of the RHS handle to operate the Mullard High Speed Valve Tester  quite wearing -  and this at a time before  repetetive strain injuries were invented - stiff upper lip, grin and bear it!    The boffins at Salfords listened and voila, the tester was modified to have a one arm bandit style operating arm, not only that, if you pulled it and your valve tested for good emission, three cherries in a line appeared on the CRT.......................................  sorry couldn't resist that one. Mullard advertised the change as ergonomics with  an added security measure, to stop customers...

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OOOH! GIRLS LIKE BIG UNS A LOT!

Posted by STEVE M on

OOOH! GIRLS LIKE BIG UNS A LOT!

Well, whatever did you think, shame on you......... You know, it is said that there is nothing new in show business or advertising and here we have three photos just to prove this point. Here we see Petula Clark in October 1950 at the Castle Bromwich Radio Show somewhat agog at the size of this 5 foot Mullard valve model: -   And this 'ad opportunity' was again exploited  with a young lady from  Chorley Wood College for Girls with Little or No Sight examining the same giant valve model at the London Science Museum in November 1950: - But this wasn't a novel approach at...

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