Sinclair Radionics Ltd
Encyclopedia
Sinclair Radionics Ltd was a company founded by Sir Clive Sinclair
in Cambridge
, England
which developed hi-fi products, radios, calculators and scientific instruments.
Radionics initially developed hi-fi equipment; it released its first product, the Sinclair Micro-amplifier, in December 1962. The assembly and distribution of this product were contracted out to Cambridge Consultants Ltd
. In 1963 Sinclair Radionics introduced their first radio with the "Sinclair Slimline" in kit form at forty-nine shillings and sixpence. A year later in 1964 Sinclair released the "Micro-6", match-box size radio which the company claimed was the "world's smallest radio". It could also be worn on your wrist with the "Transrista". In 1965 the "Micro-FM" debuted as "the world"s first pocket-size FM tuner-receiver", but was unsuccessful due to technical difficulties. Despite problems, illegal clones were produced in the far-east. Sinclair's final 1960s radio kit was the 1967 "Micromatic", billed as "the world's smallest radio" like Sinclair's earlier radios. The "Micromatic" was a reasonable success and was sold until 1971. In May 1971 Sinclair Radionics made £85,000 profit on £563,000 turnover; the following year profit increased to £97,000 on turnover of £761,000.
In 1966 Sinclair Radionics entered the hi-fi market with the "Stereo 25", a low-cost pre-amp control system. Production was halted in 1968 due to low supply of transistors which had been purchased in 1964 as rejects from other manufacturers. In 1969 it was replaced by the "Stereo Sixty". This soon became Sinclair's most successful audio product, being the second product of the "Project 60" range. The "Project 60" products sold well and were supplemented by the "Project 605" kit in 1972. It was eventually superseded by the more advanced "Project 80" kit in 1974. In May 1973 Sinclair Radionics generated £1.8m turnover. The last Sinclair Radionics hi-fi product was the System 4000, in 1974.
Another Sinclair Radionics product that was introduced in 1964 and failed was the first class D amplifier kit rated at 10 watt RMS. A class D switching amplifier that was good in theory but sadly ahead of its time and available technology. The amplifier used low frequency germanium transistors as pulse width modulators and switches and wrongly relied on the loudspeaker's inductance to filter the class D signal into audio. Most often this would short out the output transistors. When it did work the power level was far below 10 watts and Sinclair's main advertising channel, Wireless World Magazine, was so deluged with complaints that it supposedly refused to take further advertisements form Sinclair.
In 1972 Radionics launched its first electronic calculator, the Executive, which was considerably smaller than its competitors since it had been possible to use hearing-aid-sized batteries. It had been discovered that there was considerable latency in the display and memory and that, with the addition of a timer, power could be withheld from these battery-draining components for much of the time.
During the majority of the 1970s Sinclair focused on building the most affordable pocket calculators with the best design. In 1972 Sinclair released the world's first slim-line pocket calculator, the Sinclair Executive
, for £79.95. The calculator only included basic maths functions, and the LED
display required lots of power. It is often credited as being the world's first attractively-styled calculator that didn't require mains power to be used like prior calculators. The Executive was a phenomenal success, earning Sinclair £1.8m in profit. In 1973 the slightly larger Sinclair Cambridge
was introduced at a far cheaper price of £29.95 + VAT
. A cheaper Executive was also launched shortly after. In addition to expanding the Cambridge range, the Sinclair Cambridge Scientific
was launched in 1975. It was a scientific pocket calculator for the very competitive price of £49.95. In 1977 a revised model, the "Scientific Programmable", was released at £29.95. The Scientific Programmable Mark 2 was later released, reducing the price to £17.22.
In 1975 Sinclair Radionics launched the Oxford range of briefcase calculators. Sinclair also attempted to capture the top-end calculator market with the Sinclair Sovereign
, available in plated gold or silver. The calculator was critically acclaimed for its excellent engineering and design and enjoyed short success. A final attempts at the mass-market for calculators, the Sinclair Enterprise and the President did not sell well.
In 1974, Radionics launched the DM1 digital multimeter. Such scientific instruments were to form a quiet backbone of Radionics business for the rest of its existence. In marked contrast to the rest of the Sinclair range, the instruments gained a reputation for reliable conventionality rather than often unreliable idiosyncrasy.
In August 1975 Sinclair introduced the Black Watch
digital watch at £17.95 in kit form and £24.95 ready-built, although this wasn't available to buy until January 1976. Including a five-digit LED display, it suffered from technical flaws related with the design of the case, the chip, the battery and accuracy. Not only was the watch unreliable, Radionics was not able to fulfil the orders it had taken. As a result, Radionics made its first loss in the financial year April 1974-April 1975. The Black Watch fiasco had a devastating effect on Sinclair's finances and the company would have gone bankrupt had not the Government, through the National Enterprise Board
, stepped in to support it.
In April 1976, the National Enterprise Board
bought a 43% stake in Sinclair Radionics for £650,000, and in October the National Research and Development Council agreed to provide £1m for a revived portable TV project, which was finally launched in January 1977 as the Microvision TV1A and MON1A at £99.95. Supply exceeded demand, and 12,000 units were left unsold until they were sold off cheaply. This resulted in a £480,000 loss for Sinclair. Sir Clive Sinclair was certain that the TV1B model released in 1978 would be more successful, but sales were disappointing.
increased its stake in Radionics to 73%. By June 1978 Sinclair Radionics was working on the NewBrain
microcomputer
project, which was later taken over by Newbury Laboratories.
In May 1979 the NEB announced that it intended to sell Radionics' calculator and TV interests; they were bought by the ESL Bristol group (as Radionic Products Ltd.) and Binatone
respectively. In July Clive Sinclair resigned with a £10,000 golden handshake
. In September the NEB renamed what was left of Radionics (i.e. the scientific instrument business) as Sinclair Electronics Ltd.; in January 1980 this was changed to Thandar Electronics Ltd. As of 2008 this business continues, now called Thurlby Thandar Instruments.
company he bought in September 1973 for just such an eventuality) to Westminster Mail Order Ltd.; this was changed to Sinclair Instrument Ltd. in August 1975.
Finding it inconvenient to share control after the NEB became involved in Radionics, Sinclair encouraged Chris Curry
, who had been working for Radionics since 1966, to leave and get Sinclair Instrument up and running.
Sinclair Instrument developed the "Wrist Calculator" to generate cash, which soon became a commercial success selling in surprising figures. In July 1977 Sinclair Instrument Ltd was renamed to Science of Cambridge Ltd. Around about the same time Ian Williamson showed Chris Curry a prototype microcomputer
based around a National Semiconductor
SC/MP microprocessor
and some parts taken from an earlier Sinclair calculator. This was sold as the MK14
microcomputer kit. Science of Cambridge ultimately became Sinclair Research Ltd
.
Clive Sinclair
Sir Clive Marles Sinclair is a British entrepreneur and inventor, most commonly known for his work in consumer electronics in the late 1970s and early 1980s....
in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
which developed hi-fi products, radios, calculators and scientific instruments.
History
After raising funds to start the business by writing articles for Practical Wireless magazine, Clive Sinclair founded Sinclair Radionics Ltd. on 25 July 1961.Radios and Hi-Fi
Cambridge Consultants Ltd
Cambridge Consultants is an international technology development and consultancy company, providing outsourced Research and Development to clients - from start-ups to blue-chip multinationals - who need to develop innovative, technologically novel, breakthrough products...
. In 1963 Sinclair Radionics introduced their first radio with the "Sinclair Slimline" in kit form at forty-nine shillings and sixpence. A year later in 1964 Sinclair released the "Micro-6", match-box size radio which the company claimed was the "world's smallest radio". It could also be worn on your wrist with the "Transrista". In 1965 the "Micro-FM" debuted as "the world"s first pocket-size FM tuner-receiver", but was unsuccessful due to technical difficulties. Despite problems, illegal clones were produced in the far-east. Sinclair's final 1960s radio kit was the 1967 "Micromatic", billed as "the world's smallest radio" like Sinclair's earlier radios. The "Micromatic" was a reasonable success and was sold until 1971. In May 1971 Sinclair Radionics made £85,000 profit on £563,000 turnover; the following year profit increased to £97,000 on turnover of £761,000.
In 1966 Sinclair Radionics entered the hi-fi market with the "Stereo 25", a low-cost pre-amp control system. Production was halted in 1968 due to low supply of transistors which had been purchased in 1964 as rejects from other manufacturers. In 1969 it was replaced by the "Stereo Sixty". This soon became Sinclair's most successful audio product, being the second product of the "Project 60" range. The "Project 60" products sold well and were supplemented by the "Project 605" kit in 1972. It was eventually superseded by the more advanced "Project 80" kit in 1974. In May 1973 Sinclair Radionics generated £1.8m turnover. The last Sinclair Radionics hi-fi product was the System 4000, in 1974.
Another Sinclair Radionics product that was introduced in 1964 and failed was the first class D amplifier kit rated at 10 watt RMS. A class D switching amplifier that was good in theory but sadly ahead of its time and available technology. The amplifier used low frequency germanium transistors as pulse width modulators and switches and wrongly relied on the loudspeaker's inductance to filter the class D signal into audio. Most often this would short out the output transistors. When it did work the power level was far below 10 watts and Sinclair's main advertising channel, Wireless World Magazine, was so deluged with complaints that it supposedly refused to take further advertisements form Sinclair.
Calculators and test equipment
During the majority of the 1970s Sinclair focused on building the most affordable pocket calculators with the best design. In 1972 Sinclair released the world's first slim-line pocket calculator, the Sinclair Executive
Sinclair Executive
The Sinclair Executive was Clive Sinclair's first venture into the pocket calculator market. The Executive was the world's first "slimline" pocket calculator. It was variously described as "a piece of personal jewelry" and "at once a conversation piece, a rich man's plaything and a functional...
, for £79.95. The calculator only included basic maths functions, and the LED
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
display required lots of power. It is often credited as being the world's first attractively-styled calculator that didn't require mains power to be used like prior calculators. The Executive was a phenomenal success, earning Sinclair £1.8m in profit. In 1973 the slightly larger Sinclair Cambridge
Sinclair Cambridge
The Sinclair Cambridge was a small pocket-sized calculator manufactured from summer 1973 by UK company Sinclair Radionics. It was available both as a kit to be assembled by the purchaser, and assembled...
was introduced at a far cheaper price of £29.95 + VAT
Value added tax
A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
. A cheaper Executive was also launched shortly after. In addition to expanding the Cambridge range, the Sinclair Cambridge Scientific
Sinclair Scientific
The Sinclair Scientific calculator was a 12-function, pocket-sized calculator, selling for about $100 in the USA and around £45 in the UK.The Sinclair Scientific first appeared in a case derived from that of the Sinclair Cambridge, but it was not part of the same range. At the time it was launched,...
was launched in 1975. It was a scientific pocket calculator for the very competitive price of £49.95. In 1977 a revised model, the "Scientific Programmable", was released at £29.95. The Scientific Programmable Mark 2 was later released, reducing the price to £17.22.
In 1975 Sinclair Radionics launched the Oxford range of briefcase calculators. Sinclair also attempted to capture the top-end calculator market with the Sinclair Sovereign
Sinclair Sovereign
The Silver Sovereign was a high-end calculator introduced by Sinclair Research Ltd of the United Kingdom in 1976, it was one of the last Sinclair calculators. The Sovereign came in silver and gold plated models, with leather pouches and fitted wooden cases...
, available in plated gold or silver. The calculator was critically acclaimed for its excellent engineering and design and enjoyed short success. A final attempts at the mass-market for calculators, the Sinclair Enterprise and the President did not sell well.
In 1974, Radionics launched the DM1 digital multimeter. Such scientific instruments were to form a quiet backbone of Radionics business for the rest of its existence. In marked contrast to the rest of the Sinclair range, the instruments gained a reputation for reliable conventionality rather than often unreliable idiosyncrasy.
Black Watch
Black Watch (wristwatch)
The Black Watch is an electronic wristwatch launched in September 1975 by Sinclair Radionics. It cost £24.95 ready-built, but was also available for £17.95, as a kit....
digital watch at £17.95 in kit form and £24.95 ready-built, although this wasn't available to buy until January 1976. Including a five-digit LED display, it suffered from technical flaws related with the design of the case, the chip, the battery and accuracy. Not only was the watch unreliable, Radionics was not able to fulfil the orders it had taken. As a result, Radionics made its first loss in the financial year April 1974-April 1975. The Black Watch fiasco had a devastating effect on Sinclair's finances and the company would have gone bankrupt had not the Government, through the National Enterprise Board
National Enterprise Board
-History:The National Enterprise Board was set up in the United Kingdom in 1975 to implement the Wilson Labour government's objective of extending public ownership of industry...
, stepped in to support it.
Portable televisions
In 1966 Sinclair Radionics developed the world's first portable television, the "Microvision", but never attempted to sell it because development costs would have been too high based on the complicated design the Microvision used.In April 1976, the National Enterprise Board
National Enterprise Board
-History:The National Enterprise Board was set up in the United Kingdom in 1975 to implement the Wilson Labour government's objective of extending public ownership of industry...
bought a 43% stake in Sinclair Radionics for £650,000, and in October the National Research and Development Council agreed to provide £1m for a revived portable TV project, which was finally launched in January 1977 as the Microvision TV1A and MON1A at £99.95. Supply exceeded demand, and 12,000 units were left unsold until they were sold off cheaply. This resulted in a £480,000 loss for Sinclair. Sir Clive Sinclair was certain that the TV1B model released in 1978 would be more successful, but sales were disappointing.
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Demise
In July 1977 the NEBNational Enterprise Board
-History:The National Enterprise Board was set up in the United Kingdom in 1975 to implement the Wilson Labour government's objective of extending public ownership of industry...
increased its stake in Radionics to 73%. By June 1978 Sinclair Radionics was working on the NewBrain
Grundy NewBrain
The Grundy NewBrain was a microcomputer sold in the early 1980s by Grundy Business Systems Ltd of Teddington and Cambridge, England.- Beginnings :...
microcomputer
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers...
project, which was later taken over by Newbury Laboratories.
In May 1979 the NEB announced that it intended to sell Radionics' calculator and TV interests; they were bought by the ESL Bristol group (as Radionic Products Ltd.) and Binatone
Binatone
Binatone is a private company owned by brothers Partap and Gulu Lalvani. Binatone was started in the United Kingdom in 1958 to import and distribute consumer electronics...
respectively. In July Clive Sinclair resigned with a £10,000 golden handshake
Golden handshake
A golden handshake is a clause in an executive employment contract that provides the executive with a significant severance package in the case that the executive loses his or her job through firing, restructuring, or even scheduled retirement...
. In September the NEB renamed what was left of Radionics (i.e. the scientific instrument business) as Sinclair Electronics Ltd.; in January 1980 this was changed to Thandar Electronics Ltd. As of 2008 this business continues, now called Thurlby Thandar Instruments.
Sinclair Instrument and Science of Cambridge
When it became clear that Radionics was failing, Clive Sinclair took steps to ensure that he would be able to continue to pursue his commercial goals: in February 1975, he changed the name of Ablesdeal Ltd. (an off-the-shelfShelf corporation
A shelf corporation, shelf company, or aged corporation, is a company or corporation that has had no activity. It was created and left with no activity - metaphorically put on the "shelf" to "age"...
company he bought in September 1973 for just such an eventuality) to Westminster Mail Order Ltd.; this was changed to Sinclair Instrument Ltd. in August 1975.
Finding it inconvenient to share control after the NEB became involved in Radionics, Sinclair encouraged Chris Curry
Chris Curry
Christopher Curry is the co-founder of Acorn Computers, with Hermann Hauser and Andy Hopper.-Early life:...
, who had been working for Radionics since 1966, to leave and get Sinclair Instrument up and running.
Sinclair Instrument developed the "Wrist Calculator" to generate cash, which soon became a commercial success selling in surprising figures. In July 1977 Sinclair Instrument Ltd was renamed to Science of Cambridge Ltd. Around about the same time Ian Williamson showed Chris Curry a prototype microcomputer
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers...
based around a National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor was an American semiconductor manufacturer, that specialized in analog devices and subsystems,formerly headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. The products of National Semiconductor included power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers,...
SC/MP microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
and some parts taken from an earlier Sinclair calculator. This was sold as the MK14
MK14
The Microcomputer Kit 14, or MK14 was a computer kit sold by Science of Cambridge of the United Kingdom, first introduced in 1977 for UK£39.95. The MK14 eventually sold over 50,000 units. It used a National Semiconductor SC/MP CPU , 256 bytes of random access memory which was directly expandable...
microcomputer kit. Science of Cambridge ultimately became Sinclair Research Ltd
Sinclair Research Ltd
Sinclair Research Ltd is a British consumer electronics company founded by Sir Clive Sinclair in Cambridge. Originally incorporated in 1973 as Ablesdeal Ltd., it remained dormant until 1976, and did not adopt the name Sinclair Research until 1981....
.
External links
- Thurlby Thandar Instruments Limited (successor to Thandar Electronics Ltd)