'Pye' branded equipment was manufactured by Akrad Radio Corporation Ltd, they were distributed by G. A. Wooller & Co. Ltd. Currently there are 45 documented models.
Pye NZ Ltd was formed in 1951 when Akrad Radio (through GA Wooler) approached Pye Ltd in Cambridge, England to partner with them in developing television here. This also led to a wide range of Pye radio models being introduced to the NZ market.
PYE factory in Waihi
New Zealand Pye models were often prefixed PZ (presumably for Pye New Zealand) while English models were often just prefixed P. Many Kiwi models were similar to their English counterparts, albeit without the long-wave band which served no purpose here since nobody was broadcasting on it in this part of the world.
The Pye factory was finally closed in 1986 by Philips, who had bought the parent company in England many years earlier and subsequently took over Pye NZ in 1979. While Philips had repeatedly said they would not close the factory, the governments removal of duties on Asian imports meant that NZ electronics manufacturers could no longer compete in the market and most of the remaining NZ radio manufacturers, including Pye, closed.
IMAGE | YEAR | MODEL CODE | VALVES | BANDS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1952ish | Pye PZ40 | 5 | 8 | |
1952ish | Pye PZ75MBQ 'Portable' | 5 | Broadcast | |
1953ish | Pye PZ43 'Model Y' | 4 | Broadcast | |
1953ish | Pye PZ43 | 4 | Broadcast | |
1953 | Pye PZ71 | 4 + eye | 5 | |
1954ish | Pye PZ39 'Model G' | 5 | 8 | |
1954 | Pye PZ60 'Model H' | 6 + optional magic eye | 10 | |
1954ish | Pye PZ64RG | 6 | Broadcast | |
1954 | Pye PZ65MBQ '65' | 7 | Broadcast | |
1954 | Pye PZ69 | 5 + magic eye | 8 | |
1954 | Pye PZ77 | 5 | 8 | |
1955 | Pye PZ92 | 6 + magic eye | 5 | |
1955 | Pye PZ95TG | 5 | 6 | |
1955 | Pye PZ98U | 5 | All Wave | |
1956ish | Pye PZ101 | 5 + eye | Broadcast | |
1956ish | Pye PZ109 'Marquis' | 6 + magic eye | 5 | |
1956ish | Pye PZ114BQ 'Jewel Case Portable' | 4 | Broadcast | |
1956 | Pye PZ79RG | 5 + magic eye | 8 | |
1957 | Pye PZ102 | 5 | Broadcast | |
1957 | Pye PZ103 | 5 | All Wave | |
1957ish | Pye PZ57RG | 5 | Broadcast | |
1958 | Pye model 222 'Printed Circuit' | 5 + magic eye | 5 | |
1958 | Pye model 777 'Calypso' | 6 + magic eye | Dual Wave | |
1958 | Pye PZ100 | 5 | Broadcast | |
1958ish | Pye PZ106 | 5 | 8 | |
1958ish | Pye PZ125BQ | 6 transistors | Broadcast | |
1958ish | Pye PZ61RG 'Caribbean' | 6 | Broadcast | |
1960ish | Pye model 100SG 'Stereo 100' | 5 | Broadcast | |
1960ish | Pye model 200MG 'Coffeegram' | 3+silicon rectifier | Broadcast | |
1960 | Pye model 612S 'Trinidad' | 6 | Dual Wave | |
1960ish | Pye model 70SG 'Stereo 70' | 7 | All Wave | |
1960ish | Pye model M50 'Partygram' | 3 | Broadcast | |
1960 | Pye PZ108 'Ricardo' | 5 | 4 | |
1960 | Pye PZ112 'Mardi Gras' | 5 | 4 | |
1961ish | Pye PZ230 'Messenger' | 5 + magic eye | 5 | |
1962ish | Pye PZ105 'Pentette' | 5 | Broadcast | |
1963ish | Pye model 522 'Roulette' | 4 Transistors, 4 Valves | Broadcast | |
1965ish | Pye model 528-2 'Burbank' | 15 transistor, 2 diode | Broadcast | |
1967ish | Pye model 715/3 'Fanfare' | 4 Transistors | ||
1972ish | Pye model 717 'Vagabond' | 4 Transistors | ||
1972ish | Pye model 719 'Party Time' | 4 Transistors | ||
1972ish | Pye model 721 'Porta Player' | 4 Transistors | ||
1974ish | Pye model 552 'Olympic' | 14 Transistors | Broadcast | |
1979ish | Pye FL2500 'Isotronic' | Broadcast | ||
1981 | Pye 5T-20NZ 'Bravas' |