Biennephone - E-606 Transistor radio

Transistor Army Radio E-606; developed and produced by Velectra SA / Biennophone, Bienne.

In 1965 the Swiss company Velectra / Biennophone in Biel/Bienne developed a portable transistor radio used for the reception of the public broadcast channels in shelters and command posts of the Swiss Army and the Swiss Civil Protection organisation.

Excellent aesthetic condition with a small crack on the corner of Dial glass.

Technical Data

Principle: Single conversion
Modes: AM (A3), FM (F3 in the VHF broadcast band
Frequenzbereich: LW/TR, MW, KW1 (1,55 - 4 MHz), KW2 (3,9 - 7,4 MHz); UKW
Sensitivity: AM (A3) / Selectivity:
Power Supply

Mains: 110 - 250 V, 7 W
Accumulator / Batteries: 2 x 4,5 V batteries
Dimensions

Receiver E-606: 240 x 342 x 118 mm, 4 kg
Accessories

Telescopic and frame antenna integrated in cabinet
Mains cable, TR (Telephonrundspruch, wired broadcasting system ober telephone) cable, headphones
The E-606 is a portable multiband radio covering longwaves - it has a special connector to link it up to the „Telephonrundspruch“ (a nationwide wired broadcast network with six channels broadcast over telephone lines in the longwave band) - mediumwaves and two shortwave bands as well as the VHF / FM broadcast band. The set can be powered from different mains voltages as well as from two pocket torch 4,5 V batteries.

A row of pushbuttons is used to select the waveband, „T“ stands for „Telephonrundspruch“, the wired H.F. network broadcast over telephone lines as mentionned above. To receive the off air longwave band, You have to press the two buttons „T“ and „external Antenna Y/ AFC“ together, for mediumwaves the „M“ (the „Y/AFC“ button activates the external antenna connector) and for the two shortwave bands „K1“ or „K2“. „U“ is used for the FM broadcast band, the AFC button will activate the AFC in this case. The „T“ and „M“ buttons pressed together will activate a DIN tape recorder jack for reproduction from a tape or cassette.

The functions of the other controls are self-explaining, the big control at the left is the combined on/off and volume control; the set comes with separate bass and treble tone controls which is a quite uncommon feature for a military used radio.

The receiver is a solid state single conversion superhet, the Germanium transistors which are partly special selected ones might be very hard to find in case of need of replacement.

The radio is stored in a specially designed olive - green wooden transport box together with the mains cable and a user's manual