What radio did I own?

OK, so back in 1981, soon after we went legal, I got a radio for my birthday as a young teen.  It would be great if I could remember what the hell it was, so I could look at grabbing one for old times sake!  

I remember it came from Halfords of all places, and I think they only sold a couple, so looking for info from anyone with a better memory on what they were so I can Google and hopefully recognise it?

Hiya Jeff,

Be careful with those 'rose-tinted' memories mate

You'd remember pestering your parents for this.....



...and actually landed up with this!



Everybody jumped on the bandwagon for CB sales during 1981, (I even remember Boots selling CBs!!), but by 1982/3 it'd all died down despite what we remember. Heck, Rumbelows used to give you a free CB if you bought a TV from them by then!

I couldn't remember or even find any old ads for Halfords mentioning CB's so not much help there am I   

But if it helps any take a look at the following site for maybe a memory jogger, or even a trip down memory lane :-

http://radiopics.com/CB%20Radio/UK%20CB%2027-81/UK%20CB%2027-81.htm



It's starts off with the old walkies, scroll down for mobile radios and even further down for homebase units.


If anything it'll fill some time, but you never know...you may find your old rig


All the best,
Victor

Now, there is a blast from the past, the Binatone 5 Star was my very first C.B. I drooled over it in the Argos catalogue for months before one appeared from somewhere, second hand I think.
Next, it was off to Stockport CB centre for a PSU, twig, coax and a ground plane kit which was replaced in fairly short order with a Starduster style antenna out of Radio Shack.(Tandy)

Having a quick glance over that list certainly brings back memories, I had forgotten just how many different rigs there were out back then.
I didn't realise how many multi-modes came with the 27/81 stamp on either until I looked over the list I had a Stalker 9fdx which part ex'd for a Nato 2000 which I hung onto for a few years, I was aware of Tristar but never owned one and was surprised to see any others at all!

Victor wrote:

Hiya Jeff,

Be careful with those 'rose-tinted' memories mate


Everybody jumped on the bandwagon for CB sales during 1981, (I even remember Boots selling CBs!!), but by 1982/3 it'd all died down despite what we remember. Heck, Rumbelows used to give you a free CB if you bought a TV from them by then!

I couldn't remember or even find any old ads for Halfords mentioning CB's so not much help there am I   

Yeah, it didn’t last long, but as a 12/13YO when it came in, it was our social media of the time....and kept us off the phone and running up bills! 

I’m 99% sure it was Halfords, as I remember looking at them every time I was in for bike stuff as my birthday got closer.  As you say though, everyone sold them back then.

I have an idea the brand started with a H, but not sure, so will peruse the list.

I remember I wanted the Amstrad at the time, because of the digital s-meter and roger bleep....how sad is that! 

Harvard ????

Alan MM 
Stockport cb centre on the A6 remember it well.
I lived in Marple at the time.

Alan Pilot wrote:

Harvard ????

Yeah, that’s my thinking after going through the list....just none look that familiar.  Mind you, it was 40 odd years ago....

There was so many back then.
I remember when i was doing repairs getting a phone call asking if i could take a look at a condom ????
Old farmer guy turned up with the rig turned out to be a comtron lump of junk but i said i would look at it out of interest as i had never fixed a condom before lol.

Ha! Laughing at your 'condom' CB story Alan (Pilot)! 

Weren't those Comtrons terrible radios?!? Was it the Maxcom or something chassis? I may have to take a look back at that list myself.

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Sorry I couldn't find the Halfords rig for you Jeff but glad it's poked some memories for some of you guys.
Nothing wrong with the old Amstrad either, I loved my old CB901 to the point of putting mid-block in it as well!

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Alan MM, I had an old TriStar 777 with the 27/81 stamp! Should never have sold it, but these things happen.

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Well it all gave me a reminiscing moment that's for sure. 
Now I'm remembering trips to "Civics" in the old fire house in Bedford, or hopping on the motorbike for a trip to "Vanners" in Northamptonshire. We used to have some car accessory place and you had to squeeze past boy racers busy buying spotlights to get to the CB section


I do hope you find your rig Jeff.


All the best,
Victor

43CT016 wrote:

Alan Pilot wrote:

Harvard ????

Yeah, that’s my thinking after going through the list....just none look that familiar.  Mind you, it was 40 odd years ago....

It could be the Harvard cbm404. I know Dixons use to sell that model.

John123 wrote:

43CT016 wrote:

Alan Pilot wrote:

Harvard ????

Yeah, that’s my thinking after going through the list....just none look that familiar.  Mind you, it was 40 odd years ago....

It could be the Harvard cbm404. I know Dixons use to sell that model.

That was my best guess, as I didn't have one with all the bells & whistles, but it just doesn't look familiar.  Still, was a long time ago!

Hi everyone
(newbie here)

I found my old rig on this site:-
 (sorry as a new member i'm not allowed to post links for 7 days)....if you do a search for m0ysu with a .com at the end, their page has a link to a uk cb museum with pics of lots of old rigs

My old one was a Eurosonic Mk2, could also see some of the old rigs i lusted after back in the day!!

The one and only true legal CB I've ever owned was a Audioline 341 40ch ,the wife brought me it when CB first came legalised 27/81 because she was worried about me getting busted still using my old illegal 40ch AM in the works van.

cb radio beginning with H
Would it be one of these by any chance
 

Les-1 wrote:

cb radio beginning with H
Would it be one of these by any chance
 

Not the one on the right, as it wasn't that flash....I thought it might have had RF Gain in addition to Vol and SQL, but it was so long ago it could have been the one on the left.

Halfords only sold a couple of models though, so that's why I was hoping someone remembered or maybe had an old ad.

Some old Adverts

Jeff,

I had a chat with an old neighbour and he seems to remember buying a CB from Halfords but couldn't name it. 

His description of it was a bit generic, black & silver....red channel numbers....volume, squelch, RF gain...etc. it wasn't until he said you could adjust the channel number brightness that I clicked with the old 'Sapphire X2000'. "Nope, not that", he said, but I also remembered it was rebadged under various guises and asked, "Was it a Barracuda?"....
"That was it!", he excitedly exclaimed.

After remeniscing about 'S.J.Tonks', 'Pama' and 'Truck King', we parted our ways.

I know it doesn't begin with a 'H', (and as already suggested only the Harvard and Harrier fit that), but surely a dimmable LED display would be memorable?

It's in the list of the link I provided under 'Barracuda GT868' and sure enough the same as the 'Sapphire X2000'.
Might be worth a look?


Just wish I hadn't thrown away the boxes of old CB magazines I used to have now.....but the missus disagrees!


Anyway, trying to get to the bottom of your mystery.....but I enjoyed the chat with my neighbour

Victor wrote:

His description of it was a bit generic, black & silver....red channel numbers....volume, squelch, RF gain...etc. it wasn't until he said you could adjust the channel number brightness that I clicked with the old 'Sapphire X2000'. "Nope, not that", he said, but I also remembered it was rebadged under various guises and asked, "Was it a Barracuda?"....
"That was it!", he excitedly exclaimed.

Well, I don't remember the name, and I certainly don't remember a dimmable display, but something about that does look familiar...so, maybe!

Going to be one of those unsolved mysteries, I think.

Nice trip down memory lane on this topic, nice reading for Saturday lunch time.

I had a Lowe Tx 40 when i was a kid in early 80's - loved it.  Set up with a big GP27 (i think) in garden
Great times