PHILIPS RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 20 (Supplement)

PHILIPS RADIO

AT HOME IN EVERY HOME A tour through the modern Philips factory at Mitcham, England, convinces one that every Philips receiver has an "invisible component" — absolute reliability. Philips engineers work not only to precision limits of up to l/2500ths of an inch, but the workers themselves have to pass rigorous tests of exactness, skill, keen vision and intelligence. 200 Sets an Hour. In the general assembly hall sets are completed at the rate of nearly 200 every hour. The general assembly hall is a really impressive place. There are 500 people working at 18 huge progressive belts, on either side of which they sit. At one end the various parts are handed through a window. Each worker adds one part or set of parts to the chassis. He is highly skilled in this operation. There is constant examination at each stage of construction. Finally an inspector clamps the receiver chassis on to a machine, presses buttons, studies the- deflections- of needles, signs O.K. on a label, and it is on its way to the next stage. Frequent Tests. In this way twenty different people each do about five minutes specialised work on the chassis of each receiver— and seven or eight of these are inspectors, checking the accuracy of others. Now completed, the chassis has to undergo electrical tests to see that various combinations of components are working properly in relation to each other, and a chassis electrical leakage test is made. More Tests. In a separate factory wood craftsmen have been fashioning cabinets to suit the various trends of modern appeal. There is a pride evident in the care lavished on the construction, Now, for the first time, chassis and cabinet meet. Here, also is joined the loudspeaker. Then, the testing begins all over again, the first test being ^ to receive Philips' o wu broadcastmg station. This oscillates on wavelengths of 225, 350, 500, 900 and 2000 metres. The dial must tune exactly on each wavelength. Tests on actual programmes then follow, after which tests for the gramophone pick-up equipment and extra loudspeaker sockets are made. Dominating Factor. Surely the receiver is now considered perfect— but no it is tested all over again by the dispatch department. Absolute reliability — the invisible component in every Philips receiver, takes an added significance in the light of the tour, for we can readily realise that the , one dominating factor Philips insist on j incorporating into every component of every receiver is reliability."