Subject: Re: Defining appropriate technology
Sender: owner-gkd@tristram.edc.org
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Reply-To: gkd@tristram.edc.org
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Nidhi Tandon wrote:
> Also, how do you go about ordering the wind-up radios?

Below are two sites for getting the BAYGEN FREEPLAY RADIO

A Media Activist's BayGen FreePlay Radio Page

Baygen Freeplay Wind-up Radio

http://www.eagle.ca/~anacapa/bayradio.htmllt/

The award winning Baygen wind-up radio has grabbed quite a few headlines
around the world in the last few months and has also been the talking
point in many Internet and shortwave circles. 

Powered by a generator driven by a replaceable spring that's good for over
6,500 hours (that's 6 years at 3 hours of listening a day), the radio
NEVER NEEDS BATTERIES.  With a black robust case and both an internal
ferrite and an external extendable antennas, the radio covers AM, FM (in
mono) and Shortwave frequencies. 

Technical performance is to a high standard and the radio produces plenty
of volume. 

When you switch the set off the clockwork mechanism slows down but doesn't
stop completely. 

Radio Netherlands reviews the Baygen Freeplay Radio "The verdict: Baygen
has lived up to the hype." With financial backing from the British
Overseas Development Administration, Liberty Life Foundation, the Kagiso
Trust, 60% of the staff at the Montague Gardens plant have been drawn from
six organisations for the disabled. 

Every BayGen Radio sold by Anacapa Inc. subsidises free radios to
charities in Canada and overseas, e.g. War Child for projects they run in
developing countries for distance learning, health information etc. 

The BayGen Radio has received enthusiastic support from NELSON MANDELA. 

To operate the radio you first wind the spring. A handle unclips on the
side of the set, you turn the handle about 60 times (that's less than 20
seconds) and you'll get approximately 30 minutes playing time of your
favourite AM/FM/Shortwave station before a rewind is needed. The BayGen
FreePlay Wind-Up Radio is ideal for emergency use, cottages, boats,
camping, teenagers, hunters, remote areas or anywhere disposing of the old
scrap batteries is an environmental or handling problem. The Baygen Radio
will pay for itself in just over a year with the savings on batteries. 

                       BAYGEN FREEPLAY RADIO 
The Freeplay radio is manufactured in South Africa by BayGen PowerCompany
(Pty) Ltd., and is available for sale in Canada through Anacapa Inc. 

DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT PACKAGED (Each Radio Individually Boxed):
               Length 15 3/4"
               Height 12 1/2"
               Depth 8"
               Weight 6 3/4 lbs
PRICE:
Subject to confirmation of price and availability at time of order. Price:
Cdn $139.00 per unit + S&H and appropriate taxes including jack to receive
AC adapter. 

FOUR EASY WAYS TO ORDER:
1.Phone: (905) 885-9624 Fax: (905)885-0040

2.Mail:
Anacapa Inc.
107 Dorset St. W.
Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. L1A 1G4

3.Email: anacapa@ eagle.ca

or use our easy to submit form:

4. Go to the Webpage
http://www.eagle.ca/~anacapa/bayradio.htmllt/

SPECIAL PRICING:
Available for volumes call Anacapa Inc.:(905) 885-9624.
Baygen South Africa & Baygen European distributor

FROM URL:
http://www.mallard.org/bay01.htmladio.htmllt/
who also supply low power radio transmitters

Baygen clockwork radio 

British inventor Trevor Baylis has set up
production of his innovative clockwork radio in
South Africa. This is the basic specification:
Wavebands: AM, FM and SW. 
Playing time on one full wind: 40 minutes.
Winding up: 60 turns (approximately 20 seconds)
Dimensions: 40 x 32 x 18cm.
Weight (boxed): 3Kg.

This really looks to be a good radio for developing countries,
particularly in the more remote regions where batteries are hard to come
by. Technical performance is to a high standard and the radio produces
plenty of volume. The trouble is the price. When the product was first
announced at the end of 1995 the manufacturers confidently predicted a
price of $20 US for this radio. 

They have been selling them in Europe and America for a higher price on
the basis that they were subsidizing sales to development projects in
poorer countries. However when I asked for a quotation for 500 radios to
be sent to an international aid project in Haiti the US agents quoted a
price of more than $60 each. I do not suggest for one moment that they are
trying to make an excess profit out of development agencies; I think this
is a sincere company with good motives. The fact remains that they have
burnt their fingers by quoting lower prices than they could actually
sustain. It is an easy mistake to make. They wanted to produce a good
quality, well-engineered radio. They could not do it at the price. Perhaps
they should make a smaller model at a lower cost. 

For further information contact:

Baygen Power Company (PTY) Ltd.
89 St. Patrick Road
Houghton, Johannesburg 2198
South Africa

The European distributors of the FREEPLAY Radio are:

BayGen Power Europe Ltd.
Claverton House
Longwood Court
Love Lane
Cirencester
Gloucestershire
GI7 1YG
01285-659559 tel
01285-659550 fax

baygen@lineone.net

Anacapa Baygen Radio site.....
http://www.eagle.ca/~anacapa/bayradio.htmllt/

... I am not connected with them at all, nor do I make any money from the
sales of these radios..this information is presented for your
information.... 


Anacapa Baygen Radio Order Form
for faxing or electronic orders... 
http://www.eagle.ca/~anacapa/form.htmlhtmllt/
Mallard's WebSite on Baygen...
they also sell a line of low power community radio type transmitters...
http://www.mallard.org/bay01.html.htmlhtmllt/


          George Lessard, Media Activist
           Community Communication Arts, 
         Training, Management & Mentoring
  http://members.tripod.com/~media002/index.html
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