A brief history of the "old" walkie talkie

Walkie talkies have been around for a long time; the first, now vintage, walkie talkie was invented in 1937. Donald Hings developed a device that could transmit and receive radio signals, which he originally called a packetset. He was an English born Canadian inventor, and while seeking a patent for his new invention in 1939, Canada officially declared war on Germany. Hings was sent to Ottawa, Canada, to expand on his invention for military applications. The first handheld walkie talkie was used in the US military, called the SCR-536. The device was easy to use as it was simply one button, you press to transmit a signal, and depress to receive. 

How do old walkie talkies work?

The technology involved in old walkie talkies has not changed dramatically over the years, in regards to how they work. The Walkie talkie sends and receives signals on a particular band, most recreational walkie talkies in the UK use the very high frequency bands (VHF) between 173.7 and 175.1 MHz. These are the frequencies which are unlicensed and allowed for the general public. The main development in the technology is down to the components getting smaller, lighter, and more reliable. Some walkie talkies have a wind-up mechanism. A wind up walkie talkie allows the user to charge the battery up to communicate, which is useful in emergencies. 

Why were vintage walkie talkies popular?

There have been hundreds of models, designs, and applications for walkie talkies over the years. They became a popular method of contact with the general public in the 70s and 80s. The popularity grew as the technology involved became more understood. A sunspot in the 1970s caused a spike in the high frequency, HF, bands. This spike briefly increased the power of the HF bands and which led to a breakthrough in the distance the signals could be sent and received. Vintage walkie talkies were limited to around 1 mile in ideal conditions, they can now reach up to 30 miles, in perfect conditions. Although this is the top end, a lot of new walkie talkies have an effective range of 3-5km. 

Why are vintage walkie talkies still popular?

From the 70s to the 90s, there was a lot of choice on the market for walkie talkies. They were made for all different types of people, such as hunters, children, security and more. The market for vintage walkie talkies is filled with enthusiasts, collectors, and people looking for toys from their childhood. Nostalgia plays a huge role in the popularity of certain old walkie talkies; childhood memories can be a powerful motivator. Some people swear by older models of walkie talkies, as they believe they are more reliable, and were built to last. No matter what the reason is, there is an old walkie talkie out there for everyone! If you would like to learn more, or have a question about one of the walkie talkies we have on offer, then don’t hesitate; contact us today to find the right one for you! You can reach us at 0800 028 6261 or 01527 872 777.