Philips Electronic Engineer - A Nostalgic Journey -

Philips Electronic Engineer - A Nostalgic Journey - #186
55ish years ago I received one of these as a Christmas present, although the original kit is long gone, I was pleased to find this example in reasonable condition in the local Cancer Research shop for £6.
Hope it brings back some memories for you too..... ?

[@vanhetgoor]

The Philips boxes with electronic parts in it for the young electronic engineers are put together by well qualified engineers who loved their work and enjoyed to inspire the young and the old. I had one of these boxes and it was great! It feels like it was only last week, not fifty plus years ago. This present brought me more joy and excitement then the sportwagon I got many years after this. I have had a wonderful childhood, two loving parents, a safe, pleasant and clean surrounding (The Netherlands) Wouldn't it be nice if we would ask Royal Philips to restart these Philips construction boxes all over again, renew this wonderful journey full of discoveries and excitement. Nowadays too many children grow up confused in a hateful place with wars and exploitment of sadness.

[@ShaunPengelly]

I remember getting this kit as a Christmas present back in 1968 when I was 12 years old, this started me off in my love of Electronics and a career as a TV Radio Engineer, and later as an Offshore Electronics Technician in the oil & gas Industry. Sadly I no longer have the kit, but still still have the BC148 & BF194 transistors in my workshop.

[@paulswift700]

That's brilliant. I had the same kit loved it. I'm now 68 and would love to go back in time and get one. I had three of these the other where up grade kits. Best 73 Paul G0MIH and HS0ZLQ.

[@German_byte]

What a great old kit. Thanks for showing it.

[@ploegmma]

Good memories! Had several boxes (end 70’s). Mine had blue plastic boards.

[@Manticore1960]

Brings back memories of my Philips Compact EE 1050 kit. I was hooked on electronics after building a crystal set at my electronics club at school when I was 12 years old. I received this kit the following Christmas. I remember that my transistors had metal heatsinks clamped to them. The kit has long gone, but I'm sure I must still have the instruction book somewhere, as it was also an educational indroduction to electronics.

[@MirunaIordachescu]

I had one of those in the 80's . nice memory, I almost forget about this game but I remember quickly the strange shape of the springs :)

[@microknigh7]

I had Rodwins Toy Store (Southgate) for spares nearish to me. But I also had a "proper" Electronics shop in Edmonton, also north London. I got my EE kit (I'm sure it was also the 1003) Christmas 1973, I was 12. I did end up in the industry and still am. So it must have done some good. Thanks for sharing.

[@iandobson8846]

And it was the radio I had made up mostly, and probably helped get me interested in radio as a hobby.

[@techobaz55]

I was also given a Philips EE kit in the late 60's. It was a probably earlier version of yours, with PNP Ge transistors (2 x AC126 + 1 x AF116), it didn't have wings or panel and different box (blue colour) and manuals. The spring mechanism was exactly the same. I was 13yrs old & now 70 and have been in electronics since that day, from crystal sets to rcommercial radio & TV transmitters. Thank you for sharing this with us, great memories right there ! Cheers, Baz from Oz

[@sinewave4236]

I was reminded of my beloved EE8 kit which must have been the ancestor of this one. The transistors were just loose components. An add-on kit was needed to make a 3 transistor radio with speaker. But the pegboard idea with the springs was all the same.

[@edgeeffect]

Those oldie worldie dark brown resistors just bring back wave upon wave of nostalgia. In the early 1980s, I used to get most of my components from taking old tellies to bits... and I had plenty of those resistors "in stock". Little lick of dark brown paint and that replacement transistor will look FINE.

[@iandobson8846]

I had, probably still have somewhere, one of these in the late 70's. Actually, probably more mid 70's

[@colinauta]

My parents gave me a new one those when I was 13 years old. I wasn't totally new to hobby field as I had already made a few beginners projects on my own. I built many of the kit projects but the MW radio but the telephone coil tap with listening amplifier stand out in my memory. Later I built many basic magazine and booklet electronics projects from scratch. I graduated in electronics engineering and after that I found employment in the new PC industry. Electronics sadly took a back seat however recently I have started to restart my former hobby. I've purchased some excellent vintage test gear on the cheap. Thanks for reveling this great kit to younger generations and for bringing back good memories.

[@diabolicalartificer]

Ahh, the 1970's, taking a train to Derby to get a diode and a few other bits. Think I have some BC148's, will look. Will bung some in post if so.

[@pisotones2348]

I was also given a Philips EE kit in the very early '70s. It was a probably earlier version of yours, with PNP Ge transistors (2 x AC126 + 1 x AF116), no "wings" or panel and different box and manuals. The spring mechanism was exactly the same. I was hooked ever since with electronics! Some years later someone gave me the even older companion Philips Mechanical Engineer. Both were very cool and intelligent toys.

[@campbellmorrison8540]

Yeah me too, I can remember making the AM transmitter and giving my mother a great fright when she heard my voice on the radio, really good kit and started my electronics interests

[@daveturner5305]

I had a similar, earlier kit in the mid 60s. As soon as Bill started talking I was envisioning those spring clips. That takes me back 60 years.

[@viccurtis7448]

I had the same PNP kit and I recall the AF116, the higher frequency transistor had the fourth wire for a "screen" connection. I think I may still have a few of the original components knocking around in my junk box.

[@FireballXL55]

I also in around 1970 had the Mechanical version, I assume because my father was a mechanical eng, but I still went into electronics, I did get one of those kits where you could build lots of circuits something like 150 in one but I can't find a picture of the one I had.

[@W4BIN]

Bill, I don’t understand how you managed to misspell that companies’ name, but you managed. The company in Holland that it’s products are known in America (and possibly elsewhere) as “Norelco” has, but one “L” in it. They now sell many products under the Philips name also. (like my DVD player) Ron W4BIN

[@MuckSpreader99]

I remember someone having one of these or similar when I was at Tech High School circa 1964 - 65. But that was, if I recall, OC71, OC72, OC44 types. Maybe even AF115's. Scrape the paint of an OC71 and you got yourself a light detector, maybe.

[@steveradford5460]

I had the same one, Christmas 1965, OC71s, light detector etc. Started me in electronics, gained 1st class BSc (Electronics and Electrical) led to an interesting career. Now retired.