Kriesler 11-41

The Morris Mini wasn't the only Mini in town during 1966. Described as being "to cool for school", I doubt any parent would let their child loose with this radio as it cost $35 in 1967.

Apart from the high cost, the average wage was $35 pw, the 11-41 was a very innovative design. Its designer Harry Widmer picked up the prestigious F. H. Edwards Laurel award for designing the set’s polypropylene plastic case in 1966. The judges noted that this was the first such application of this material in a portable radio worldwide. Widmer was the head of design at Kriesler that by this time had been full subsummed into the Philips empire.
Of course, size was another important ingredient in the design of the 41-47. It fits snugly in the palm of the hand and has a wrist strap. The controls, volume and tuning, are easily operated using the thumb.

It was made in two separate runs one with stainless steel speaker grills and a plainer version that was the molded plastic and an end bright piece where the holding screw fits.

The case is a clam shell design with matching speaker grills on each side giving the impression of two speakers. It was available in Rave Read and Surf Green, The marketing department was obviously trying to apeal to the younger set.

Transisters used at various stages: AF118N, AF117N, AC126, AC132, OA90, and OA91.

This radio

My examples are both bright speaker grill versions, blue and black,

The blue one was my first. bought during 2023. It was dead on arrival. Missing the speaker, earphone socket, it was obviously butchered for parts. A new speaker was fitted, the volume control sprayed with contact cleaner, and the amplifier sprung to life. I then tested the IF transistors on the Peak DCS 75 component tester. All was good. I then tested the oscillator coil with the HMV Challenge - perhaps the best radio I own for picking up stations. Nothing. I wanted a second opinion and I took it to a friends house who was a TV/Radio technition. Again nothing from the oscillator. It was put aside as the coils seem to be unique.

Fast forward to July 2025 and Ian Batty was clearing out for a forthcoming hose move. One of the items he was auctioning was this black example. You can read his Silicon Chip (December 2013 issue) article on this radio for it's resurrection from dead.

It works as well as can be expected for a mid 1960s 6 transistor radio. Of course by the late 1960s such radios were not viable for Australian manufacture as the market was being flooded by radios half the size from Japan and a bit later Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Lower right picture credit: sparkman92001 Flckr

Page last updated: August 2025