- Baygen
Baygen is a
South African company whose first product is atransistor radio powered with a clockworkmechanism rather than with batteries. They are now known asFreeplay Energy .Overview
In remote and poor places, batteries are expensive and hard to come by. Radios are of great value not only for
news and entertainment but for useful information such asweather forecasts . Even in developed and rich places, the electric supply fails from time to time.Documentary
A
TV documentary has been made by theBBC about the story of theClockwork radio .Other Products
Clockwork Torch
Later on, Baygen introduced a clockwork torch. Weighing about 1 kg, the clockwork torch incorporates two improvements over the clockwork radio. First, the on/off switch halts the spring from escaping. Secondly, internal energy storage keeps the torch shining while the spring is rewound. One version of the clockwork torch is enclosed in clear plastic so that the inner workings can be seen.
See also
*
List of South African companies External links
* [http://www.polity.co.za/html/govdocs/speeches/1998/sp0507.html President Nelson Mandela's speech at the opening of the BayGen/Nicro Factory, Cape Town, 7 May 1998]
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