Motorcycle batteries

Baygen is a South African company whose first product is a transistor radio powered with a clockwork mechanism rather than with batteries. They are now known as Freeplay 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 as weather forecasts. Even in developed and rich places, the electric supply fails from time to time.

Documentary

A TV documentary has been made by the BBC about the story of the Clockwork 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

• President Nelson Mandela’s speech at the opening of the BayGen/Nicro Factory, Cape Town, 7 May 1998