Thankfully our local agents and volunteers were on hand to pick up and drop off the batteries to ensure listening pleasure was maintained with minimum interruption! As valves made way for transistors, and transistors bowed out in favour of ever smaller printed circuits and micro-chips, BWBF has strived to keep not just abreast but way out in front of the latest developments in audio techology. Because that’s what our recipients deserve.

So we are very proud to celebrate our 80th anniversary year by introducing you all to our latest creation – developed by the Fund in association with Roberts Radio, to meet all the listening needs of visually impaired people for many years to come.

Come and meet Concerto

Eighty years ago – when the Fund was first established – the sets we used to provide to our blind listeners were somewhat less sophisticated than our new 21st century state-of-the-art equipment.

And that’s to say the least!

First came the “cat’s whisker” crystal sets. These were notoriously fiddly to tune in however and as soon as we could we embraced the new valve techology – easier to tune, no need for headphones and a much higher quality sound. There was just one downside to those early sets unfortunately: a giant battery which needed recharging once a week!