{"id":103,"date":"2008-05-23T11:23:05","date_gmt":"2008-05-23T11:23:05","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T23:00:00","slug":"ethical-superstore-meets-trevor-baylis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ethicalsuperstore.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/ethical-superstore-meets-trevor-baylis\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethical Superstore meets Trevor Baylis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The genius inventor behind the famous wind up radio, Trevor Baylis OBE, talks to Ethical Superstore about getting off your backside; his brand new Mini Eco Radio<\/a> and having an ego as big as a truck. <\/p>\n

Ethical Superstore:<\/b> How did the wind up radio come about?
Trevor Baylis<\/font><\/b>: You don’t get up in the morning and try to invent something – ‘chance favours the prepared mind’ as they say. I was, by pure chance, watching a programme on HIV\/AIDS in Africa and how they needed the power of education to stop the spread. <\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: Radio being the perfect way, right?
TB<\/b><\/font>: Yes, but most of Africa was without electricity, and batteries were horrendously expensive. Now, picture this  – I was in my 60s, sitting with a pipe, and a wind up gramophone at my side with a great big horn on the top – colonial I suppose (laughs) – and I think to myself, if you can get all that power by winding a spring, surely you can generate enough to turn a dynamo which would power a radio. <\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: So what did you do?
TB<\/b><\/font>: I did the right thing and got off my backside! I started playing around in my workshop with a small motor and an old transistor radio. Then, I had this genius idea. I took a bucket of water and wound it up over a tree with a rope and pulley, and as it slowly descended it drove a gearbox that powered a radio. I eventually made my first radio, which ran for a few minutes on a one to two-minute wind. Not a great trade off, but proved it could be done.<\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: So from idea to marketable product, was it an easy ride?
TB<\/b><\/font>: I filed for a patent and got it, but then came the hardest part. I went to all the government authorities and the Design Council – who said they help inventors – but got rejection after rejection. It was awful. But, I’ve an ego as big as a truck, which helps (laughs), and carried on! I got in touch with the BBC – they were enraptured – and the Tomorrow’s World team featured me. The rest, well, went like clockwork. <\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: Do we support inventors enough in the UK?
TB<\/b><\/font>: No! We are brilliant in Britain at inventing, but not so good at bringing the products to market. Think about all the great and famous inventors – they died in poverty. <\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: So we have the inventive minds: are you optimistic that we can develop the technologies to cope with global problems such as climate change?
TB<\/b><\/font>: Absolutely, yes. <\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: What green technologies inspire you?
TB<\/b><\/font>: I believe that one of the biggest potential is tidal movement. You can’t stop the tide rising twice a day and the potential energy is colossal. Sunshine and wind we must harness, sure, but I believe water energy offers the greatest potential. <\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: Something you could put your inventive mind to?
TB<\/b><\/font>: I’m going to stay focussed on what I’m best at – wind up technology!<\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: Your new wind up Mini Eco Radio has arrived in the era of the iPod, is this why you delivered something so compact?
TB<\/b><\/font>: Well that is just it! The new wind up radios are extremely energy-efficient, and run for a considerable amount of time. New technology is getting better and energy requirements smaller – I’m improving the designs all the time. You can’t see the circuits these days, as they are lost in a chip. Wind up technology is going forward and there are some blinding new products coming through. We’re also looking at ‘satnavs’ and wind up phones. <\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: You didn’t come up with the idea of the wind up radio until you were 60. What were you doing before then?
TB<\/b><\/font>: I’ve always followed my heart. It’s like kids on skateboards, we don’t always understand why they do it, but they do (laughs). I was a stuntman for most of my life and I worked in the Berlin circus as an underwater escape act. I’ve always done what gives me a buzz.<\/p>\n

ES<\/b>: What’s in the future for you Trevor?
TB<\/b><\/font>: I want to continue to help inventors – it’s my first love – and prevent others going through the same hardships that I did.  I want to make sure the ideas of today’s young inventors are properly protected from vulture capitalists. I want to bring invention as part of the national curriculum and change the image of inventors – we’re not all fruitcakes (laughs)!<\/p>\n

Trevor's latest invention, the Mini Eco Radio<\/a> is available for £24.99.<\/p>\n

This is Trevor's smallest wind-up AM\/FM radio to date, with an integrated LED torch and red LED map reading light. The Mini Eco radio is not only wind up but also solar powered and<\/b><\/i> USB rechargeable. The USB lead also lets you use the radio as a mobile phone charger. <\/p>\n

Find out more about the Trevor Baylis Mini Eco Radio here »<\/a><\/p>\n

See the complete range<\/b> of Trevor Baylis products here <\/a> »<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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