Introduction to Electronics – Salter Science

Electronics "Connect up and switch ON" is the same as Introduction to Electronics. They are both identical and by Salter Science; however, the former is the first production with a cassette by Johnny Ball, and is more valuable, whilst Peter Pan Playthings Ltd produced the latter in 1986 after they bought Thomas Salter Ltd.

This electronics lab is ideal if you are into building crystal radios, and single transistor radios. It has a nicely matched ferrite coil and variable capacitor to produce good sensitivity.

For the transistor radio circuit, it uses the 9014 NPN silicon transistor in a TO-92 package. It is a low-level and low-noise preamplifier with an absolute maximum collector rating (Ic) of 100 mA, and DC current gain (hFE) of 1000, and it works extremely well.

Salter Science Electronics Lab

Lab Console

Tuning Capacitor

Earpiece

Connecting Wires

It comes in a polystyrene tray for organising the wires and storage. The tray is sloped at one end, and usually the lab console remains in it when building the circuits.

Cost / eBay

This was an extremely popular electronics lab and there are still plenty around in fair condition. The console part always remains in the box, and consequently many will have a damaged polystyrene tray. People also forget to return the Johnny Ball cassette back in the box. If you have a complete lab in good condition, then sell it on eBay. Many people collect these just for fun, and it could fetch a tidy sum.

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