'Very Early Yaesu Musen Co. Amateur Radio Equipment - The first Transmiter, model FL-10/40'

Below is a photo of Yaesu Musen Co's first amateur radio product, the monoband 40 metre 10/40 watt crystal controlled mechanical filter transmitter, model FL-10/40.

Covering a frequency range of 7.1 to 7.15 MHz using crystal control and having a built-in power supply, the FL-10/40 was available in two power output versions. A 10 watt unit used one 6BQ6 tube as its final power amplifier, while a 6DQ5 was used in the 40 watt FL-10/40. VOX transmit control was available as a factory installed optional extra. Size was 300 x 180 x 250 mm and the FL-10/40 was finished in a grey cackle paint. The FL-10/40 shown above is a Mark 1 version which remained in production from 1959 until late 1963.

By early 1964 a Mark 2 version of the FL-10/40 was on the market, however it was dropped not long afterwards in favour of the 5 band FL-20 and FL-100 crystal controlled transmitters. Also helping to push the FL-10/40 out of production was Yaesu's new 5 band VFO controlled transmitter, the FL-100B, which appeared in early 1964. Price of the FL-10/40, 10 watt version, was 24,800 Yen, equivalent to approximately 40 Australian 1964 Pounds.


Shown above are two FL-10/40 ads which appeared in Japanese CQ magazine. The Mark 1 unit on the left featured in a mid 1963 issue while the Mark 2 unit on the right appeared in an early 1964 copy.

Fred Bail passed away in the late 1970's, Jim Bail passed away in the early 1980's. Following Fred's passing their company was sold to Stan Roberts of Teletramel, who continued to run Bail Electronic Services into the early 1990's from the Victorian country town of Wangaratta.

The author would be happy to hear from anybody who has very early Yaesu equipment, such as FL-20 Mark's 1 and 2, or FL-100B Mark's 1 and 2. By way of some background information on the author, he was employed by Bail Electronic Services from the late 1960's through to 1977, after which Greg Whiter formed the company GFS Electronic Imports, of which he is still a director today.

Any comments on this web site should be directed to the author, Greg Whiter at : gfs@alphalink.com.au

Next Page - Yaesu Musen / VK3YS /VK3ABA QSL Cards

Other Pages at this site, include: FL-10/40 Details, FL-20 Circuit and photos, BES 1974 Staff Photo, Yaesu/VK3YS/VK3ABA QSL Cards, FL-50 Magazine Review and photos, Photo and details of Yaesu's first SSB Transceiver, the 1966 released solid state FT-100, The Yaesu Museum (German Site)

	Shown at left are Fred Bail, VK3YS and Jim Bail, VK3ABA. At right are depicted various Bail logos.