Sony's ICF-B01 emergency radio with hand crank

Thanks to Walt Mossberg, we know how important it is to keep a crank-powered radio around the house, and now Sony has joined the likes of Eton and Freeplay in offering one of these necessities to its Japanese customers. The ICF-B01 isn't as full-featured as some of the models we've seen -- for instance, it doesn't seem to charge your cellphone -- but it does manage to pack in an LED flashlight to help you change stations while you're trapped in the dark. We're not sure how much loot Sony wants for this radio, but if it's more than $30, you're probably better off stocking up on batteries for your old Walkman.

[Brendan @ May 10th 2006 10:20PM]

The better hope they licenced the crank powered radio patent from Trevor Baylis, the English guy who invented it ;-)

[Torontoguy @ May 10th 2006 10:48PM]

For a real emergency radio the Kaito KA008 is a better bet. It has 4 power options. You can plug it in. If the power goes out, you can run it on batteries. If the batteries die, you can run it off the built-in solar panel and if the sun isn't shining, you have crank dynamo power. It also covers not only AM and FM but the shortwave bands as well.
http://www.kaitousa.com/KA007D.htm

[Sean @ May 10th 2006 11:24PM]

Per your previous article on Mossberg's review:

"Eton (really Grundig)"

Eton is NOT "really Grundig."

Per Wikipedia:

"...the Alba/Beko consortium retain control of Grundig, although in the United States, products marketed under the Grundig brand are manufactured by the Eton Corporation (formerly Lextronix), based in Palo Alto, California."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grundig

Hence, Grundig is really Eton, not the other way around.

[Copperhead @ May 10th 2006 11:54PM]

I believe I saw a release price for this as $54 US.

[RP @ May 11th 2006 1:34AM]

Bwahahaha....You gotta be joking me. I can get something similar at the local drug store for about $15. I guess Sony needs something to fall back on after their PS3 pisses the whole company down the drain next year.

[Roygbiv @ May 11th 2006 1:57AM]

Yeah, its expected price is 6000 yen, which is around $55. But at least it does charge cellphones (given that you use one of the four Japanese carriers, that is).

[M @ May 11th 2006 2:07AM]

It�s not necessarily an "emergency" radio. These sort of radios have been sold in Africa for people who have no electricity and who often can�t afford to buy batteries.

[tekdroid @ May 11th 2006 3:54AM]

It�s not necessarily an "emergency" radio. These sort of radios have been sold in Africa for people who have no electricity and who often can�t afford to buy batteries.
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In other words, an emergency :p

[Peter from Belgium @ May 11th 2006 5:29AM]

Sony has made a hand-cranked radio for several years already, It differs from the original concept by not winding a spring but simply charging an internal battery if you crank it fast enough, so I don't think Trevor Baylis will get all wound up.

[eoin @ May 11th 2006 6:22AM]

It�s not necessarily an "emergency" radio. These sort of radios have been sold in Africa for people who have no electricity and who often can�t afford to buy batteries.
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In other words, an emergency :p

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Tekdroid - Classic comeback lol

[Vince @ May 11th 2006 6:27AM]

I've been looking for something like this, nice and small, cheap with a speaker and no batteries.
My music collection only comes out when I'm drunk, cd's mp3 or vinyl, and headphones cut you off from the world.
A small radio that always works will be a nice accompaniment to my lazy days by the river watching the world go by.
Shame it's not digital.

[Richard @ May 11th 2006 7:07AM]

I got one with a flash light on clearance for US $20 at Eddie Bower and another for US$12 at Staples. the staples one has Weather band, AM and FM the other just AM and FM they have been used sevberal times when the grid went down and are certanly a must have for any household or office, the next one I get will have more bands I am leaning on this one http://www.kaitousa.com/dynamo.htm

[Shmoe @ May 11th 2006 2:43PM]

This thing's going to hold up real well in an emergency.
Snap goes the flimsy plastic handle.

[Perrey Z. @ May 11th 2006 3:52PM]

I have a Philips AE100 and although it doesn't pack a built-in flashlight is more stylish that this thing. Having one of these "cranky" is A-MUST during the hurricane season.

[Lee Augustine @ Mar 20th 2007 11:52PM]

I'm still looking for a crank radio that is also solar, has a flashlight and can charge a cellphone. How's that for paranoia.

[Spyvie @ Jun 28th 2007 11:33PM]

I have a Grundig with similar specs I bought at Circut City 4 or 5 years ago, I've never bought batteries for it.

Sometimes I crank myself to sleep...(Not that there's anything wrong with that)

[robinsunnyside @ Mar 16th 2009 7:29PM]

I own both the Grundig FR-200 and the Sony ICF-B01, there is NO comparison! The Grundig "might" last 10 minutes, but the Sony will last hours with same amount of cranking! I cranked the Sony last night @11pm for ~ 1-2 mins and it was still running when I woke up this morning!