29/05/2026
On this day 73 years ago, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary made the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest.
But did you know their successful attemt was made with help from technology by the Pye Company?
The expedition used a Pye PTC122 Walkiephone to communicate up the mountain, and we have an example of this model on display at our Pye Museum (sadly not the actual one used at the top of the world!).
The equipment was a 6-valve crystal controlled transmitter and receiver, carried on the chest of the operator. A built-in top mounted microphone was used, together with external headphones and a flexible tape antenna. Imagine using that equipment at the top of a 8,800m mountain?
