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Dr. tech. Dipl. Ing. Hermann Berger
Berger, also known as Berger Funk, as Dr. Techn. Berger GmbH,
and as Berger Arel,
was an electronics company in Innsbruck and Wien (Austria),
established shortly after WWII, in August 1945, by Dr. Hermann Berger
(14 January 1913 - 16 August 1993).
The company produced radio equipment for the post-war Austrian government
and others, and also manufactured some of the components that were
in short supply after the war. The company existed until 1965,
after which Hermann Berger worked for Valvo (Philips)
in Hamburg (Germany) until his retirement in 1978 [1].
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Berger equipment on this website
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Hermann Berger was born In Innsbruck (Austria) on 14 January 1913.
His father, who was an electronics engineer, died two years later
during WWI (1914-1918) at the Italian front. Hermann was fascinated
by technology and radio in particular, and built his first detector
receiver in 1926 at the age of 13.
In 1929, he was one of the first in Austria who managed to receive live
television images from London, using a homemade Nipkow disk.
Not a small achievement for a 16 year old.
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In 1930, Berger goes to university and eventually becomes an Electronic
Engineer (German: tech. Dipl. Ing.) in 1937. His first job is at
C. Lorenz, where he is appointed head of the valve lab a year later.
During his time at Lorenz, he registers no less than 45 patents.
He continues to work for Lorenz throughout WWII.
In the meantime, Berger had become interested in amateur radio.
He joins the amateur radio club, learns morse code and finally takes
a test. In 1934 he receives the call sign OE7HB, which he will use
for the rest of his life.
At the end of WWII, in 1945, he is marched home on foot to Innsbruck in
a 600 km walk. A few months later he establishes his first company
in the half-destroyed house where he was born at
Speckbacherstraße 27. Here, Berger repairs equipment and
even starts manufacturing parts that were in short supply in
post-war Austria, such as wire-wound resistors.
A year later, in 1946, he opens a branch in Wien (Vienna).
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Although Berger is extremely busy with his company, he completes
his thesis and becomes Doctor in 1947, 10 years after he became
an Engineer.
In 1948, Berger starts the development of a 100 Watt transmitter that
would become known as the BE-01/1. That same year, he also develops
the BE-20/1 prototype of a
modular spy radio set for the French Army.
Between 1949 and 1952, 100 of these sets are manufactured.
In the following years, Berger continues to innovate, and regularly
introduces new radio sets and other equipment, such as alarm systems,
until the tide turns. In 1956, he is forced to close down his company
and takes up a management position at Valvo (Philips) in Hamburg
(Germany), where he is responsible for 12 more patents. Finally,
in 1978, Hermann Berger retires at the age of 65.
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BE-01/1 100W SW radio station - SW spy radio set
BE-11187 100W SW radio station for B-Gendarmerie - BE-11206
BE-11460 VHF FM Bergophon 70-87.5 MHz (1960-1964) BE-11560 VHF FM Bergophon 156-174 MHz (1960-1964)
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1913
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Born
Hermann Berger born on 14 January 1913
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1915
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Father dies
Berger's father dies at the Italian front
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1926
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First experiments
Berger builds his first detector receiver at the age of 13.
A year later he even built his first single-valve radio.
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1929
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TV
At one of the first in the country, Berger succeeds in receiving moving
images from London, using a homemade Nipkow disk.
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1930
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University
Start studying at Vienna University.
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1931
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Amateur radio
Interested in Amateur Radio.
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1932
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PTT test
Completed amateur radio test.
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1934
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OE7HB
Berger receives his amateur radio licence, and gets call sign OE7HB.
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1937
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Tech. Dipl. Ing.
Berger finishes university and get the official title of Electronics
Engineer.
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1938
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Lorenz
Started working for C. Lorenz.
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1939
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Valve lab
Becomes head of valve lab.
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1945
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Innsbruck
End of WWII. Foot-march home.
Establishes his own company in Innsbruck (Austria).
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1946
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Vienna
Extra division opened in Wien (Vienna, Austria).
Development of 100 Watt BE-01/1 transmitter started.
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1947
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Dr. Hermann Berger
Hermann Berger becomes Dr. Hermann Berger.
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1948
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BE-01/2
Development of BE-01/2 transmitter. Between 1948 and 1950,
20 units are sold to the French Army. Also in 1948, the BE-20/1
prototype is developed, resulting in an order for 100 units.
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1953
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BE-11187
Started building the BE-11187 short wave station for the B-Gendarmerie.
Between 1953 and 1956, 100 units with an output power of 100 Watts
are delivered to the B-Gendarmerie, and an even larger number of 50 Watt
variants to radio amateurs.
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1960
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BE-11560FM
Introduction of the small BE-11560FM VHF radio, also known as Olympiagerät (Alympia device). 100 units sold to the police.
In production until 1964.
Also around this time is the development of a television set
under the name AREL.
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1965
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Demise
Berger closes down the company and starts working for Valvo (Philips)
in Hamburg.
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1978
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Retirement
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1993
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Death
On 16 August 1993, Dr. Hermann Berger dies at the age of 80.
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© Crypto Museum. Last changed: Tuesday, 03 July 2018 - 07:10 CET.
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![Hermann Berger with his beloved portable radio set BE-11206. [2][3]](img/berger_be11206.jpg)