Shown here from a hundred years ago is the 7th place winner in the “Simplest Radio Outfit Contest” shown in the December 1922 issue of Science and Invention magazine.
The self-explanatory set was designed by one George Goga, who took home a $25 prize for his entry. The magazine noted that almost all of the parts, with the exception of the headphone, could be found ayt no cost in the home junk box. A pencil forms the chassis. The eraser is removed and a galena crystal inserted in its place. The coil is wound along the pencil, with about 3/16″ of the insulation cleaned off so that the slider can contact the wire.
Mr. Goga reported that he lived several miles from station KDKA, and was able to pull in concerts clearly with a 50 foot long antenna 10 feet high.
Who has a galena Crystal in their junk drawer?
Sounds like a Monty Hall challenge
I’ll give you $100 for a 3/16 “ stainless steel bolt!!!
You can find chunks of galena in the gift shop of almost any science museum. If you can’t find it there, there’s always Amazon:
https://amzn.to/3G2cxhy
As an added bonus, the one on Amazon also has healing properties (as long as you can put up with a little lead poisoning). For other crystal set parts, be sure to check out our parts page:
http://onetuberadio.com/2014/07/14/where-to-get-crystal-set-parts/