Author Archives: clem.law@usa.net

1945 Three Tube All Band Regen

Eighty years ago this month, the November 1945 issue of Radio Craft carried the plans for this 3-tube all-wave receiver, which covered 4-1/2 through 665 meters (450 kHz through 67 MHz) with the use of plug-in coils.

The three-tube set had one stage of untuned RF amplification, courtesy of a 6K7 tube. One half of the 6C8 served as regenerative detector, with the other half as the first AF stage. The loudspeaker was driven by a 32L7, with the other half of that tube serving as rectifier. The line voltage to the filaments was dropped through a 40-50 watt lightbulb. A cylindrical bulb was recommended to save space, or a 250 ohm 25 watt resistor could be used.  Bias for the final amp was a flashlight battery, which would last almost indefinitely.

According to the author, the set had tuned in Africa, Australia, China, England, and Japan. Since it also tunes “UHF”, (as high as 67 MHz), local reception of FM (on the prewar band), TV sound, and police was possible.



June Marlowe, 1925

Shown here, from the November 1925 issue of Radio Age, is actress June Marlowe.  She is probably best remembered for her role as teacher Miss Crabtree in the Our Gang/Little Rascalsshort features of the 1930s. She had also acted in silent films, but the magazine billed her as Radio’s Prettiest Announcer. It appears, however, that she had little professional involvement in radio.

The magazine notes that she had been won over by radio, and quoted her as saying, “it is so vast and awe-inspiring.” It reported that she put such a feeling of interest into her radio presentations that her listeners acclaimed her from the start. She had acted as anouncer “for an entire evening” on KFWB, which had signed on to the Los Angeles airwaves earlier that year.

Marlowe died in 1984 at the age of 82.



Adding a Bulb to a Crystal Set: 1925

One hundred years ago, in the November 1925 issue of Boys’ Life, radio editor Zeh Bouck apparently realized that many scouts already owned a crystal set, and were thinking of upgrading by adding a “bulb”. His column details two methods of doing exactly that. First, he discusses how to replace the crystal detector with a tube, and notes that this option is somewhat less expensive. However, his preference is the second method, namely, keeping the crystal detector as-is and adding one tube as an audio amplifier.  Parts lists are included, and the first method, replacing the detector, would set the scout back $5.80. Adding an audio amplifier would require a transformer, which could cost an additional $1.50 to $5.

He assures that both methods are just about as easy as the A, B, C’s, and he gives detailed instructions.



A Look Ahead at World War III: 1945

Eighty years ago the Second World War was barely over, but the November 19, 1945, issue of Life Magazine was making predictions of what the next war might look like. The scene above shows the ruins of the New York Public Library, as technicians measure radioactivity levels.

Specifically, the magazine reviewed the findings of Army Air Forces General Henry H. Arnold in his report to the Secretary of War. It called it the “36-hour war,” and speculated that it would begin with atomic blasts in places like London, Paris, Moscow, or Washington. The speculated attack began with rocket-launching sites built secretly by some enemy in the jungle of equatorial Africa. In an hour, they would be on American soil, but American radar could give about 30 minutes of warning.

The defense would come in the form of a a counterattack, from firing tubes of American bases deep underground. This would deliver “an immensely devastating air-atomic attack” on the enemy.

Arnold speculated that the last phase of the attack on the U.S. would be in the form of airborne troops, armed with rockets to attack far distant points. But before they arrived, the U.S. could see 40 million fatalities.

“But as it is destroyed the U.S. is fighting back. The enemy airborne troops are wiped out. U.S. rockets lay waste the enemy’s cities. U.S. airborne troops successfully occupy his country. The U.S. wins the atomic war.”



Liberty Music House Radio Club, Seattle, 1925

If you were in Seattle a hundred years ago, and you were looking for the perfect Christmas present for your family, you couldn’t go wrong signing up for the Liberty Music House Radio Club. You would simply pay five dollars per week until Christmas, at which a fully tested radio would be delivered. It was the way to be sure that a radio would be in operation in the home by Christmas.

The store was located in the Liberty Theatre Building, First Avenue near Pike.  The ad appeared a hundred years ago today in the November 19, 1925, issue of the Seattle Star.



1950 Television Excise Tax

If you were thinking of being an early adopter and getting a television 75 years ago, it might behoove you to act fast, since Congress had just enacted a 10% excise tax.  But if you acted fast, you could get one without the tax, as reminded by this ad in the November 18, 1950, issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from the Hahn Furniture store.

This handsome Philco 17-inch set also featured a three-speed phonograph, all for $379.95.



1925 Record Sales Methods: The Audak System

1925One hundred years ago, times had changed in the record business, and the progressive record dealer had abandoned old-fashioned, profit-absorbing methods. Instead, they had adjusted to modern conditions by getting the Audak System, from the Audak Co., 565 Fifth Avenue, New York.

Instead of expensive booths, customers could privately listen to records they might want to buy the Autek units, six of which could be put in the place of the old-fashioned booths.

The ad appeared in the November, 1925, issue of Talking Machine World. Of course, very soon, most customers would probably reviewing records by listening to them on the radio.



POTA/WWFF Activation, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, SD

This morning, I did a Parks On The Air (POTA) and World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF) activation of Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve,  a state park in North Sioux City, South Dakota.  I was returning home after presenting a Continuing Legal Education program in neighboring Sioux City, Iowa,  The most direct route home would have kept me in Iowa, but I couldn’t resist adding a few miles to my drive and activating a park in the “rare” state of South Dakota.

The 1500-acre park along the Missouri River contains about 10 miles of trails, as well as an archery range.  It also features a number of historic buildings, including the original homestead, other cabins, a church and a school.  Admission is free.   Most of the buildings and visitor center are closed on weekends, but the grounds are fully accessible.

I started on 15 meters, which sounded relatively quiet, so I quickly switched to 20 meters.  FT8 results weren’t very promising, with only one QSO.

Since CW gets through no matter what, I switched to 20 CW, where I made 20 contacts over the course of an hour.  My best DX was NL7V in Alaska, who pulled my QRP signal out of the noise and gave me a 229 report.  I made a number of Park-to-Park (P2P) contacts, including KD8DEU, who was coincidentally just down the Missouri River from me at Blanchette Landing Access State Conservation Area in Missouri.

I was operating from my car, with my zBitX, with a Hamstick on the car.  As you can see from the maps below, I was getting out on both FT8 and CW.  The FT8 map from PSK Reporter has fewer spots than I would have expected, whereas the CW map from Reverse Beacon Network is pretty typical.

FT8 Signal Reports from PSK Reporter

CW Spots from ReverseBeacon.net.



1955 Gaertner One-Tube Radio Kit

Shown here is a one-tube radio kit covering the broadcast band, from the Gaertner Co. of Los Angeles. The battery version was $6.95, and there was also an AC version for $8.95.

It was shown in the November 1955 issue of Popular Electronics, which stated that it could be assembled readily by someone with no previous knowledge of electronics.  The address for more information was  A & M Company, 616 S. Serrano Ave., Los Angeles.



General Television & Radio Model 534 Grand Piano Radio

Eighty-five years ago this month, the November 1940 issue of Popular Science showed off this novelty radio disguised as a miniature grand piano. The volume and tuning knobs were above the keyboard, the the speaker and tuning dial appeared below.

The magazine does not give the manufacturer, but it appears to be General Television and Radio model 534, and if you would like to restore one, it looks like it’s available on eBay.