Author Archives: clem.law@usa.net

EICO 753, “Seven Drifty Three” Review, 1966

Eico753

Fifty years ago, the February-March 1966 issue of Radio TV Experimenter magazine published a review of the Eico 753. This was a bare-bones SSB and CW (with AM tossed in as an  afterthought) transceiver for 80, 40, and 20 meters. I happen to own one of these monsters, and it’s actually a nice radio for what it is. I’ve worked DX with it, and I even took it with me on a mini-DXpedition to YV-land. I worked a few stateside stations from there, and even worked Europe on 40 phone.

The review was generally favorable, concluding that “so far, the EICO 753 stacks up as the best ham transceiver buy for 1966.

The radio is affectionately known as the “Seven Drifty Three” for its propensity to drift. The review covers this point:

After a 15 minute warmup the EICO 753’s stability was well within the specified 400 cycles–in fact, we were able to work relatively long contacts with but one or two tuning corrections (done with the receiver offset). We must allow for the other ham’s station having some drift.

In 1966, the radio sold in kit form for $179.95, $299.95 wired. Unless you had a power supply, you would need that as well. The AC supply with speaker sold for $79.95 in kit form, $109.95 wired. Mobile power supplies were available for the same price.

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Lola Schofield, WMBB Chicago, 1926

LolaSchofieldIn an earlier post, we covered WMBB radio, which broadcast from the Trianon Ballroom, the “World’s Most Beautiful Ballroom” from 1925 to 1928. Shown here is more of the station’s on air talent, Lola Schofield. This picture appeared in the March 13, 1926, issue of Radio Digest, which noted that she helped make the station’s programs pleasant with her dramatic soprano voice. The station concluded its broadcasts with the cast singing, “W-M-B-B Chi-ca-go,” an early example of a station jingle.

Shown below is more of the station’s talent, “Dell Lampe’s Syncopators,” which, according to the caption, could always be depended upon to provide lively dance music.

wmbb

 

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Radio Scouting, 1916

9UZ1916Shown here in the March 1916 issue of Boys’ Life magazine is the wireless transmitting and receiving apparatus of Boy Scout Troop 4, Covington, Kentucky. According to the magazine, the station was owned and operated by the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, Austin Edwards. The troop’s scoutmaster was listed as Mr. Nelson J. Edwards.

According to the 1916 Call Book, Austin N. Edwards of 99 East 4th Street, Covington, Kentucky, was the holder of call sign 9UZ.

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Meissner 9-1081 2-1/2 Meter Transceiver

Meissner91081The 1941 issue of the Radio Handbook carried this ad for the Meissner Model 9-1081 2-1/2 Meter Transceiver.

This portable transceiver covered the 2-1/2 meter band, 110-120 MHz, and was reportedly built to withstand the abuse of portable service. It contained a compartment for microphone, headphone, and log book, and ad a built-in telescoping antenna.

The set measured twelve inches high, eleven inches wide, and 6-1/4 inches deep. It weighed 13 pounds without batteries.

Few details were given in the ad, and I haven’t been able to find any reference to a surviving example of this early portable. I suspect that the set was similar to the 5 meter transceiver I wrote about earlier, in that it probably used the same tube as both a superregenerative receiver and transmitter.

A later ad shows the price as $34.50.

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1936 Zenith Car Radio

1936CarRadio

This advertisement from the March 1936 issue of Radio Today shows a Zenith car radio.

The ad touts Zenith as producing “America’s safest auto radio,” and details some of the safety features. The tuning and volume controls are mounted on the steering column to keep the driver from having to fumble with the actual radio, which would be mounted somewhere else under the dash.

The dial pointer on the large “safety dial” was illuminated, but only when the dial was actually being turned. The dial was viewable at any angle, with never any glare to blind the driver.

The ad in this trade publication was directed at dealers, and reminded them that this radio sold fast!

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1916 Boys’ Life Heliograph

Heliograph1A hundred years ago this month, the March 1916 issue of Boys’ Life magazine carried the plans for this simple heliograph.  This device is capable of signalling many miles, depending of course on the altitude and whether the sun is shining.  It allows the sender to flash signals using any code, although the article recommends use of the Morse code.

The heliograph consists of a mirror with a hole drilled through it (for sighting).  Drilling the hole through glass was probably the most difficult part of the process, as the article points out that “any optician will drill the hole for you for a quarter or less.”

The construction details are rather straightforward, as shown by the illustration below.  To use, the sender first sights the receiving station by looking through the hole, and lining the stick in front up with the destination.  Then, the mirror is adjusted so that the sun is focused on the stick.  To send, a card is simply placed in front of the mirror and raised to send a flash.

Heliograph2

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1936 Tube Tester

1936TubeTester

Shown here is one of the tools of the trade of the radio serviceman 80 years ago, as shown in the March 1936 issue of Service magazine.

From the Precision Apparatus Corporation, this is the Electonometer Model 500 tube tester.

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1943 Wartime Intercom

1943RadioIntercom

This intercom from the March 1943 issue of Radio News shows the kind of ingenuity that was necessary in the face of wartime shortages on the home front.

The article notes that with defense priorities, many small business firms were in need of interoffice communications but unable to get them. The only immediate answer, according to the article, was to make a small radio do double duty.

The article describes a four-station intercom constructed with a six-tube table radio. The only additional parts, all of which were available at the “radio bargain counter” were nine switches, four speakers, and a roll of shielded cable. The hookup allowed for the station with the radio to serve as the master, able to call or receive calls from the other stations. As an added bonus, any of the four remotes could listen to the radio, but stil l make calls.

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1926 Popular Mechanics Crystal Set

1926MarPM

Ninety years ago, the March 1926 issue of Popular Mechanics carried the plans for this simple crystal set. The unique twist about this set was how it was tuned. Two metal plates (made from the lids of tin cans) were positioned such that the coil could be slid in and out. To tune the set, you simply slid it to the correct position.

The article noted that the set had selectivity sufficient to tune out a strong station a few miles away.  The total cost for the parts was fifty cents.

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Signs, Signals, and Codes Merit Badge

SSC

semaphoreI’m a counselor in the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America for the relatively new Signs, Signals, and Codes Merit Badge.  I’ll be doing my first session for this merit badge this weekend, and I put together a collection of various cheat sheets to give the scouts.

If other counselors are interested in having a copy, I have a PDF at my website.  Most of this same information is available in the merit badge pamphlet, but not all scouts will have a copy, and it will be helpful to have all of the references in one place.

The merit badge covers a lot of interesting material, and should be of interest to scouts.  It’s also one that one counselor cannot adequately handle.  I’m an expert on Morse Code, but I’ll be relying on outside experts to help me with subjects such as semaphore and American Sign Language.  Many other subjects are also covered, including trail signs, silent scout signals (although “silent scout” is an oxymoron), nautical flags, and even emoticons.

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