One hundred years ago this month, the May 1923 issue of Radio Topics magazine’s cover featured twenty-year-old actress Billie Dove, who was evidently a radio enthusiast. She had begun her career a few years earlier as part of the Zigfield Follies, and had moved to silent, and then talking, motion pictures.
She was later engaged to radio amateur Howard Hughes, W5CY, but it was she who broke off the relationship. She died in 1997.
This busy looking wartime shop at 131 East 34th Street, New York, was actually two stores. Shown at the left is Woody, the proprietor of Woody’s Radio Service. At the right is O. Saporta, owner of a business that sold music and records, and had recently started carrying greeting cards.
Woody’s business kept him very occupied, as he specialized in servicing hotels and apartments in the “high class section” of the city. His clientele consisted of many of the best-known people in New York. In addition, he did work for the Merchant Marine, and serviced “Muzak” in hotels.
Saporta, with whom he shared the store, was well known in New York music circles, according to the May 1943 issue of Radio Retailing, where the picture appeared.
Fifty years ago, this British family stayed connected thanks to this three-transistor (one germanium, two silicon) intercom, from the May 1973 issue of Everyday Electronics. The set was tested with a range of fifty feet, and the author believed that it would perform well over a much longer connection. Similar commercial units were available, but the cost of materials (about three pounds) of this project was considerably lower.
The master unit used a spring-loaded push to talk switch.
Seventy years ago, this high fidelity salesperson didn’t need to work hard to make a sale. The equipment practically sold itself, thanks to the “Audiomat” from Asco Sound Corporation. It would accommodate up to ten tuners, twenty amplifiers, and twenty speakers, all of which could be compactly mounted. Then, at a touch of the button, the salesperson would seamlessly switch from one to the other.
To allow the customer to hear how the equipment would sound at home, the store would have a separate den-sized listening room, with a smaller version of the Audiomat. From there, the customer could make the final decision of what equipment would best suit their needs.
The picture and accompanying article are from the May 1953 issue of Radio News.
Seventy-five years ago today, the May 10, 1948 issue of Life magazine showed Philco’s lineup of radios. Offerings started with the model 200 for $19.95 and models 250 and 225 for $27.95. At the top of the line was the model 230 “flying wedge” for $29.95.
Two portables are shown, both capable of operating on AC or DC home current, or batteries. The four-tube model 602 was only $29.95, and the six-tube model 360, the “world’s favorite portable” was $49.95. Neither price included batteries.
Occasionally, we encounter a concept that is ungoogleable, and today is one of those times. Shown here from 1963 is the combination radio-cigarette lighter. But if you try to Google that phrase, it’s an exercise in frustration, since no matter how to phrase it, and no matter where you put the quotation marks, all you get are radios that can be run off 12 volts from a car cigarette lighter. But the May 1963 issue of Popular Science showed the real deal–a cigarette lighter, no larger than an ordinary cigarette lighter, but containing a two-transistor radio. The radio turned itself on when you plugged in the earphone, and the lighter came to life when you gave it a flick. As shown here, you could use both at the same time.
It was available by mail order for $9.95 from one L. Branvold, 5718 Troost Ave., North Hollywood, California.
Mr. Branvold was apparently a home-based entrepreneur, long before that was a thing, since the address is residential. He would have been successful advertising on our website, since he seemed to find the kinds of products our readers would like. For example, shown at left is another ad for a timer that attaches to the dial of your phone, to make sure those long distance calls don’t drag on past the first three minutes. It’s even self-winding, since it winds itself every time you dial the phone.
Some links are affiliate links, meaning that this site earns a small commission if you make a purchase after using the link.
Eighty years ago this month, the British Popular Wireless magazine carried the plans for this pocket-sized one tube receiver for the “ultra-short waves.” While the exact frequency range is not stated, the author reports having pulled in several American nd European stations on the 16 meter band, all with a four-foot aerial. The set was very sensitive, but like superregens in general, was not very selective. This, however, was said not to be a disadvantage, since the tuning dial need not be geared. Once the station was tuned in, it was tuned in.
The article warned that the value of the grid lead resistor must not be too low, as this would cause the set to radiate. In addition to being against the law, this would cause interference to other listeners.
Every audience loves an accordion solo, as judged by the applause from this audience at a talent show. But the May 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics stresses the need to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Therefore, the magazine showed how to make this electronic applause meter to register its impartial judgment as to the amount of applause, thus removing all questions of fairness and suggestions of favoritism. The simple three-tube circuit was just the ticket for amateur shows, parties, school affairs, contests, and similar group activities. It could also be used in noise studies in places such as factories or offices.
An 8 inch speaker was pressed into service as the microphone. The amplifier was such that the gain decreased with the increase in sound level, making the output approximately logarithmic, just like the human ear. The meter was in the plate circuit of the second stage of amplification.
Of course, as with most electronic devices, the prices are much lower today. If you need an applause meter for your next talent show, you can easily find one on Amazon. You have the choice of the inexpensive handheld model, or to make sure there’s no suggestion of favoritism, you can put up one of the large displays so that the audience can see for themselves:
Some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning that this site earns a small commission if you make a purchase after using the link.
One hundred years ago, the status of radio on the farm was no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The May 1923 issue of Popular Mechanics carried this guide for farmers to acquire, install, and operate that necessary piece of equipment.
The magazine pointed out thaqt thousands of farm boys had built their own set, and a set with a range of up to 1000 miles was a feasible project, and plans had appeared in earlier issues of the magazine. The magazine pointed out, however, that many sets covered wavelengths of 150-400 meters (750 kHz to 2 MHz), but that official weather and market reports were carried on 485 meters (618 kHz). Therefore, if a homebuilt set were to be used, extra turns of the coil would be required. And the following stern advice was given if a set was to be purchased: “Never purchase a set on the assumption, or on the verbal assurance that it is suitable for receiving market reports; insist that the dealer demonstrate this capacity by actually ‘bringing in’ these reports.”
The article gave pointers on setting up the antenna and ground, and also reminded farmers of the importance of noting them down carefully so that the reports from various stations can be compared. In fact, “it will be found that it is very convenient to have a blackboard mounted on the wall near the set, so that the items and figures can be jotted down as they are received.”
War or no war, this family were wired, thanks to the audio amplifier shown in the May 1943 issue of Popular Mechanics. They were proud supporters of the USO, as shown by the sticker on thier car. And if you look carefully, you’ll see a star in the window, indicating that they have a son in the service.
The magazine acknowledged that the “breadboard” design was designed primarily as a classroom project, it would also serve useful purposes in schools, homes, and workshops. This housewife placed the amplifier on the kitchen counter, with wires running to various parts of the house to call the family back for lunch. This was accomplished with a single run of wire to the speakers, with the return taken care of with a good ground connection at both ends.
The amplifier could also be used for a phonograph or a one or two tube radio, putting out 1.5 watts of audio.
