Category Archives: Radio history

1939 British Crystal Set

1939AugPracMechEighty-five years ago this month, the August 1939 issue of the British publication Practical Mechanics showed how to build this crystal set, which it dubbed a “stand-by arrangement for emergencies.”

The magazine noted that popularity of crystal receivers was on the upward swing. One possibility was that this was due to the splendid quality of reproduction. But it noted that it probably had something to do with the fact that they were not dependent on batteries or the mains supplies. They were ideal for “A.R.P. shelters.” The article didn’t say what “A.R.P.” stood for, but it apparently meant “air raid protection.”

With more and more high powered stations on the air, it was important that a crystal set be selective, and this one was designed with that parameter in mind.

Of course, the following month, Britain was at war, so building one of these for the ARP shelter was probably a prudent idea.

1939AugPracMech2



1954 CONELRAD Alarm

1954AugPMSeventy years ago this month, the August 1954 issue of Popular Mechanics showed how to put together this CONELRAD monitor for the ham.  This one was more extravagant than most.  It was hooked into the AVC circuit of a broadcast radio, and would trigger when the station being monitored left the air.  In addition to setting an alarm, the author had it wired to automatically shut down the transmitter and switch to receive.

1954AugPM2

 



1974 Crystal Set

1974JulEEIf you built this replica of an old-time radio when it was published, then today, it really is an old-time radio. The plans appeared in the July 1974 issue of Elementary Electronics for this crystal set. According to the magazine, the set is very selective, in part because it relies upon a loop antenna, which can be rotated to null out interfering stations. It requires no external antenna or ground, which also reduces static, and means that you don’t have to worry about lightning.

It had a galena crystal and cats whisker on front. But if you got tired of searching the crystal for the sweet spot, you could cheat by moving the headphone to a different socket, which was hooked up to a germanium diode hidden inside the cabinet.

1974JulEE2



Award Winning Student Radios, 1924

1924JulRadioNewsA hundred years ago, these girls, all students at a Chicago public school, are proudly holding the radios they made in a contest. The are shown in the July 1924 issue of Radio News, which noted that they would not let the boys outdo them. The showed superior workmanship and attracted the attention of local experts.



Taking the Radio Camping, 1924

1924JulRadioAgeA hundred years ago, this father-son duo were entertaining themselves on an otherwise slow afternoon by tuning in a radio program in some distant city. They are pictured in the July, 1924, issue of Radio Age, which notes that no camping trip was complete without its radio equipment. No matter where you went, you couldn’t be so far as to not be able to pull in a broadcasting station.



1954 British One Tube Receiver

1954JulRadioConstructorSeventy years ago this month, the July 1954 issue of the British publication Radio Constructor carried the plans for this one-tube regenerative receiver for the “veriest beginner” to radio. The magazine noted that such a beginner may not yet know how to read schematics, and the the magazine thus carried Heathkit-style step-by-step instructions for wiring it up.

Future issues of the magazine would add improvements, which would ultimately result in a three-tube set.

1954JulRadioConstructor2



Arvin Model 242T “Keen-Teen” Radio, 1949

1949JunRadioRetailingSeventy five years ago, this lucky young woman (now about 92 years old) was the new owner of her very own radio, the Arvin Model 242T “Keen-Teen” radio. It was aimed at the nation’s eight million teen girls, who saw it prominently advertised in the “Back to School” issue of Seventeen magazine.

This ad, in the July 1949 issue of Radio & Television Retailing, reminded dealers that this issue of the magazine was the “Style Bible” of the school and college crowd. In addition to the magazine ad, there would be a point of sale display featuring the actual ad. They were urged to be ready when the magazine hit the newsstands on August 1. The four-tube set retailed for $14.95, which works out to $197 in 2024 dollars. But mom and dad probably cashed in a war bond, which was keen.



Broadcast Station Protection Program, 1984

1984RadioFalloutShelterShown here is some key station in the Emergency Broadcast System, after it was equipped to stay on the air after a nuclear attack. The diagram appears in a 1984 FEMA publication, Broadcast Station Protection Program, which outlined the program. Much of the hardening would be paid for by the government, such as construction of fallout shelters for station personnel, emergency generators, and remote pickup equipment to link the station back to the EOC.

The cost of stocking the station with food and supplies for the staff was the responsibility of the station owner and licensee. Facilities were designed to be adequate, although austere.



Adding Marine Band to AM Radio, 1964

1964JulPM1Sixty years ago this month, the July 1964 issue of Popular Mechanics showed how to add Marine Band (1600-3600 kHz) coverage to a standard AM radio. You simply added a switch to swap out the antenna and oscillator coils. The magazine recommended using a short wire antenna, and careful tuning. It noted that the band was alive at all hours, so you wouldn’t want for a signal.

1964JulPM2



1944 Signal Corps FM Transmitter-Receiver

1944JulRadioNewsEighty years ago this month, the July 1944 issue of Radio News featured on its cover this U.S. Army Signal Corps photo of a radio operator reporting troop movements from his concealed position. It noted that his radio was a late model FM transmitter-receiver designed for armored vehicles. The magazine noted that the set was de-mountable and occasionally set up as shown here for field service.