VOLUME 15               APRIL 1998                NUMBER  4

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

From Antique Radio Classified for April 1998
(Copyright 1996-8 by John V. Terrey - For personal use only.)

Everything is fine at A.R.C. The Ides of March passed without incident, and heavy pre-April showers bode well for an early spring. Furthermore, our new staff members have settled in and become part of the A.R.C. family.

Many of you have heard their names and very different accents on the telephone. Tammy DeGray, a New Englander, has taken over Lisa Friedrichs' duties as office manager. Lisa gave Tammy a tutorial or two, and that was all that was necessary. Within a few weeks she was managing this sometimes unwieldy job, as well as the big Radio XXIX meet in Westford, Mass "trial by fire" it's called and she survived!

Our callers from southern states must feel right at home when they hear Laura Katz's soft tones. Laura is from North Carolina, and she and her husband moved here a few months ago when he took a job with Iris Corp.

A graduate in English from the University of North Carolina with experience in journalism, Laura joins our editorial staff. In particular, she replaces Chris Frederickson in handling club news, so all you club organizers should keep her well supplied with information.

Personnel changes often lead to realignment of existing staff jobs. When Scott Young left us for "Corporate America," Cindie Bryan was the obvious choice to add his job as production manager to her own as advertising manager. Though her office door sign says, "Cindie Bryan Housemother," we now call her, "Superwoman."

People may come and go, but old radio dogs never die. Take Nipper, who rises again and again. Just when we think we've said all there is to say about that wily critter, he surfaces one more time, as in our lead story. We were inundated with newspaper clippings about the preservation of the RCA Nipper building in Camden, N. J., while other RCA buildings were imploded around him. We just had to pass the story on to those of you not in range of the Philadelphia or New Jersey papers.

Once again Dave Crocker presents an article on an unusual find. His Clarophone is a horn speaker which can be overlooked by collectors because it appears to belong in a cabinet rather than what it is a stand-alone horn speaker. The idea that it is shaped like Caruso's throat should give you opera buffs pause.

The GE K-52 , a 1933, 5-tube cathedral, is the subject of another of Richard Arnold's short but informative pieces. And in an article on capacitance measuring, Ben Miller offers tips on improving the accuracy of capacitor testers when measuring values lower than 500 pf. Ben explains how to build inexpensive adaptors to help solve this problem.

Your editor recalls that he and other collectors gathered around Phil Harris' "Whatzit" at Radiofest '96. Phil's article says that his machine is still a mystery, so we're calling it a "home-brew sculpture."

Two auctions, a day apart--one in Connecticut, the other in Missouri--are reported by Ray Chase and Ron Ramirez. These two reporters do a great job for you A.R.C. readers they know how much you appreciate these reports, and they just do it without prompting. Thanks, Ray and Ron.In the Connecticut auction, several early battery sets sold in the $100 range. Perhaps the most striking item was the combination fireplace/radio/phonograph/bar selling at $170. Quite a creation!

In the Missouri auction, Zeniths were the hot tickets at least six sold for over $100. The real winner was a Zenith 15U270 console selling at $1,900. What could make this set worth $1,900? Answer: ca 1938, 15 tubes, 4 bands, both 6" and 12" speakers, and electric automatic tuning. Obviously, this auction proves that quality items bring good prices.

Photo Review contains some very unusual items this month. One is an Amrad 3500-U receiver consisting of six separate boxes a rare find. And you have to see the Tun-A-Loop to believe it. It has multiple loops that swing and revolve on a Bakelite base.

Radio Miscellanea reflects welcome feedback on articles and questions asked in previous issues. Serge Krauss' letter refers to the December article about Zenith. His conversation with Al Morgan, cofounder of Adams-Morgan Co., sheds more light on the Adams-Morgan/CRL dispute over the use of the name "Paragon" on their similar products. It is interesting to think that Paul Godley, the Adams-Morgan designer, felt that for his product, the word was an exaggeration.

A question about tube repair in the February issue led to Byron Bernor's helpful description of his successful use of Super Glue. And, of course, the internet discussion goes on. Larry Dowell puts it succinctly when he suggests that the internet is hard to ignore.

Area Code Change. Some folks haven't noticed our change of area code on the masthead and in other spots in the magazine. So, here it is 978. Please make the change on your list of "important telephone numbers."

Coming Radio Events. As always, when spring rolls around, we have many events to look forward to in radioland. Swap meets loom large in New Hampshire, Kentucky, Washington, Virginia, and elsewhere. The Colorado Radio Collectors and the Indiana Historical Radio Society will hold 3-day meets in April. As usual, we urge you to find an event near you and enjoy the camaraderie and the pleasure of the search.

Happy collecting,

John V. Terrey, Editor

ON THE COVER

Our cover photo was contributed by Charles W. Rhodes, who acquired the Chinese power triode in Bejing, China, several years ago. Rhodes was unable to get any electrical data on this tube, but believes that it must have been made before the Communists took over. Since it has no identifying marks, he guesses that it was custom-made for a rich warlord. The tube stands about 7 1/2" tall, and its base resembles a Taylor transmitter tube base. Note the plate cap at the top. Unfortunately, the tube is gassy, but it is a work of art and enjoyable to look at even now.

See Radio Miscellanea for more information on this fascinating item.