VOLUME 22               NOVEMBER 2005                NUMBER  11

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

From Antique Radio Classified for November 2005
(Copyright 1996-2005 by John V. Terrey - For personal use only.)

Ralph Larson's grin on our cover this month characterizes the success of the Antique Radio Club of Illinois August Radiofest. This 25th anniversary event reversed the downward trend so many clubs are experiencing. At Radiofest, the highest number of vendors in five years was registered and a new high was reached in club membership.

How this club is able to achieve this turnaround is shown by their determination to act where action is needed. Two such examples are the shifting of their show from a mid-week start to a Thursday afternoon start, and encouraging the public to attend. In fact, there is no admission fee for buyers.

Read Daniel Schoo's detailed report for even more activities at this show. Many reached beyond the club itself, such as twenty-three Radio Merit Badges earned by Boy Scouts and an operating amateur radio station. This success was achieved even though the show was forced to move to new location this year. Many other radio collecting organizations also are evolving and realizing benefits. Hats off to ARCI for their success!

Returning to radio collecting itself, Phil MacAuthur writes about his collection of battery operated radios. Seven of his favorites from the 1950s and 1960s are shown in his article.

Richard Arnold writes about the Sears Silvertone "Powr Shiftr." This 1940s battery eliminator is a different breed from those produced in the 1920s. Since in the 1940s, a plug/socket combination was used to connect a radio to the battery, a socket could be incorporated on the powr shiftr, making it a plug and play accessory.

John Kaetz responds to Ray Bintliff's capacitor articles with even more tips for use in radio repair.

Powell Crosley always seemed to be ahead of the curve when it came to understanding what interested the public. Always the consummate salesman, he used the advancing technology of aircraft to sell his products. Dave Crocker writes about Crosley's twin-engine, luxury amphibian plane, and how he used it to deliver radios to dealers. Crosley even offered free rides to buyers. Photo Review this month shows an early crystal detector, a 45 rpm radio/phonograph, an early Henry Kloss loudspeaker and offerings by Amrad, Browning and Zenith.

A.R.C. Benefits. Continue to take advantage of our toll-free number (866) 371-0512; acceptance of Discover, MasterCard, American Express, Visa; our website at www.antiqueradio.com; books shipped free in the U. S. by USPS media mail; and a 10 percent discount on book orders for current subscribers. Coming Radio Events. Multi-day events this month include the VRPS Convention in Texas, the SCARS Annual Meeting in California, and the VTV Expo, also in California. You might also consider the thirty-five other radio collector events. I urge you to support your radio collecting organizations and try to attend at least one of these events.

Happy Collecting!

John V. Terrey, Editor

ON THE COVER

ON THE COVER Ralph Larson is shown with a 1956 RCA Model 8PT70 TV that he was offering for sale at the Antique Radio Club of Illinois 25th anniversary Radiofest in Bolingbrook, Illinois. A full report on this event begins on page six.