VOLUME 13                   APRIL 1996                NUMBER  4

EDITOR'S COMMENTS

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

Though March in New England came in like a lion, there's hope for spring in the air as we go to press. Perhaps spring fever accounts for the growth in the number of events and ads advertised in this issue. The happy result is a larger issue - eight more pages than usual - allowing sixteen contributed articles, as well as Radio Miscellanea letters and Photo Review.

Our lead article features the RCA Radiola IV receiver. William Boyd's detailed account of this mid-1920, 3-tube set includes actual on-the-air listening test results. A.R.C. has supplemented Boyd's article with a couple of nuggets from your editor's collection - a Radiola IV brochure and the publicity photo on the cover.

The Ediswan crystal set, ca. 1923-24, is the subject of another of Ian Sanders' excellent articles on British crystal sets. Ian tells much about the history of Edison Swan, the manufacturer of the world's first valves in 1904 and their subsequent use by Marconi.

Harold Isenring, with his many years of Sears electronic service background, lets us in on the genesis of the name "Commentator" for the Sears Silvertone. Harold also describes several idiosyncrasies which plagued the performance of this set.

At the Houston Vintage Radio Association's Mega Auction, over 500 lots crossed the block, nearly one-half of them vacuum tubes. Proceeds of over $12,000 included a top bid of $475 for a Sentinel Catalin.

For Radio Ramblings..., Fred Geer writes in a nostalgic vein about a post-World War II console - the Philco Model 46-1209. Fred and his sister were introduced to DX-ing on its broadcast and shortwave bands.

We present six follow-ups this month, as extra space allowed us to catch up on your welcome feedback to articles, questions, and comments in previous issues.

Permeability tuning filled many of our 1994 pages, and new info on this subject continues to surface. Alan Douglas' article reveals that the choice of permeability tuning was primarily economic.

Home brew loop antennas are a Dwane Stevens special interest. He reminds us that, although a loop antenna may appear to be just several turns of wire on wooden sticks, a well designed loop, correctly matched to a receiver, results in improved set performance.

Dwayne's loop antenna concepts inspired Michael Godar to replace the rabbit ears on a modern television set with a loop antenna. Michael now manufactures and distributes the "Super Antenna."

Buford Chidester's information about a Symphonic Globe speaker with the correct and original driver provides several construction details of interest. Dick Desjarlais reports the comments of five readers on his miniature Pastime radio, shown on our May 1995 cover. The most significant point is that the circuit is a reflex circuit, not simply a TRF circuit.

Follow-ups on call letters tell how radio station formats have changed - WIBG (I Believe in God) and WBCN (Broadcast Concert Network) are now rock stations. Perhaps most amusing is Iowa station WSUI, which took its call letters from the familiar hog call.

Get your thinking caps on again. The second installment of Dave Crocker's "Radio Quiz" has an additional 42 questions, enough to drive you a little crazy.

The new Indiana Historical Radio Museum, housed in an historic, 1930s filling station, has over 400 radios on display. Our report indicates that the museum has hosted more than 7,000 visitors in less than a year.

As with so many items, an interesting story developed when Larry Babcock saw a Century code practice set at a radio meet. Although Century became a part of Federal in 1908, buzzers with the Century name are found on many early wireless receivers.

Photo Review this month shows sets from the 1920s to the 1960s and includes two farm radios designed for both 110-volt and 6-volt operation. Reader feedback continues with our regular Radio Miscellanea page.

Two book reviews are included this month - a 1919 Gilbert Radio Apparatus catalog reprint, reviewed by Jerry Finamore, and another of Eric Wrobbel's pamphlets on transistor radios, reviewed by Wally Worth.

New Books. Transistor radio collectors will be pleased to hear that the Bunises have released the second edition of their transistor radio price guide. As with the new editions of their other price guides, this one contains all new photos and additional models.

For years, Moore's book on communications receivers was the major reference for collectors of communication and amateur radio receivers. In March, Chuck Dachis released his superb, 225-page book on Hallicrafters equipment featuring over 1000 photographs. Only a few months ago, Chuck Penson's excellent book on Heathkit amateur radio products was released. A.R.C. carries the new Hallicrafters and Heathkit books.

The Eliminator. Although its history goes back to 1985, the radio collector parody The Eliminator has been included regularly in the April issue of A.R.C. since 1988. This year, The Eliminator editor decided to "eliminate" it from A.R.C. We are sorry to see it go, but if you would like to be kept up-to-date on the activities of the AC Radio Renegades, write to the A.C.R.R. at 3426 Coldstream Ct., Lexington, KY 40517.

Coming Radio Events. Spring is the setting for nearly four dozen events throughout the U. S. Look for A.R.C. in New Hampshire in April, at the Dayton Hamvention in May, and perhaps at the May National Vintage Communications Fair in Birmingham, England, and the July Extravaganza in Michigan. We hope to see you at one of these events, so stop by and say "Hi."

Happy Collecting

John V. Terrey, Editor

ON THE COVER

The happy faces on our cover are obviously intended to sell the RCA Model IV to more happy 1920s households. The photo is one of thirty in a salesman's portfolio from the collection of your editor. One of the pleasures of our job is to make unexpected connections between our files and articles contributed by our readers.