VOLUME 15            APRIL 1998                NUMBER  4

RADIO MISCELLANEA -- April 1998

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

"Antique Radio Classified" invites its readers to contribute letters and information for inclusion in "Radio Miscellanea" and elsewhere in the magazine. "In The Marketplace" is based on information submitted by the businesses themselves. All topics should be of general interest and sent to A.R.C., P.O. Box 2, Carlisle, MA 01741. All material submitted should be verified for accuracy and may be edited for publication, which is not guaranteed. See the masthead for more details.

On CRL Use of "Paragon"
Dear Editor:

The December A.R.C. article on the early years of Zenith by Cones and Bryant mentions the CRL use of the Adams-Morgan Paragon name for its similar receivers. A paragraph starts, "There appears to have been no legal action on behalf of either party."

In 1970, I had the good fortune to spend an afternoon with Ruth and Alfred Morgan in their upper Montclair, N. J., family home. We discussed the Paragon name Al had selected for Adams-Morgan products. He said that Paul Godley, his associate who designed the set, abhored having the name on his work -- Paul did not think his design met the definition of the word "paragon" -- "a model of excellence or perfection."

Al said that he and Godley had a court hearing with CRL representatives regarding CRL's use of the Paragon name. The judge told them they had no case, for neither had registered the Paragon name. However, the judge said it seemed unfair to usurp another maker's product name, and suggested the two parties confer on the matter and agree on a solution without legal action.

Al said Godley took the opportunity to disparage the name "Paragon" with the CRL reps, and he believed the discussion prompted CRL to coin the name "Zenith."

I discussed my Morgan conversation with Alan Douglas who said he could not find any evidence to support Al Morgan's story. Nevertheless, Al's story seems very plausible from the details of the settings, and I tend to believe him.

--Serge L. Krauss, Elkhart, IN

Vacuum Tube Repair
Dear Editor:

In response to the tube repair question in the February 1998 Radio Miscellanea, I have found Super Glue (cyanoacrylate) useful in recementing tube glass to the tube base, as well as in reattaching grid-plate caps to the glass. Just squirt a small fillet around the loose area, and gently jiggle the loose part until you feel it grab. Then set it aside for a few minutes. Grid-plate caps reaffixed this way will also withstand resoldering after the glue sets for a few hours.

--Byron Bernor, Acton, CA

More on the Cover Photo
April Fool! Charlie Rhodes had us going there for awhile, and so we decided to try the ruse on you. The "Chinese triode tube" is actually a vase painted on the inside by a talented Chinese artist. The bottom matches the diameter of a transmitting triode base, and Charlie added a porcelain and metal plate cap of another transmitting tube to complete the April Fool's Day piece. Sorry about that, folks. As Charlie said in his second letter to us (the first having kept us guessing), --"Just a joke!" Perfect for April, of course. (Editor)

A larger view of the "Chinese triode tube".

Hard to Ignore the Internet
Dear Editor:

I recently advertised 20 radios for sale on my web page, placed a "Radios for Sale" message in the newsgroup, and within three weeks, all the radios were gone. The key to internet sales is the ability to include a photograph of the item you are selling or are looking for.

There is tremendous activity related to vintage radios on the net. I have a web site that receives more than 3,000 hits a month. I think it will be hard for you to ignore the internet. Enjoy your magazine a lot, especially the articles and Photo Review.

--Larry Dowell, dowel1001@mc.duke.edu

Even without ads, A.R.C.'s web site receives nearly 4,000 hits a month. With a "full service" site, I wonder what the potential is. (Editor)

Dear Editor:

The solution you presented in the March A.R.C. about web access and hard copy is best. But, the one major advantage to putting A.R.C. on the web is that the whole database of ads could be searchable. This would benefit both buyers and sellers, as both could find information more quickly.

As for people who don't have computers -- it's time to step into the future. I collect mostly pre-1940 radios, and I would be lost without my computer to keep a database of my collection and to access information, e-mail, and other collectors.

--Edward Herrschaft, herrwood@bellatlantic.net

Westford Radio XXIX Show Kudos
Dear Editor:

The recent show in Westford, Mass., Radio XXIX, was great! I've had good luck getting great radios there in the past. I love your magazine. Keep up the good work!

--Roger L. Menard, Woodstock, CT

A.R.C. was pleased to manage another successful Westford show. All 92 exhibit tables were sold and total attendance over 750! (Editor)

Long-Distance Appreciation
Dear Editor:

Although I am busy, each time I receive A.R.C., it's a first thing for me to read it through to the end.

--Haruo Masada, Tokyo, Japan

Dear Editor:

I am very pleased with your publication. It is really the best way to get worldwide information about selling, buying and trading radio items, especially in my field of crystal sets. My collection would never have grown so quickly without A.R.C. Thank you, and all the best for the future from Vienna. --Erwin Macho, Vienna, Austria