VOLUME 20            JULY 2003                NUMBER  7

RADIO MISCELLANEA -- JULY 2003

From Antique Radio Classified for July 2003
(Copyright 1996-2002 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 the AC-Powered Regen

Dear Editor:

I enjoyed reading Douglas Fox's article on the 3-tube AC-powered regen in your June 2003 issue. I also have one of those radios. My late father, J. Albert Warren, a well-known antique radio collector, built it from a kit that he had purchased around 1947. I'm pretty sure that the kit was produced by Meissner Mfg. Co. of Mt Carmel, Illinois. If I ever run across the instructions that came with it, I will know for certain whether or not I'm right about the manufacturer.

I used to use that radio a lot when I was a child, and it really worked great. I used to connect a Radiola 100-A speaker to it, and the volume output was loud enough for comfortable listening in all parts of a large room. The only plug-in coil that I ever used with the radio was the coil that came with the kit; this was the coil for the standard broadcast band. Coils for various other frequency bands could be purchased by mail order from the company that manufactured the kit.

Thanks so much for publishing your wonderful magazine. Keep up the good work.

--Bob Warren, Dalton PA

Engraving with Vibrating Tools

Dear Editor:

With the accelerating value of our old radios, some folks have engraved their driver's license number, etc., on the bottoms of their radios with vibrating tools. Tubes should be removed before engraving, especially the old delicate 4 pins and balloon types. These tubes cannot withstand that kind of vibration and can be damaged internally.

I experienced this problem after purchasing a portion of a collection where there was a 20 percent tube failure rate at test. All the radios were engraved on the bottom as a theft deterrent.

Save your scarce tubes! Take them out before you engrave!

--Byron Bernor, Acton, CA

Articles Hit Right Note

Dear Editor:

I considered letting my subscription expire; however, in your June anniversary edition, there were two articles that sold me again.

Since this is the garage sale season here, I recently picked up one of those "Picnic Portables," as well as a 2-tube regen, so those two articles in the June 2003 issue really hit the right note. I only wish they had both been longer. Enclosing a check for another year. Keep up the good work.

--John H. Moser, Brewster, OH

That's our goal - good work leads to good subscribers. Thanks for your continuing support. (Editor)

Flabbergasted by Article

Dear Editor:

I just ran across your web site and read the article from your January 2002 issue by John Hagman on restoring an RCA Model 128 radio. I was flabbergasted because I have one of those radios in working condition on my desk. I obtained it from my father-in-law back in 1958 after he had used it for many years in his Ohio home. It was not working at the time and needed some minor refinishing from wear over he years. I replaced a tube and refinished portions of the cabinet. It has worked fine ever since, although not used on a daily basis.

--John Glenick, Beltsville, MD

Seeks Info on Philips L6X38T

Dear Editor:

This is a real long shot, but I would like to know if anyone knows how to take a Philips L6X38T apart. Many thanks.

--John R. Bartlett, Southbend, Essex, England

Ken McIntosh - An Old Friend

Dear Editor:

Our hobby lost a great asset on May 15 when Ken McIntosh passed away. We repaired many radios over the years and shared a common philosophy on collecting radios. We both tried to remember that they're just radios. They don't save lives or slack hunger; they're just old radios. Both of us would rather have had a new acquaintance than another radio, and I'd gladly trade every radio I have to see my old friend again.

--Steven VanderLinden, Winston-Salem, NC

Ads Work!

Dear Editor:

Thanks you for your help. Your ads work! Keep up the good work.

--Florian A. Rogowski, Warren, MI

Article Correction

Dear Editor:

The article in the June 2003 issue by Dave Crocker regarding the Atwater Kent Model 8 carries a misleading statement. Early articles by Ralph Williams did not mention the Model 8, but in 1999 AWA Review, Volume 12, he discusses both the Model 5 and 8 with pictures on pages 48 to 53. It's possible Dave did not have a copy of that book, since it has been sold out.

--Elinor Williams, Orient, NY

Dave sends his regrets and acknowledges that he missed the coverage of the Model 8 in Vol. 12 of the "AWA Review." (Editor)