VOLUME 17            SEPTEMBER 2000                NUMBER  9

RADIO MISCELLANEA -- SEPTEMBER 2000

From Antique Radio Classified for September 2000
(Copyright 1996-2000 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.

BC-348N Saved from Crusher
Dear Editor:

I've been a subscriber to A.R.C. for years and have collected over 150 antique radios of all ages, shapes and sizes. I wanted to let you know about my latest find.

Because I work for one of the last transfer stations [a.k.a. dump] in eastern Massachusetts, I've managed to recycle quite a few old radios. Recently, someone left a BC-348N, and I grabbed it. I knew it was military but not much more than that. The very next day, I received the July A.R.C. I started flipping through the pages, and at page 8, I did a double take. I turned to my wife and said, "There it is!" I didn't realize I had a piece of history. I'm interested in restoring the unit. Do you have any further information resources for this unit?

I've been collecting radios since I was ten and pulled my red wagon around checking on everyone's rubbish. Recycling is the way to preserve history! Love your magazine. Keep the articles coming.

--Dave Sousa, Arlington, MA

Sousa refers to the article by Louis D'Antuono in our July 2000 issue. Articles on military equipment appear in the March 1999, August 1999, and April 2000 issues of A.R.C. and revolve around the activities of the Military Radio Collectors Group in California. Contacting them would no doubt yield a wealth of information. (Editor)

What's This Thing with Wives?

The following message from the Internet newsgroup "rec.antiques.radio+phono" was irresistible in the light of past references in A.R.C. to "radio wives."

I am serious when I say reading this [news]group has had a profound effect on my approach to a potential mate. Lots of people, not all just women, of course, just don't get radio collecting. Their eyes glaze over when they see your new old radio on display, and they ask why you need more than one. Also, they talk about how much they like bright, airy rooms with huge windows, hardwood floors, and a clean, uncluttered look. An old friend is like this -- she has California tastes marooned in New England. I could never bear such a person as a roommate at this point, let alone a wife.

Two questions I try to ask before the first date: 1) Do you like dogs and cats? 2) How about lots of dark polished wood?

--John Hagstar, yonny@att.net

Electronics Book Available
Dear Editor:

The Navy's book Basic Electronics suggested by Alton DuBois in the August A.R.C. is in print and available from Dover Publishing, Inc., 31 East 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501. Dover puts out a catalog containing lots of assorted stuff and out-of-print books. My copy of over 500 pages cost $12.95, plus shipping. Payment is due with orders; no credit cards accepted.

--Christine Tetzlaff, Silver Bay, MN

Tips from Stan
Dear Editor:

Here's a hint for avoiding trouble in an All American Five. If you or a customer makes the mistake of swapping the 35Z5 and 50L6 tubes, the result will be a set that immediately hums when turned. This is because the 60-cycle power supply current flows through the output transformer to ground through a capacitor. A normal response would be to replace the filter capacitors, but that won't correct the problem if the 35Z5 and 50L6 have been swapped! When troubleshooting, never assume that the set hasn't been messed with, but proceed with normal testing, and the result will be that you don't add more problems by your fixes.

--Stan Lopes, Concord, CA

Wireless Transformer Identified
Dear Editor:

Regarding the photo in the May 2000 article, page 5, entitled "Another Early Wireless Station," I recognize the high tension transformer (on the extreme right of the photo) as a 1914 William B. Duck Company product called a "flexible step-up wireless transformer." It is adjustable by the wingnut on top, which moves a magnetic shunt (part of the core) up and down so as to set the current limits (power) of operation. See the photo above from the 1914 catalog ad.

--Bill Richards, Sandston, VA

In the Marketplace
Frontier Discontinuing Some Items
Dear Editor:

Frontier Capacitor discontinued selling new capacitors on August 1, 2000. Contributing factors to this decision are erratic distributor prices, inflation, and my 79 years of age. A list of remaining new stock is available. All tubular, dual and triple capacitors will continue to be manufactured. We will also continue to rebuild twist-lock cans, nut-mounted types, and tubular capacitors.

Thanks for your years of continued business and friendship.

--Everett Hoard, Frontier Capacitor, P.O. Box 218, 402 S. McIntosh St., Lehr, ND 58460.