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AUDIO-VISUAL CONSERVATION
*"■ ■*- ML
atThe LIBRARY of CONGRESS 'jjjjj'j fiffe/ D T|Br Iff I
Packard Campus
for Audio Visual Conservation
www.loc.gov/avconservation
Motion Picture and Television Reading Room www.loc.gov/rr/mopic
Recorded Sound Reference Center www.loc.gov/rr/record
Blueprint JiweQtion Every Month
MEET YOUR B
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You don't need to be a "radio engineer," and you don't need to have three hands, to operate the new Super-Zenith. Tuning is controlled by two dials only — so perfectly adjusted that each station comes in always at the same dial settings. It never varies. Powerful locals may be on full blast, yet, if you like, you can tune them out completely, choose the distant station.
Those who know and appreciate truthful tone reproduction find in the new Super-Zenith an unfailing source of delight. Their pleasure is all the greater from the fact that even when silent the Super-Zenith lends to its surroundings charm and distinction.
Write to us for the name of the nearest dealer from whom you can obtain a demonstration of this outstanding marvel of the radio world. Dealers and Jobbers: Write or wire for our exclusive territorial franchise
ZENITH RADIO CORPORATION
Executive Offices: 332 South Michigan Ave., Chicago
ZENITH— the exclusive choice of MacMUlan for his North Pole Expedition — Holder of the Berengaria Record
A
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With either Zenith 3R or Zenith 4R, satisfactory reception over distances of 2,000 to 3,000 miles is readily accomplished, using any ordinary loud speaker. Models 3Rand4R licensed under ArmstrongU.S.Pat.No.l, 113,149.
The new Super-Zenith is a six- tube set with a new, unique, and really different patented circuit, controlled exclusively by the Zenith Radio Corporation. It is NOT regenerative.
SUPER-ZENITH VII — Six tubes-2 stages tuned frequency amplification — detector and 3 stages audio frequency amplification. Installed in a beautifully finished cabinet of solid mahogany — 44's inches long, 16?i inches wide, 10s4 inches high. Compart- ments at either end for dry batteries. Price A^^/\ (exclusive of tubes and batteries) .... JpZ JV
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ft — Contains two new features ceivers. 1st— Built in, patented, »-Loud Speakers (harmonically speakers and horns), designed to h and low pitch tones otherwise
J
i and Appfoved by RADIO AGE *
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
Tune In on a Real Job
and Get the Pay of a Specialist
^isffeeflookWMShowfou ffow to "Earn $1500 to WOOQ " karly as a %idio Expert »
THE man who would be a success in business today must be a specialist. The market is already crowded with clerks, stenographers, accountants and detail men of every description. And as the number of applicants increases, the pay and opportunities diminish. Not that these men are unnecessary, for their work is important and essential. But the competition has always been keen in general work of this kind and it is bound to increase in proportion to the number of good men available.
Radio Needs Trained Men
There is perhaps no other field today where specialists are needed more than in Radio. Trained men are required in every branch of this fascinating, profit- able profession. And the opportunities are great — almost without limit! Radio has swept across the face of the whole earth with a speed as surprising as it was sudden. Almost overnight it jumped into the front rank of the world's leading industries. Yet it is here to stay — and grow. For that
reason Radio needs good men. It is ready to treat them right and pay them well. And for the men who "get in" NOW, the best is none too good.
K|
Pay Increases Over $100 a Month
I am averaging anywhere from S75 to S150 a month more than I was making before enrolling with you. I would not consider 510,000 9 too much for the course. 1L (Signed) A. N. Lone,
■/ 120 N. Main Street,
" Greensburg, Pa.
Doubles Salary
I can very easily make double the amount of money now than be- fore I enrolled with you. Your course has benefited me approxi- mately S3000 over and above what I would have earned had I not
T. "Winder,
731 Bedford Ave.,
Grand Junction, Colo.
From $15.00 to $80.00 aWeek
Before I enrolled with you I was making SI 5 a week on a farm. Now I earu from S2080 to S4420 a year, and the work is a hundred
|
times easier than |
before. Since |
|
graduating a little |
over a year ago, |
|
I have earned aim |
ost S4000 and I |
|
believe the cours* |
will be worth |
|
at least SI 00,000 |
to me. |
|
(Signed) Ge |
■>. A. Adams. |
|
Route 1, Box 10, |
|
|
Tamaq.ua, Pa. |
Get Into This Big Paying Profession
Consider for a mo- ment the possibilities of Radio. The shores of every continent are dotted with trans- mitting and receiving stations. Practically every vessel is now equipped for commu- nication with land and other ships. Hotels, railroad ter- minals, public buildings and Govern- ment stations are flashing their business messages 'cross cities, rivers, mountains and seas. At night, millions of men, women and children are "listening in" to music, speeches, news, important events and business reports, broadcast for their amusement and education. Factories, stores, banks, laboratories, business houses and newspaper offices are employing Radio experts in every branch of the profession. Yet the demand for good men is far greater than the supply. If YOU are sick of plugging along in the daily grind of monotonous office routine — held down by the thousands of men who are doing the same work as you — get out of the rut into this big paying profession.
You Can Qualify at Home Easily and Quickly
On land and sea, the news of the world's progress is flowing under the skilled fingers of Certified "Radio- tricians"— men who are well-paid, hon- ored and respected for their specialized knowledge and important work. A short course of training at home for the enjoy- able work of Radio, will quickly enable you to be independent, to travel and see the world if you wish, or establish yourself in a permanent position in your own town. Radio will take you out of the rut of a bare existence, into the enviable standing of a specialist — - with unlimited opportunities for honor, power, wealth and satisfaction. It will make you a doer of real things, a vital force in the world and an important factor in your own community. Start to train NOW for a Radio position, while the profession is growing. You can start TODAY — in your spare hours at home.
The National Radio Institute is train-
ing men, in their spare hours at home, for every important branch of the big Radio industry. To any man who is eager to better his condition and make a place for himself in this fascinating and profitable profession, we will gladly send a copy of this timely, helpful, book — absolutely free. It is called "Rich Rewards in Radio" and it will open up a chain of opportunities that you will do well to carefully consider.
You assume no obligation whatever in sending for this interesting, helpful book. It is yours for the asking — FREE. For that reason you can hardly afford to miss it. Ask for a copy today and learn the tremendous opportunities that are open in Radio, how we are preparing men at home to take ad- vantage of these opportunities, and how we aid them in securing the kind of positions that lead to independence and success, "Tune in" on a real job — mail the coupon for this Free Book today — and then "stand by" until it arrives by return mail. It will PAY you! National Radio Institute, Dept. 53CB, Washington, D. C.
This WillBring It_
t NATIONAL RADIO INSTITUTE, Dept. 53CB, Washington, D. C.
{Without any obligation on my part, please send me a FREE copy of your book, "Rich I Rewards in Radio." Also tell me how your
Free Employment Service will help me secure a position, and send me details of your special I short-time offer.
1 Name.
Street
City
v_iiy ™ .- ouiie
* Tested and Approved by RADIO AGE ¥
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
The Magazine of the Hour
Established March, 1922
WITHWHICH IS COMBINED RADIO TOPICS
Volume 4
January, 1925
Number 1
CONTENTS
Radiotorials 4
First Super Stations Licensed 7
By Robeit D. Heinl
Attaining Results with Radio Frequency 9
By Armstrong Perry
A Reflexed Four-Tube Neutrodyne 11
By H. Frank Hopkins
Headsets — Their Care and Operation 14
By Roscoe Bundy
A Six-Tube Super-Heterodyne 15
By Paul Green
Getting Started in Radio — Beginners' Section 18
By Edmund H. Eitel
Tuning in with the French Radio Fan 20
By C. R. Bluzat
An Efficient Portable Set 21
By Brainard Foote
How to Make a Station Finder 23
By Felix Anderson
Adding Two Stages to the Modified Reinartz ....26
By Frank D. Pearne "What the Broadcasters' are Doing" — Studio-Land Features for the Listener 28-40
RADIO AGE BLUEPRINT SECTION
I. The Tuned Impedance Reflex with Two Stages 41
II. A Tuned Plate Regenerative Set 43
By John B. Rathbun
Pickups and Hookups by Our Readers 49
Corrected List of Broadcasting Stations... 74
Radio Age is published monthly by RADIO AGE, Inc. Member: Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Executive, Editorial and Advertising Offices 500 Tsr. Dearbarn Street, Chicago, 111. Publication Office, Mount Morris, 111.
Frederick A. Smith, Editor Russell H. Hopkins, Associate Editor Frank D. Pearne, Technical Editor Louis L. Levy, Circulation Manager M. B. Smith, Business Manager
Advertising Director HARRY A. ACKERBURG
Eastern Representative DAVIDSON & HEVEY, 17 West 42nd St., New York City
Pacific Coast Representative BENJAMIN LEVEN, 582 Market St., San Francisco.
Final Advertising forms close on the 20th of the 2nd month
preceding date of issue
Issued monthly. Vol. 4, No. 1. Subscription price. $2.50 a year.
Application madefor transfer of second class entry from the post office at Chicago,
Illinois, to the post office at Mount Morris, Illinois
Covuriqht. 1925. by RADIO AGE, Ivo.
A Chat With the Editor
MR. MANTON DAVIS, of the Radio Corporation of America, diverts us with a letter in which he expresses the suspicion (baseless) that adver- tisers have been led to believe they were advertising in WIRE- LESS AGE, when, as a matter of fact, they were dealing with RADIO AGE. Mr. Davis even threatens to call out the agile R. C. A. legal department and cut our heads off.
RADIO AGE and WIRELESS AGE are two separate and dis- tinct publications, the former pub- lished in Chicago and the latter in New York. We do not make this statement because we think an announcement necessary to avert confusion of names so different as these. We make this extremely obvious distinction because we do not want Mr. Davis to think that there is anything in the adver- tising or editorial departments of WIRELESS AGE that RADIO AGE wants, much less would employ sharp practice to obtain.
Radio Corporation of America controls WIRELESS AGE. It is published by Wireless Press, Inc., of New York. RADIO AGE is owned by RADIO AGE, Inc., of which the undersigned is President. RADIO AGE is not interested directly or indirectly in the manufacture or sale of any radio product and is serving as officiai organ for nobody.
The writer has been a newspaper editor for a quarter of a century. He was war correspondent at the French front for the Chicago Tribune. He was special corres- pondent in Russia, China and Japan for the same newspaper for two years after the war. He is now editor of a newspaper radio section, which on one day of each week, has the largest radio circu- lation in the world. Also he is editor and chief stockholder of RADIO AGE.
Most earnestly he hopes that the radio public will not make the error of thinking this magazine has any association with the peri- odical controlled by our friend with the agile legal department.
Editor of RADIO AGE.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
U^IIUjf^^f^X^^TjT^^^tJl^^WL^'iP^1
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Eveready "B" Batteries will long outlast any others, and are the most economical and dependable source of plate current. These are strong statements, but they have been proved by tests in our own and in independent laboratories. Check them for yourself on your own radio set. Get Eveready "B" Batteries.
There is an Eveready Radio Battery for every radio use.
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EVEREADY
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— they last longer
■
* Tested and Approved by RADIO AGE V
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
Right Here's Where We Call the Bluff of a $33,000,000 Radio Crowd
RADIO Corporation of America has gone into the United States Patent Office and filed formal objection to registration of the title, RADIO AGE, which title has been used and owned by the publishers of this magazine since the spring of 1922. The Radio Corporation, with fine insight into delicate legal and business discriminations, alleges that the title, RADIO AGE, is an infringement on the title of "WIRELESS AGE," a publication which Radio Corporation controls.
This initial step toward trying to grab the name of RADIO AGE and give the name to its own organ was preceded by threats made to the publishers of this magazine. We were warned that if we did not sur- render the name of our magazine, a name in which we have generously invested labor and money, Radio Corporation would turn loose its legal department on us. That means a threat of bringing us into federal court. On the side of Radio Corporation would be almost unlimited millions, tremendous influence in quarters where "pull" is most useful, and an abso- lutely false presumption of law and facts.
Radio Corporation knows, and its legal department knows, that it has no shadow of a right to act on such a violent hypothesis that RADIO AGE as a name infringes on "Wireless Age." Lawyers know it; the publishers of RADIO AGE know it, and before we have finished the radio public is going to know it.
If we were in the position before the American people that Radio Corporation occupies, we would not have taken this action in the Patent Office. If we had been the Radio Corporation, we would not have sent our agents to Washington to try to wrest away a magazine title from its rightful owners, but we would have sent them to Washington to meet the charges that have been filed there by the Federal Trade Com- mission, a bureau of the United States government. We would have been devoting all of our effort and our appropriation for legal talent to the effort of disproving the charge that we were a trust and that we were re- straining competition, thus working a hardship upon twenty millions of radio fans.
We do not know whether or not a radio trust exists, but if there is such a lawless combination in restraint of radio commerce, the fans who are spending $350,000,- 000 for radio merchandise this year should, and prob- ably will, find a way to express their opinion of it.
Or, if we had been Radio Corporation, instead of reaching out into the Middle West to strong-arm a magazine that has been persistent and vigorous in up- building interest in radio, we would have sent our agents to Richmond Hill, N. Y. We would have looked up Al Grebe out there at his big new broadcast- ing station and we would have told Al that we were heartily ashamed that the Radio Corporation had brought a suit against him; a suit so devoid of legal justification that it was thrown out of court before proceedings were fairly started.
Or if we had been in Radio Corporation's place, we would have called together sixty independent radio manufacturers of the United States and would have given those independent manufacturers an explana-
tion of Radio Corporation's great good fortune in having through one of its subsidiary companies, been privileged to manufacture receiving sets under license granted by the government while the sixty independent manufacturers could not obtain a similar privilege. We would have explained to the sixty independent manufacturers and to the American public how it happened that it required eighteen months for the independent manufacturers to obtain a ruling that they were entitled to the same advantages from the confiscated German patents as was Radio Corporation.
We would have sent our agents down to Elgin, Illinois, and told Charlie Erbstein that he could have the broadcasting equipment he publicly declares the "Four Horsemen" refuse to sell him because he is against radio monopoly, either in manufacturing, selling or broadcasting.
RADIO AGE is against monopoly also. With deepest respect for the law and with profound faith in the fairness of the people's verdict in any issue where the public is fully informed of the facts, we are going to do our best to maintain what the constitution guaranteed us — a free press.
It is a worthy saying that truth in promotion implies honesty in manufacture. It is obvious that a corpora- tion that is hopeful of building up good will for itself and its product by threatening continuously to turn loose its high-priced lawyers on manufacturer, dealer, editor and publisher, is afflicted with aggravated optimism.
It is possible that Radio Corporation may be suc- cessful in making off with the name of this magazine. Even so, it would not be a vital blow. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. It is possible that almost a quarter of a million readers would still read this magazine if it were called RADIO — Something else. And we are not so sure that manufacturers of radio equipment would not still favor us with their advertising. We even harbor the thought that we might have more readers and more advertising after the facts become known. Readers and advertisers are like that sometimes.
The Owner-Editor of RADIO AGE was a newspaper correspondent at the front with the American Army in France. He was the first American to reach Berlin after the Armistice was signed. He was in the midst of the Chinese rebellion in 1920. He later described the anti-American outbreak on the Yangtse and he was in Siberia watching Kolchak make the last stand against the Bolsheviks. He assisted two other Americans in the rescue of Dr. A. L. Shelton, Christian Missionary, kidnapped for ransom by Yunnan bandits and held captive for two months near the Tibet border. He has been a newspaper editor and foreign correspondent for a quarter of a century. He thrives on action.
He knows newspaper editors all the way from the Maine border, where they smuggle rum, to the Cali- fornia border, where they smuggle Orientals. He is going to organize a proof press and let every newspaper in the United States know what transpires in this Radio Corporation matter. And maybe we can induce Charlie Erbstein to broadcast it. Let's go!
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour 5
Install genuine All- American Audio Transformers. Two of these instruments, fitted into any set not al- ready equipped with them, will give the receiver greater loud-speaker volume with remarkable purity of tone. ALL'AMERicANTransformers are so designed that they amplify fundamentals and harmonics equally, through' out practically the entire audible range. Hence, voice and tones are reproduced faithfully.
The standards of precision to which All-Americans are made, have led to their adoption as standard equipment on all the better sets.
Insist upon All- Americans : the Audio Transform- ers which, through sheer merit, have become the largest selling transformers in the world. 3 to 1 Ratio, $4.50; 5 to 1 Ratio, $4.75; 10 to 1 Ratio, $4.75.
Use All-American Super-Fine Parts, and you can have an intermediate-frequency receiver embodying all the most advanced features known in Radio.
Super-Fine Parts are easily installed. No critical adjustments are necessary. Operation is smooth and flawless. And every part is All- American — if you are a Radio Fan you know what that means! Sets built with Super-Fine Parts are unsurpassed for selec- tivity, range, volume, and tone quality. Practically any station in the country can be brought in on the loud-speaker. Interference from local stations is com- pletely eliminated. Reliability is assured through All-American precision in manufacturing. Super- Fine Parts represent in a very real sense the ultimate in radio broadcast reception. Price, $26.00
J
ALL-AMAX JUNIOR
An AU-American One-Tube Reflex
This is the ideal set for the youthful beginner in Radio. It comes completely mounted on panel and baseboard, and can be easily wired in one delightful evening with the aid of clear photo- graphs and a 43-page instruction book. Easy to tune — as selective as a multi- tube set — has"crystal" tone quality — volume enough for speaker operation. It brings in far-distant stations, and tunes out the locals.
Price, complete (semi- finished) $22.00
The Radio Key Book
Will help anyone to hear far- ther and better. Contains prac- tical hints for the set builder — ■ tested hookups — diagrams of All-Amax and other circuits. Sent for 10 cents, coin or stamps
RAULAND MFG. CO.
2680 Coyne St., Chicago Pioneers in the Industry
ALL-AMAX SENIOR
An All-American Three-Tube Reflex
A complete receiver of the highest type. Great range and selectivity are provided by three stages of tuned and SELF-TUNED Radio Frequency Amplification. A crystal detector and two stages of Standard ALL-AMER- ICAN-equipped Audio, insure speaker volume on distant stations, with un- distorted tone quality. Completely as- sembled— full directions for wiring.
Price, complete (semi-finished) $42.00
I
1^** TRADE MARK *^l
Largest Selling Transformers in the~World
* Tested and Approved by RADIO AGE *
I have trained 2274 men *
to make big money in Radio
I can do the same for you
WHO were these men? They came from all walks of life. I have just looked up the record of ten of them. One school teacher, one railroad man, one drug clerk, one die-maker, one electrician, one insurance man, one farmer's son, one travelling salesman. How much are they making? $50 to $500 a week. The $50 men are mostly those who give me their spare time. A great many of my repre- sentatives start that way. How much did they know about radio at the start? Very little, in many cases nothing. Lack of radio knowledge is not a handicap. In fact, I rather prefer the man who hasn't delved too deeply into radio theory. We have our own methods — they are successful — and the man with nothing to unlearn makes the biggest success of our plan.
Many of the men who have made the biggest money selling Ozarka instruments never sold anything before in their lives. Sales experience naturally would be of some value, but it is not abso- lutely necessary. Unlike other articles, a. radio instru-
ment does its own talking. Your demonstrations are given during the evenings, which is possibly your spare time. In the hands of the man who knows the instru- ment it will deliver its best, and you can safely put it in competition with any instrument on the market today, regardless of its price.
The man I want is known in his community as upright and reliable — a man whose word is as good as his bond — a man who has lived in his community long enough so that his fellow men know him and know the real type that he is. He may not have any,, considerable amount of money, but he has, a little; in fact, in many cases the man t is particularly interested in my plan is t one who is having rather a hard timej making ends meet. He is, however, t type of man who would not handle any- thing unless he was thoroughly con- , vinced of its merit. If you are this , kind of a man and are really sincere in wanting to improve your finan- cial conditions, I will be very glad to tell you of the Ozarka Plan. I can train you to make consider- able more money than you are now imk ing. I have done this with 2274 men in the past two years, and I will do it for you if you wiii do your part.
This Button identifies Ozarka Rep* resentative in your city— your assur* ance of complete radio satisfaction
his large Book tells
how to make $100 per week
under Ozarka Plan
Ozarka four tube radio for
opera- tion with
loud speaker as low as
w
The Ozarka Plan is fully described in a large illustrated book. I will send a copy to men who are willing to tell me fully about themselves. The Ozarka book is a true story of life, of men, of why they fail, and how they succeed. It tells how men are carving out futures for them- selves in this fascinating business of radio.
In territory not now covered, I want the right man. If you feel qualified and are willing to put forth the necessary effort to obtain a splendid, profitable business of your own, write me and say "Send your Ozarka Plan Book No. 100." It may be the turning point in your life. Don't fail to mention the name of your county.
Ozarka, Inc.
871 Washington Blvd., Chicago
* Tested and Approved by RADIO AGE *
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M. B. Smith
Business Manager
A Monthly Publication
Devoted to Practical
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Frederick A. Smith
Editor
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Hr,s£ Super-Stations Licensed —
NEW Wavelengths a PROBLEM
WASHINGTON, D. C— What to do about the reallocation of wave- lengths to broadcasting stations as recommended by the Third National Radio Conference at Washington? What to do is right, for although the Con- ference adjourned over two months ago, the conferees blissfully going respective ways feeling their recommendations had solved the situation, little as yet has been accomplished.
In fact, they have left at Secretary Hoover's doorstep a problem as com- pared to which the solution of a Chinese cross-word puzzle would be easy. Two months' time is not ordinarily con- sidered a long period when it is remem- bered that Rome was not built in a day, but the way in which things are popping in radio, sixty days' delay is the equiva- lent of years in other fields of endeavor. Far from being able to afford relief to existing broadcasting stations in this period of drifting, the situation is becom- ing more complicated by the fact new broadcasting stations are springing up like mushrooms.
How It Started
THE pressure upon the officials at the Department of Commerce is terrific. W. D. Terrell, Chief Supervisor of Radio, to whom the immediate solution is en- trusted, attacking the Class "B" station situation as a starting point, lost no time putting the Radio Conference recommendations up to the government district radio inspectors throughout the country with instructions for them to get into touch with owners of stations.
And then the trouble began!
So discouraging have been the reports received from certain of these inspectors — key men, in fact — that the plan of the Conference now appears to be as far from being carried out as the day the reccomendations were agreed upon.
In fact, unless miracles are performed in the congested broadcasting areas, I do not believe the present plan can ever be carried out, and I base this prediction upon a talk I had with a high govern- ment official who summed up the situa- tion as follows:
The third radio conference recom-
By ROBERT D. HEINL
New Broadcasters "Stump" Conferees
mended an extension of the Class B band of wavelengths from 288 down to 280 meters and the removal of Class C sta- tions from the wavelength of 360 meters, giving to Class B stations the entire band from-280 to 545 meters.
Transfers Planned
Steps have already been taken to transfer the Class C stations to either A or B and to shift the Class A stations
(Photo by Harris & Ewirjg)
W. D. Terrell, the Governments chief radio supervisor, on whose shoulders rests the burden of reallocating the maze of tan- gled wavelengths. He also is assisting Secretary Hoover in apportioning the first assignment for increased power.
between 280 and 286 meters to the band below 280 meters.
The continuing committee proposed by the conference to reallocate the broad- casting wave lengths prepared a plan covering the Class B stations as they existed or were contemplated on October 22nd. It was necessarily tentative, it not being definitely known at that time how many stations would have to be provided for or how difficult it might be for the owners to comply with the plan. This plan was referred to the super- visors of each district to be submitted by them to the owners of the stations involved to ascertain what difficulties might arise as to particular stations, and to prevent as far as possible any hitch in its adoption.
New Troubles Arise
T^HREE or four of the districts have -*- already reported that the plan is acceptable. The other districts, however, are experiencing considerable difficulty because of the additional new Class B stations not contemplated and conse- quently not taken into consideration when the plan was prepared.
There are forty-seven Class B wave- lengths available for the entire United States, even if two stations are put on each wavelength, which means undesir- able division of time. There are only ninety-four operating channels.
At the present time, there are sixty- four Class B stations in operation.
The Bureau has been advised that seven Class C stations and fourteen Class A stations are preparing to enter Class B. In addition to this, there are nineteen stations under construction or proposed, which are planning to enter Class B, giving us a total of 104 Class B stations to be provided for on ninety-four duplicated channels.
Many of these had not been heard of at the time of the conference. Thirteen of these Class B stations are west of the Rocky Mountains, and if the power of these stations is not increased consider- ably, they can probably use the wave- lengths now being used on the Atlantic Coast, as they have been doing for the past eighteen months. If this can be continued it will leave ninety-one Class B
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
stations to be placed on the ninety-four channels, assuming that none of them obtains a separate wavelength and that all must divide time at least two ways.
Because of the increase in new Class B stations mentioned above, it is necessary to give new con- sideration to the plan now in the hands of the supervisors and complete remodeling may be necessary. The fundamental difficulty is that stations are increasing so rapidly that no general plan can have anything like permanence.
Department Swamped
WASHINGTON, D. C, [Special] The Department of Commerce is so busy these days trying to fit half enough wavelengths to twice too many stations, that complaints of interference do not elicit very hearty or quick responses. This is unavoidable, officials say, so fans must content them- selves with the fact that the Department radio chiefs are snowed under with requests for Class B wavelengths.
With only fifty-three available wavelengths designated by the confer- ence for about sixty sta- tions, the government is now asked to allocate them to 110 B stations. There are sixty-four B Stations already operating, and forty- six either under construc- tion or contemplated, mak- ing the application of the original allocation plan prac- tically impossible. Despite difficulties in numbers, there are local situations to be met, and although four of the supervisory districts are apparently fixed up, other supervisors are having difficulties similar to the trouble at head- quarters in Washington; too many Class B stations for a division of time on the available wavelengths. Either an en- tirely new plan will have to be developed, with less space between the channels used, or more wavelengths will have to be secured from other services. An alternative would be to have stations divide time three ways, which it is hoped may be avoided.
Imagine if you can the howl at head- quarters when the writer asked when the new list of wavelength allocations would be available. He is not permitted to quote the replies, but they varied all the way from six months to a year, with requests for a method of redistributing them.
The Department is working on a new plan of allocating wavelengths, and expects to try the method out by tests fairly soon to see if the scheme is prac- tical. It is hoped that by the first of the year that a satisfactory distribution will be in operation, but nothing definite can be said at this writing.
With the coming of the Winter months, with better radio reception and more listening-in, Department of Commerce >fficials point out that super-sensitive sets which are not super-selective must be cured, if interference is to be avoided
and trouble in reception minimized. The fans themselves can better reception, it is believed, by improving their sets and learning to operate them properly. Due to this fact, the Departmental super- visors and inspectors may be expected to refuse to consider complaints unless sets are described. There is nothing doing if poor receivers are used. If a receiver is like a sponge, absorbing everything, the Department could do nothing to relieve interference unless it caused all except one station to close.
There are thousands of non-selective crystal sets on the market and in use, which are impractical for anything but local reception where one station only is on the air at a given time. If a set is not a two or more circuit set, it will probably pick up everything. Practically all crystal sets are of the single circuit variety. In this way many small sets pick up a lot of preventable interference, such as the so-
MORE STATIONS INCREASE POWER
TC*OUR more Class "B" broadcasting stations which applied for ■*- increased power up to 1,500 watts were licensed temporarily last month under the regulations providing that no additional interference shall be caused.
Increased power has been authorized for KYW, the Westing- house radiophone at Chicago; WBZ, owned by Westinghouse at Springfield, Mass. ; KFI, owned by Earl C. Anthony at Los Angeles, Calif. ; and WEAF, of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, at New York City. The first station so licensed was WTAM, at Cleveland, Ohio.
This puts five of the Class "B" stations in a position to broad- cast at an increased range. Many radio experts believe that this arrangement will result in better broadcasting, "if" it does not blanket neighboring stations.
again a possibility of enactment of much needed radio legislation in the passage of the so-called White bill, named after Congressman Wallace H. White, Jr., of Maine. The bill, which was originally introduced by Mr. White in the first session last February, now includes the features of a Senate bill of slightly more limited scope. The bill has been favor- ably reported to the House by the Com- mittee on Merchant Marine and Fish- eries. During the last session, Congress- man Greene of Massachusetts, chairman of that committee, requested from the House Rules committee a special rule which would make it in order for the House to consider the radio bill out of regular order and under limited debate, which would expedite action.
In view of the urgency of the legisla- tion, it is expected Mr. Greene will renew the request at this session and if so it is anticipated that the Rules committee may grant it. If this rule can be secured, proponents of the bill are confident it would pass by a comfort- able majority. The mea- sure would then go to con- ference for Senate action on the additions made by the House.
M1
called man-made interference from legiti- mately operated and electrically driven machinery and apparatus.
Many manufacturers using electric power and apparatus emitting electrical interference are trying to eliminate their radiations, so as to decrease the broad- cast listener's troubles. But it often costs considerable money and is frequent- ly unsuccessful.
By the use of simple wave traps, con- siderable local interference from other stations and electrical devices may be eliminated, it is pointed out. So it is up to the fan to aid his brother fans and the Government by improving his own set. Some fans will find that by using a two-circuit set or a tuner that they can select either of two local stations operating simultaneously, with a reason- aisle separation between their wave- lengths, as is used in the present wave- length assignment. Otherwise they will find it impossible to listen in when two or more stations are operating at once. Unless fans learn to tune their sets, they will get even the amateur stations on the short waves below 200 meters.
Before you complain the next time, be sure your set is a reliable one and that it is operating properly, and that you have taken the usual precuations to pre- vent the necessity of writing to govern- ment inspectors.
Radio Legislation
With Congress in session, there is
First "Supers" On Air
IDDLE Western fans are now getting their first taste of "super-power" with the advent of WTAM, the Willard Battery Sta- tion at Cleveland, O., into the ranks of high-power broadcasters.
WTAM came on the air about the first of December with in- creased wattage, presumably 1,500 watts. Fans living in the vicinity of Cleveland report that very close tuning was expe- rienced with WTAM's new power, but others with weaker sets said they were unable to tune the station out.
In many cases a wave trap helped to eliminate WTAM, depending on the position of the receiving aerial.
In New York State and in the Chicago district, WTAM came in with loud speaker volume on three tubes in every instance, and most fans who were ques- tioned reported that WTAM could be "heard all over the house," so strong was the apparatus. However, fans three hundred or more miles from WTAM reported it could be tuned out by turning the. dial three or four points, so no inter- ference was caused in that respect.
In Chicago it was found that WTAM could barely be heard when WEBH, on 370 meters, or WGN, on 360 meters, were broadcasting. WTAM has a 390 wavelength.
From preliminary reports, then, it appears that small sets located near the super-power stations will be the ones to suffer most, and unless they adjust their sets or equip them with a wave trap, it is unlikely they will be able to tune out the strong broadcasters.
The Government is watching initial experiments closely, in accordance with its promise that super-power will be abolished if interference is excessive.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Mahazine of the Hour
Results with Radio Frequency
R. F. Amplification Best for Distance, But Fan Must Get the Right Transformer
By ARMSTRONG PERRY
EXPERTS agree that for DX work in radio a good radio-frequency amplifier is needed. They have to agree, because it can be and has been proven, mathematically, experimentally and in practice among radio users, that radio-frequency amplification increases the weak signals to a greater degree than the stronger ones. Naturally, the signals from distant stations are the weakest, other things being equal, therefore they are to be helped most by radio-frequency amplification.
A necessary part of an efficient radio- frequency amplifier for use with wave- lengths within the broadcasting band is a transformer, through which the amplifier tubes are coupled together or the last amplifier tube coupled to the detector. For longer wavelengths, re- sistance coupling may be used with good results, but resistance-coupled ampli- fiers are not usually satisfactory for wave lengths below 1,000 meters.
If amplification of power were the only thing to be accomplished, the con- struction of a radio-frequency amplify- ing transformer would be comparatively simple. Six stages of amplification will make a loud speaker roar like a factory whistle.
Sounds Must Be Intelligible
IT will vibrate a loud speaker's dia- phragm so powerfully that it will throw a stream of air strong enough to blow out a match. But all amplification when applied to currents carrying the characteristics of voice or music, causes some distortion, and the radio- frequency amplifying transformer will make sounds unintelligible unless it is constructed and operated with the greatest nicety. It distorts less than the audio-frequency amplifier but either is a difficult piece of apparatus to design and build.
Perhaps the greatest problem that confronted the builder or user of radio- frequency amplifying transformers for short wavelengths was the difficulty of obtaining a transformer that would amplify equally over a wide range of wavelengths within the broadcasting band. It was not very difficult to pro- duce one that had a very good peak somewhere. If the user, fishing for a DX station, happened to catch one whose wave corresponded to the frequency at
Above is an artist's picturization showing how Radio Frequency reaches out and helps the "DX" listener to amplify weak signals which he could not gel otherwise. If the set-builder or buyer gets the right R. F. transformers, they will bring him all signals within the range for which they were constructed.
which the transformer was most efficient, he had something to tell the neighbors. But he might fish in vain for a much nearer and more powerful station without ever getting it. This made radio-fre- quency amplification unpopular at the start, except with experimenters who appreciated what a great future it had if properly developed.
Long before radio broadcasting began, P. D. Lowell, of the Radio Laboratory of the United States Bureau of Standards, started experiments on the amplification of short waves. Brent Daniel of the Bureau took up the work after Mr. Lowell had established the. fact that a <-adio-frequency transformer could be built that would cover a fairly wide wave band. He developed the transformer just at the beginning of the broadcasting era. Imitators immediately began that old game of making "something just as good." The transformers that some of them built were developed hurriedly because the radio trade was growing rapidly and the loss of a day in getting into the patent office might mean the loss of a good many dollars. The radio education and experience of some manu- facturers effectively prevented their mak- ing a successful imitation or substitute. The closest study of a piece of appara- tus so apparently simple but really so intricate, by even an experienced radio man, cannot reveal at once all the knowl- edge of the device that was acquired by the man in whose brain it was born.
Capacity Effects Hinder
AS stated in "The Principles Under- lying Radio Communication," a book prepared by the Bureau of Stand- ards for the Signal Corps, " . . for short wavelengths, particularly for wavelengths of less *han 300 meters, radio-frequency amplification is attended with much difficulty caused by capacity effects between different parts of the
circuit." The number of coils and turns of wire in a transformer make just so many component parts for condensers, unwanted, unwelcome, but impossible to be rid of. The experimenters at the Bureau met this difficulty in clever fashion.
Making use of the well-known fact that the combined capacities of condens- ers connected in series is less than the capacity of any one of them when oper- ating alone, they wound both the pri- many and secondary coils in a number of groups. These were so spaced from each other and from the core that they formed a series of condensers with but a very small combined capacitv. Even the wires that connected coil with coil were kept well separated, to minimize the capacity between them. This increased both the amplification and the range of wavelengths over which the transformer would operate.
The coupling between primary and secondary was found to be very critical. A change of a sixteenth of an inch altered the characteristics of the trans- former. The spacing between the sepa- rate coils of the primary and secondary was even more critical. A difference of a thousandth of an inch between any two coils made a decided difference in the characteristics. To insure accuracy and permanency, each coil was placed in a slot machine and micrometered in a square tube of insulating material.
The size of the wire in the coils was found to be important, because the finer the wire, the closer together the turns will lie and the smaller the capacity between them will be. No. 38 wire was found to be the best. Beside this some human hair looks large.
The ratio of the turns of wire in the primary to those in the secondary was still another problem that had to be worked out with painstaking exactness. The radio novice is often intrigued by
10
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
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complete transformers and put all their band. best features together to
produce the one he was Tne Heart of the Set
after. When he finished The point of the story is this: No
it, he found he could bring matter how many stages of amplification
in Kansas City on a two- you have, no matter how good a detector,
the allurements of a high ratio. "Ten these details, but the government expert and then falls very slowly to 560, which to one! Gee, ten times as much signal who worked them out had to build 127 is the upper edge of the broadcasting strength! Me for it!" Theoretically, it - can be worked out some- thing like that. In prac- tice, the distortion and the difficulty of control nullify the theoretical ad- vantage. The Bureau found that a 1 to 1 ratio between the windings gave very satisfactory amplifi- cation. (As the French- man said: "No doubt they are right, but God knows eet ees impossi- ble!"
A ratio of 1 to 1 1-3 is the maximum. This is obtained not by addi- tional slots and coils, but by additional turns of wire in the slots at the secon- dary end of the tube.
Using Iron and Steel Cores
'"THE core was another
problem. It had been known for a long time that iron-cored transformers would give better results for some pur- poses than air-core transformers. The core broadens the waveband over which the transformer is efficient. It also reduces the turns of wire necessary in the coils and the capacity that is so un- desirable. But the use of iron or steel cores in radio-frequency amplifying trans- formers had not been considered as prac- tical until the Bureau of Standards demonstrated that it was. Transformer action depends upon the building up and collapse of lines of magnetic force about the wires in the windings.
In order to get the desired increase of voltage which the iron core is capable of assisting, the core must reach the magnetic saturation point on every oscillation. In radio-frequency trans- formers, this means that the lines of magnetic force must penetrate and saturate the iron core a million times per second if 300-meter waves are being received. This is impossible unless the core is made up of exceedingly thin sheets. A thick- ness— or thinness! ■ — of three and one- half thousandths of an inch was un- successful.
It had to be re- duced to two thou- sandths before success was achieved. Seventy- five of these ex- tremely delicate sheets of metal, or one sheet folded seventy-five times, makes up a core about the size of a square lead pencil. The core was well insulated to reduce losses.
It is a simple matter to describe
Slots are cut into each end of the tube, the windings being laid into these slots. The tube is closely packed with the iron laminations which form the core. Wind- ings are of fine wire, and are connected from one to the other as above indicated.
foot loop, and K. C. is a long way from Washing- ton. Dr. Rogers, inventor of submarine and under- ground radio devices, brought in broadcasts from England by using these transformers, long before the recent furore about hearing from the other side of the Atlantic.
Part of the job has been to compare the transfor- mer developed by the Bureau with those pro- duced by others. The curves tell the story. Three of them gave no sound at all in the phones on waves
below 300 meters. Now that the broadcasting band is going downward, some folks are out of luck. One transformer had two good humps, like a camel, one at about 250 meters and the other at 350 meters. Unfortunately, the recent conference called by Mr. Hoover did not assign wavelengths to fit the humps of radio-frequency transformers. Another type of transformer gave a fairly high and broad peak from 320 to 360 meters.
Outside of that, nothing doing. Two others rose sharply out of the silence between 300 and 350 meters, then faded away. The one developed by the Bureau and used in this test begins going strong at 200 meters, is better at 300, reaches its peak at 360
The turns of No. 38 wire are wound in slots in a series of continuous but divided coils. The windings slots are at opposite ends of the tubing as shown above.
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tuner, or audio-frequency amplifier your set contains, the first tube and the first transformer control the oscillations of the entire set. If the transformer retuses to function at the wavelength of the station you are fishing for, you will not hear it — that's all! There are many radio-frequency amplifiers on the market and the manufacturers and dealers are mostly honest folks. They are not in the habit of emphasizing the weak points of their sets because there are too many strong points to talk about. It is up to the customer to say what band of wave lengths he wants to cover and make sure that the set he is considering will do the work he wants done. It is perfectly fair to ask for a demonstration before pur- chasing, or to purchase on approval.
One big advantage of the type of radio-fre- quency amplifier that had its beginning in the Bureau of Standards is that it is a plug-in propo- sition. The waveband of a receiver can be changed by taking out one trans- former and plugging in another, as easily as the electric reading lamp on the library table can be plugged into the socket on the baseboard. By using the proper trans- formers, four or five stages of radio-frequency can be used, with easy control and the minimum of dis- tortion. One stage multi- plies by 10,000 the energy received through the aerial and two stages multiply it by 1,000,000. Small, portable coil aerials can be used, with the advantage of their directional effects. Audio- frequency amplifi- ers will bring the sound up to the desired volume.
A comparison between different RF transformers now in use. The heavy line indicates the best curve since it covers the broadcast band with a very satisfactory value of amplification. Two stages of amplification with UV 199s were used and all transformer curves were obtained under the same operating conditions.
Mr. Perry will have another in- teresting article in the February RADIO AGE.
Incidentally, the Editor would like to know what our readers' experien- ces have been with Radio Frequency Transformers. What type of transformers gives best results and widest rangeon the broadcast band ? Write us about it and we'll print the best letters.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
11
FIG. 1
SCHEMATIC CIRCUIT D1/>GR*M FOUR TUBS NEUTRODYNE- REFLEjC RECEIVER.
Simplifying Reception With
A REFLEXED Neutrodyne
WITH the ever in- creasing demand for a receiver that will not only reach out to far distant points, but which will bring in the distant stations with sufficient volume to op- erate a loud speaker, popularity has shifted around from the single circuit regenera- tive receiver of a few years ago to the super-regenerative set and then to the multitube radio fiequency circuits, and so on down the line to the more recently improved circuits.
After reflexing most of last Winter, the neutrodyne circuit gradually took its place in the public favor and it is perhaps the most popular receiver today among broadcast fans. But as time goes on, we find that each has its limits. While the super-heterodyne great possibilities for vanced fan, it becomes too expensive with its maze of tubes and other equipment and is beyond the reach of the average fan, so he naturally looks to less expensive equip- ment that will produce exploring qualities and volume sufficient to boast about with the best of them.
The set described in this article may be just what the fan has been looking for, as it was constructed with the desire to get the best
A Four-Tube Receiver That Gives Regular Six-Tube Volume; Can Be Built at Small Cost
receiver shows the more ad-
By H. FRANK HOPKINS
A. E. E.
results possible without great complica- tion and for the least possible invest- ment, combining the popular neutrodyne circuit with the reflex amplifying features.
Simple Problem
In describing the how and why of the set, let us take the two features separate- ly, so as to better understand why each circuit was designed and how it will function as a single unit. Then it will be a simple problem to put the two circuits together and understand the principle
THE PARTS FOR THIS SET
1 — Fixed Mica condenser. .0015 mf. — F 1 — Fixed Mica condenser. .002 mf. — H
1 — Grid leak condenser .00025 mf. \ ff
1 — Grid leak resistance 1 megohm / ** 4 — Vacuum tube sockets. — M1.M2.M3,
M4 2 — Neutralizing condensers. Variable —
•N, Nl 3 — Radio frequency transformers^*Rl,
R2, R3 2 — Audio frequency amplifying trans- formers. Ratio 5 or 6 to 1 — T, Tl. 1 — Cutoff jack (If required). — X 1 — Phone jack. — Y
7 — Binding posts. — A, Al, A2, B, Bl, B2, G
1 — Composition Panel.
1 — Composition Shelf.
1 — Cabinet. (If required).
Brass screws, nuts, wire, solder, terminals and miscellaneous raw materials used in the construction of the parts described in this article.
1 — Loop' aerial. (If required).
3 — Variable condensers. — .0005 mf. CI, C2, C3
3 — Composition dials for condensers. — CD1, CD2, CD3
1 — Tube control rheostat. — 9 to 16 Ohms.— D
1 — Composition dial for rheostat. — DD
1 — Fixed Mica condenser. — .001 mf. E
•Construction of articles marked with asterisk is detailed in this account. They can be purchased from any reliable dealer if desired.
of the set described. We will start with the neutrodyne circuit, which is of the tuned radio frequency type. A radio frequency circuit amplifies the incoming signal before it reaches the detector tube, much the same as a regenera- tive type of circuit amplifies the signal after it has been passed through the detector tube. This is accomplished by inserting one or more electron tubes between the tuning element and the de- tector tube, which amplifies the weak signal currents received on the antenna and passed through the tuning element, before it reaches the detector tube, the same as a regenerative circuit amplifies them by regeneration. The only excep- tion is that the circuit is free from the objectionable oscillation or regeneration which is the cause of howls and squeals in the set when regen- eration is pushed beyond its critical stage.
By connecting the output side of each radio frequency tube to a tuned circuit, great selectivity is obtained and interference is elimi- nated.
The neutralizing or balancing of the regen- erative effect makes possible a simplified means of tuning, elim- inates oscillation noises and reproduces better. (Turn the page)
12
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
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Harmony and simplicity are the characteristic features of this Neutro-Reflex receiver. In appear- ance it looks like a neutrodyne — in results it is its easy equal, with a smaller number of tubes.
The reflex circuit is simply an ampli- fying feature whereby each amplifying tube is used as a radio frequency ampli- fier and an audio frequency amplifier combined.
The circuit operates much the same as a straight radio frequency circuit up to the detector tube, but instead of the out- put side or plate of the detector tube being connected to the phones or to audio frequency amplifying tubes, it is returned to the input side or the grid of the radio frequency tube. The audio frequency current is thus amplified by the tube that is simultaneously amplify- ing the radio frequency current of the signal before it has reached the detector tube.
If receivers are connected to a radio frequency circuit before the tube, no signal will be heard do not respond to a radio frequency current until it has been passed through the detector tube and changed to audio frequency, but they will respond to the audio frequency currents returned, or reflexed on these tubes from a detector tube, producing the same result as a straight additional audio frequency am- plifier without the use of additional tubes.
T^THEN the instruments have all been " * secured, they should be placed into the positions that they will occupy when mounted into the completed set. A cabinet of the right proportions can then be secured and a panel and shelf to fit the particular cabinet can then be determined. This procedure may save quite a bit of laborous re-arrangement later on.
Construction Simplified
The parts used in building the set are clearly marked with a designating letter or number throughout this article and on the circuit diagram and construction drawings.
This method has been found to better enable the prospective builder to more easily distinguish each part and to con- nect them properly into the electrical circuit, although he may be entirely un- familiar with electrical circuits and con- struction.
The first step in building the receiver should be to secure all of the instruments and material listed at the bottom of page 11.
Placing the Apparatus
The first step in assembling the set will be to cut the shelf and panel to fit the cabinet. The shelf should be cut so as to clear the cabinet on all sides by at least a half of an inch when mounted on the panel. It is not absolutely necessary to have a composition shelf. A lami- detector- nated wood shelf will do as well mechani- as they cally, but if possible a composition shelf is recommended, as it is easier to work and will not warp as wood Will. Con- siderable loss is caused by the wood absorbing moisture during wet weather.
The next step will be to lay out and drill the shelf and panel for mounting the instruments. Figure 2 shows a general arrangement of equipment and can be followed with good results, but it is not essential, as any good layout will suffice if you bear in mind to keep the transformers placed so that they will not be inductively coupled. This is accomplished by mounting the radio frequency transformers (Rl, R2, R3) on an angle of about 45 degrees or on opposite planes. They should be spaced at least four inches apart.
The audio frequency transformers (T Tl) should be placed at right angles to one another and as far apart and as far away from the radio frequency trans- formers as is practical. If this is not done, an inductive coupling effect will be produced. The little induced currents thus formed will cause many annoying howls and squeals in the receiver.
When the in- struments are all placed in their permanent posi- tions, the mount- ing holes should be centered in the panel and snelf with a sharp in- strument. A nail that has been filed to a good point or an awl will do this very nicely.
Drilling the Holes
THE instru- -*- ments will then be removed and the shelf and panel drilled. Be care- ful not to press too hard on the drill as this will cause the edges of the holes to chip.
It is a good practice to drill the holes for the condenser and rheostat shafts with plenty of clearance. A hole one-half inch in diameter is a good size, as it will be a safeguard against the bind- ing of these movable shafts on the panel which would cause the dials to turn hard and make it impossible to tune the set critically.
When the panel is drilled, the front or control side should be rubbed with fine steel wool (size 000) until all of the scratches are removed, following this by finishing off with a fine piece of sand paper and machine oil until a dull velvet finish is obtained. The edges of the panel should be rounded off with a fine file and finished with fine sand paper to prevent chipping.
After the shelf and panel are prepared, the instruments should be mounted to each and the shelf fastened to the panel by the brass brackets shown in figure 5 as detail 3. Brass machine screws and nuts should be used throughout, as iron screws will produce little magnetic fields when near any inductance. These little induced currents also help to make the set noisy.
When the instruments have all been mounted to the panel and shelf and the shelf mounted to the panel, the set will be ready to be wired or connected up, but don't just wire it or connect it up; use as much care in doing this as you have in drilling the panel or building the transformers, remembering that a radio set is only as efficient as its most inefficient part. If the wiring is not carefully done, disappointing results will be ob- tained even though the instruments are the best.
Many people, in wiring a receiving set, make a fine looking job of it by arrang- ing the wiring in nice straight runs and square corners, taking the longest way around like the bus work on the switch- board in a power station; but this is a very inefficient way to do it. It must be
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
13
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remembered that the frequency o f the current pass- ing through the wiring of a radio set is measured in the thousands of cycles, while the current on the bus work of a power switchboard i s seldom over sixty cycles.
The nice, long parallel runs will act as little con- densers cutting down the efficien- cy of the set by increasing its in- ternal capacity. It is also necessary that the power or low tension leads, battery supply leads, and high tension leads, grid,
plate and antenna leads, be separated. Do not run a low tension lead parallel to a high tension lead for any distance. Keep the leads from the input side of the tube (the grid leads), as short as possible and away from the other leads. If this interferes with another lead, make the other lead longer.
Bare copper wire either No. 12 or No. 14 is heavy enough to care for the cur- rents passing through a radio receiver and will be stiff enough to support them- selves when bent into the required shapes. Solder all wire connections and turn the binding post and terminal nuts down as tight as possible, as a loose lead causes a high resistance contact and is sometimes very noisy, especially if the set is subjected to much vibration.
If it is not desired to use a loop antenna or to make the set for the use of both the outside antenna and loop, the cutoff jack (X) and the wiring marked "X" will be omitted and the first radio frequency transformer (Rl) connected to the condenser (CI) as shown by the dotted wiring.
If it is desired to use the loop an- tenna only, and not arrange the set for use with an outside antenna, the first radio fre- quency transform- er (Rl) and the cutoff jack (X) can be omitted and the two leads from the conden- ser (CI) shown dotted, run to the binding posts "A" and "G" instead of to the trans- former as shown.
The R. F. Trans- formers
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The dimensions and specifications for the radio frequency transformers are given in the above illustration. The primary fits immediately inside of the wall of the secondary winding tube, and is held in place with screws.
ers, Rl, R2, R3, six pieces of composition tubing will be required, three pieces of three inches outside diameter, three inches long, and three pieces, two and three quarters inches outside diameter, one and one half inches long; eight No. 4 brass machine screws five-eighths of an inch long; thirty brass nuts for No. 4 machine screws and about one-half pound of No. 26 double silk covered magnet wire.
The three-inch tubes will hart five holes drilled in each, to pass a No. 4 brass machine screw. These holes will be one quarter of an inch in from the end of the tube, as shown in figure 4. Two of these holes will be drilled on each end of the tube on opposite sides from one another and one midway between the two on the right end. We will call these holes No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5, as shown in figure 3.
The two and three-quarter inch tubes will have two holes of the same size drilled on the left end of each to pass a
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A Neutrodon or Neutralizing condenser that can be constructed at a small cost, and which has few equals for efficiency. This type of balancing condenser can be used to advantage on most any type of neutrodyne receiver which requires the use of a balancing element.
No. 4 brass machine screw, these holes to be one quarter of an inch in from the end of the tube and on opposite sides of the tube. We will call these holes No. 1 and No. 2, as shown in figure 3. They should line u p with holes No. 1 and No. 2 on the three-inch tube when this tube is placed inside of the three-inch tube.
The tubes are now ready to be wound. We will start with the sec- ondary coil which is to be wound on jthe three-inch tube. Two small ho es will be drilled one-half of an inch in from the left end of the tube and directly in line with hole No. 1 as shown in figure No. 4, to pass and fasten the No. 26 wire. The end of the wire will be passed down through one hole and up through the other hole, leaving about two inches of free end for connection. Care should be used to see that this wire will lay close to the inside of the tube between the two holes and that it is not pulled too tight, which would damage the insulation or break the wire itself.
Fifty-five turns of the No. 26 wire will now be wound in an even layer on the tube. This should be wound on in a clockwise direction when looking at the right end of the tube. If the tube is held in the left hand and the wire wound so that it goes away from the body over the top of the tube and toward the body on the lower side of the tube, this will be accomplished. Two more holes will then be drilled directly in line with the last turn of the coil and opposite hole No. 3 similar to figure No. 4 and the end made fast as was done at the start, leaving about two inches of free end for con- nection.
The Winding
WHEN the three second- ary coils have been wound, they will be laid aside and the two and three- quarter-inch tubes will have the pri- mary coils wound on them ; two small holes will be drilled in the right end of the tube opposite hole No. 2 and (Turn to page 70)
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t4 RADIO AGE /or January, 1925
Take Good Care of Your
HEADPH
The Magazine of the Hour
AFTER three years of trouble shoot- j\ ing on amateur-built receiving -L \. sets I have come to the conclusion that "Gyp" headsets or phones are as much to blame for failures as any other part of the circuit. It seems to be a common failing for the builder to spend money foolishly on all sorts of psuedo- refinements in the set proper and then to economize or skimp on the phones — the heart of the radio receiver.
After investing a hundred dollars or so on nickel-plated ornaments and foolish coils, he will go and buy his phones from the five and ten cent counter and wonder why he is not getting the expected results from his set.
The importance of the headset is greatly underestimated by the average fan. He does not seem to realize that the entire output of his set is delivered to the phones and that whatever benefit he gets from the set depends un what the phones are capable of delivering to him. If the efficiency of the phones is only 50 per cent, then he will get only 50 per cent of the output in the form of sound waves where he should be getting a great deal more. It can be said without exaggera- tion that the difference between a good set of phones and the bargain counter type is equal to two stages of audio amplification. That is, the good phones will deliver as much volume from the detector tube alone as the poor phones will deliver from the same tube with two stages of audio amplification added. In fact, there are several makes of phones which will give as much volume on a crystal set as a poor pair will give on a regenerative detector circuit, and the range varies accordingly.
If the radio novice paid as much atten- tion to the selection of his headset as to the selection of a hookup and the tuning units, we would have more consistent DX reception. When the phones have diaphragms with the flexibility of cast iron stove lids, and the magnets are wound with hay wire, it is impossible to make any hookup perform according to Hoyle. When such poor magnet steels are used for the magnets of the phones
that only a faint trace of magnetic flux remains, we cannot expect to get either volume or sensitivity. In addition to these factors we have the problem of workmanship and adjustment after assembly, which are items in the expense of manufacture and which are therefore often ignored even in headsets retailing at a stiff price. Headsets are essentially a quantity production proposition and can only be made by concerns having the proper equipment, and proper equip- ment means a heavy investment of capi- tal. Good headsets cannot be turned out of basement shops by ex-barbers or old clothes dealers. You may rest assured that when phones are turned out by hand in quantities of ten to 100 pair at a time, that a good set would cost in the neighborhood of from $25 to $50 per set.
Wise Buying Advised
BY CHEAP phones I do not neces- sarily mean phones that retail at a reasonable price. Please do not mis- understand me. There are firms that turn out effective receivers at lists rang- ing from about $3.00 to $4.00 that are comparable to cheaply constructed phones that retail at twice the price. It is easily possible by virtue of improved tooling and minimizing of overhead expenses to turn out a headset that will retail at about $3.00, but only a few manufacturers have such facilities avail- able. Fortunately, such concerns also have the money to conduct national advertising campaigns so that the pur- chaser can feel fairly safe in buying a low priced outfit when such sets are
extensively advertised. However, beware of the unknown and unheralded cheap phone unless you have means for con- ducting comparative tests.
Next to sensitivity comes the item of tone quality and uniform response to widely varying audio frequencies. Some phones, while sensitive, are harsh sound- ing and give unnatural reproduction, due principally to the construction of the diaphragms and the arrangement of the pole pieces. Further, in a double head- set - both phones should be perfectly matched, so that they give perfectly uniform volume and tone. Headsets, while apparently the most simple device in the receiving outfit, are the most difficult to construct. A good pair of phones will give a smooth, soft reproduc- tion with almost perfectly uniform accent on high and low pitched notes. They are as responsive to the low shuddering notes of the pipe organ as to the high upper notes of the soprano. Poorly constructed phones are generally insen- sitive to the lower pitched notes and unduly sensitive to high pitches, thus giving an unbalanced reception.
With improper diaphragms and mag- nets, it is possible to lose half of the orchestra because of the selectivity of the diaphragms. Very sensitive phones with exceedingly thin diaphragms gen- erally have a lower natural period than insensitive phones, and while they record low notes with accuracy, they will buzz and rattle on high notes. By combina- tion of thin diaphragms with proper "damping" we gain a better distribution of sound.
Elements of the Phones
EVERY headset consists of the follow- ing elements in some form or other: 1) The thin diaphragm which is made of either sheet steel or mica, and which vibrates at voice frequency under the influence of the audio fre- quency currents. (Turn to page 57)
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour 15
A 6-TUBE SUPER-E
By PAUL GREEN
A Wonder Circuit That Can Be Built for Approximately $55! — Compares Favorably With Larger Supers; Uses Simple Control
MANY a fan has been waiting for a super-heterodyne that could be built for little, if any, additional cost over what a neutrodyne or other similar set would cost. Here is one that can be built for approximately $55.00 and that will give you results that will stack up well with larger editions of the same circuit.
In fact, this circuit is practically the same circuit as heretofore described by the writer in RADIO AGE, but with one stage of audio and one stage of inter- mediate omitted.
In building this set, the purpose that the writer had in mind was to provide something that would be inexpensive and yet woud produce results such as the average fan .desires. All the parts used are standard, so there will be no difficulty in securing them.
One unique feature of this circuit lies in the fact that it uses only one filament control.
Great pains have been taken in laying out the circuit so as to utilize the base- board and panel space to very best ad- vantage. There is not one inch of sur- plus space, so it will be necessary to follow instructions very carefully in building yours. It will be further noted that this arrangement provides for exceptionally short grid and plate leads. An examination of the underside of the
Pictures by the Author
baseboard will show how the balance of the wiring is disposed of.
"Balancing Out the Loop"
UNKNOWN probably to most radio enthusiasts, regeneraton plays an exceedingly important part in securing selectivity as well as volume and dis- tance. If regeneration is pushed too far, the circuit is said to slop over or become mushy. Resistance is one of the factors which stands in the way of selectivity and volume. Regeneration, if properly used, tends to break down this resistance and thereby gives us the selectivity desired. The use of regeneration in this circuit is unique, and must be fully appreciated to get best results.
An examination of the diagram will show that a midget condenser is so con- nected that its rotor plates are next to the plate post of the first intermediate transformer and the first detector tube. The stator plates are connected to the one side of the loop in common with the rotor plate of the loop condenser. By adjusting this condenser to the proper value, regeneration of exactly the right degree can be obtained. Too much regeneration, as above stated, will -ruin reception. Too little regeneration will prevent the set bringing in its full quota
of distant stations. Too much cannot be said regarding this portion of the circuit. You will find many fans will tell you that this small condenser can be dis- pensed with. Pay no attention to them. The condenser for this purpose should contain nine plates and should be of a panel mounting variety. If upon test- ing your set, you find that you can- not place the plates far enough apart to prevent over-regeneration, remove one plate at a time until the proper capacity has been reached.
The Variable Condenser
T^HESE two condensers have been -*- found by experiment to be well adapt- ed to this circuit; however, there are plenty of other good low loss types on the market. The only point to be borne in mind, if you desire to use other low loss condensers, is that it is preferable that they be not only low loss but straight line condensers as well. The importance of this suggestion will be realized when you make your first set of loggings. There will be plenty of separation between the upper and the lower oscilla- tor dial settings on stations around 500 meters, but when you get down to sta- tions of about 250 meters, you will find that the settings come much closer together.
With straight-line condensers the set- tings are farther apart around 250 meters
16
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
A top view of the Baby Grand super-heterodyne receiver described by Mr. Green in the ac- companying article. This layout must be religiously adhered to if results are to be expected.
Oscillator Coupling
The oscillator is the device which shows on the extreme right hand end of the baseboard as you look at the illustra- tion. Too tight coup- ling of these coils will usually result in less selectivity and less vol- ume. , For distance re- ception, avoid too tight a coupling at all times. There are several types of oscillator coupler on the market. The writer would be glad to give anyone interested full constructional details for the making of a very efficient home-m a d e coupler at little expense if you will address him care of RADIO AGE.
While speaking o f home-made apparatus, it might be well to mention the output coil. The one shown is wound on a bobbin two inches in diameter with a one inch core. The winding space is 1-2 inch wide. The primary consists of 200 turns of No. 28 single cotton or silk covered wire, over which the secondary is wound with no other separation than the natural insula- tion of the wire. The secondary consists of 1,500 turns of No. 36 silk or cotton covered wire. The bobbin for this output transformer can be turned out of kiln-dried wood or per- haps more conveniently
than is the case with the ordinary type of condenser. Not only that, but with straight-line condensers, it is much easier for you to lay out your graph and to predict with almost uncanny certainty the dial settings of any station for which you have the wavelength. With the dials properly adjusted, they should tune almost exactly alike, especially on sta- tions around 300 meters. This, of course, refers to the upper oscillator dial setting and the normal loop setting. It will be found that there are two settings for each station on the oscillator dial. This is as it should be, so don't be worried.
It might be added that the two settings are a decided advantage because of the fact that this allows you to utilize the setting which is farthest from the source of interference. You will hear many persons dispute this, but don't let that bother you. The rheostat will usually be found to have one setting at which the circuit functions best. Referring again to the small condenser used for controll- ing loop feed-back, it should be men- tioned that very little coupling is neces- sary; usually, not more than 1-10 or 1-15 of the way in.
1 8
Bottom V/'ew- Jb&sehoQrd
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This gives you an idea of what is meant by good design and engineering. The bottom view of the Baby Grand.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
17
made up of two pieces of bakelite 2 "x2 " x 3-16" for the sides and a 1-2 " section of 1 inch diameter bakelite or wood rod for the core. A brass screw of any convenient dimen- sion and approxi- mately two inches in length should be passed through the center of this bobbin. This screw will serve as a con- venient means of holding the bob- bin core, while at the same time en- abling you to chuck the coil in a lathe or hand drill for winding.
If you use your hand drill for winding, merely turn the handle of the drill as many times for the primary and second- ary respectively as the ratio of your drill is contained into the number of turns required. Thus, if the ratio of your drill is 5 to 1, you will only need to turn the handle of your drill 40 times when put- ting on the primary and 300 times when putting on the secondary.
If any of the readers of this article would like to have more detailed descrip- tion of the construction of this simple output tuner, these details will be sup- plied in the same manner as those of the oscillator coil.
Baseboard
TT GOES without saying that inasmuch -*- as a large part of the wiring is done beneath the baseboard, the baseboard should be of bake- lite or hard rub- ber. It can be fastened to the front panel by means of brass brackets or angle pieces not shown in the illustration. If the set is to be handled much be- fore it is put into a cabinet, it will be well to put long, diagonal brackets from the top of the front panel to the back of the baseboard. B y doing most of the wiring beneath the baseboard, it is possible to make the grid and plate leads exceptional- ly short, which, as you know, is a very important feature. The long- est leads for the set are "a" battery leads and these are comparatively short, For con-
Two controls that require only two hands to tune with. The filament rheostat may be set and left there, and while the regeneration requires an occasional touch when tuning on widely separated wavelengths, it is not troublesome. The filament switch on the right permits one to turn off the set while lashing the phones or loud speaker to the table when strong signals are to be received.
venience in placing this set in a cabinet the writer extended the binding post back of the baseboard an inch and a quarter. This permits of reaching the binding posts from the outside of the cabinet, without raising the lid. It will merely be necessary to cut a slot in the back of the cabinet long enough and high enough to allow the binding post bracket
expense of the set is thus kept down to a point very little, if any, in excess of that of any ordinary set.
All of the parts chosen in this cir- cuit were deliber- ately chosen be- cause of their known ability to perform properly. While undoubted- ly there are other pieces of apparatus that might be sub- stituted, yet it is suggested that when you build your set you ad- here to the sugges- tions as to the parts to be used. Otherwise, it will be next to impossible to analyze your troubles or to correct them.
This little "Baby Grand" superhetro- dyne is the outcome of a great deal of experimentation and as it performs just as a super-heterodyne should perform, you will gain nothing by trying to substitute parts. This point can be very well
to slip through, after which the binding understood when it is explained that the posts and their screws can be placed in intermediate transformers used are in- tended to peak at a given frequency. The output coil is tuned to peak at the same frequency. Any changes that
position.
Transformers
The two transformers shown
on the
center portion of the baseboard are so- called long wave transformers. Only one step of audio is used in this circuit, so that from the standpoint of expense very little money is spent for transformers. This point alone makes this circuit ideal for the average radio fan. The total
The business end of the powerful little superheterodyne receiver described by Mr. Green. It gives one an idea of what a compact efficient super-het should look like.
might be made in apparatus are almost certain to cause trouble because of the inability of substituted apparatus to function best at the frequency for which this set was designed.
HPHERE is nothing to fear in the wiring *■ of this circuit. Follow the two base- board layouts
closely and place
your apparatus as shown. The dis- tance between the oscillator conden- ser and the loop condenser has been carefully de- termined after quite a bit of ex- perimentation. If you change the spacing, it is quite likely that the set will not function as it should and you will find it necessary to make minor adj ustments to compensate. This will involve experimentation, which it is the pur- pose of this article to eliminate.
As stated, prac- tically all of the wiring is done be- neath the base- board. There are a number of ad- vantages to this (Turn to page 66)
18
«L
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
An Unusual Account of The Development of A Simple Tube Set
The Magazine of the Hour
IF YOU are interested in the crystal detector, previously described, and want to experiment further with crystals, you will prefer the circuit shown in Hook-up No. 2. This is No. 2, the Long-distance Hook-up.
While we do not recommend it as giving the general satisfaction of Hook- up No. 1, it has often been reported giving phenomenal distance. Try it as you would a grab-bag — you may get a prize!
HOOKUP NO TWO
LONCr DISTANCE CQyJTAL \l/ CG'/SrAL
DFrecroe ►<}-
The feature of this circuit, of course, must be efficiency. A sturdy low-loss variometer (with two stagger-wound coils giving a perfect ratio of inductance) is recommended to insure conserving all the precious signal energy.
Vacuum Tube as a Detector
WHILE the crystal yields a wonder- fully true tone and while your knowledge of it will prove valuable in some interesting combination hook-ups later, you must depend upon the vacuum tube to secure distances of over twenty to fifty miles.
The vacuum tube is simply an elec- trical "valve." It enables a minute quantity of electricity caught by the antenna to turn on and off a powerful current (the B-battery current). This B-current operates the phones. The action of the tube is like that of a child turning a faucet on and off and con- trolling a great current of water. Or it is like the delicate fingers of the musician manipulating the key-controls of an organ, releasing the power which produces great sounds.
The accompanying drawing shows the three elements of the vacuum tube.
The filament when heated to incan- descence by an "A-battery" (usually of
about 6 volts) throws off small electrical particles or electrons.
The powerful cur- rent (from the B- battery) which op- erates the phones travels from the fila- ment "on the back" of these electrons to the plate.
The grid, however, is between the fil- ament and plate. It acquires an elec- trical charge caught by the an tenna. These charges on the grid either repel or attract the electrons from the filament and thus weaken or strengthen the value of the B-current.
Also the tube, like the crystal detector, is a rectifier, permitting current to flow in one direction only. This gives pulsating direct current, a necessity for the operation of the 'phones.
First Tube Hook-up "V^OU are now prepared to follow in the -*- footsteps of the masters of radio with one of the first and most famous of
T/ieALLADIN'S
And How
By EDMUND
circuits, the "Ultra- Audion." This cir- cuit is extremely easy to build and operate, and is capable of excellent long distance reception. The parts here listed will not cost much.
1. Ultra-Audion coil. You must use an efficient coil with four taps for this purpose.
2. Switch lever and four switch points.
3. Grid leak and grid condenser. See Vacuum Tube Chart to be published in our February Beginners' Section. We recommend U. V-199 or C.-299 tubes and dry cells for this circuit. It is important to buy a good accurate grid leak. The two de- vices may be obtained combined and certified as to accuracy and must be chosen wisely.
4. Socket to fit tube selected.
5. One variable condenser (with dial) capacity .0005 microfarads, vernier and low-loss type preferred.
If a condenser with bakelite end-plates
is used, a shield of aluminum or zinc must be placed between it and the panel.
6. One rheostat to match tube se- lected.
7. Head-set of good quality.
8. One vacuum tube; U. V. 199 or C. 299 recommended.
9. "A" battery selected according to type of tube you want to use.
10. One "B" battery of 22 1-2 volts of well known brand. A tapped type should be used with U. V. 200 or C. 300 tubes.
11. Necessary connecting wire, an- tenna wire, and insulators.
12. No recommendations as to panel or cabinet size, as you may wish to add a two-step amplifier to the set after you see how the set works. The illustration shows a panel 6 by 7 inches. You must secure a drill for drilling iron, and will not find it difficult then to bore holes in the rubber or bakelite panel.
SYMBOLS
USBD IN 1
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RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
19
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The Operation of the VacuwnTube asDetector Explained for Beginners
Lamp of RADIO
to Use It
H. EI TEL
HPO learn the Ultra-Audion circuit, -*- experiment with it. On these pages is given the "Improved Ultra-Audion;" Hook-up, No. 4. Its chief advantage lies in better control of the feed-back of cur- rent from the plate circuit.
You must observe that one reason for the effectiveness of this circuit is that the signal is amplified in passing through the tube and is returned to the antenna circuit and thus strengthens the original and controlling signal.
By using a variometer instead of a fixed coil, you can control this feed-back and so secure better efficiency or farther distance reception. The only change in your apparatus needed is the addition of the variometer. We advise that a good low-loss type be used.
Gibbon's Ultra-Audion
The experimenter may now add a variable grid leak between the grid and
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the filament as shown, and have the Gibbon's Hook-up. This is the last word in the Ultra- Audion. Its success depends upon a su- premely fine variable grid leak which is not difficult to find. We recommend that Hook-ups No. 3 and No. 4 be made first, however.
In operating any of the circuits illus- trated, it is always wise t o remember that the filament con- trol is one of the important knobs on the set, and the best results are only obtained with the proper filament current value. Since this feature of the circuit is rather critical, it is advisable, of course, to pro- vide for delicate changes in filament con- trol, and a vernier rheostat of either the carbon pile or metal-dust-carbon should be used.
HOOKUP NO FOUp
37Z>A.fv-frr UCT7?A-AuDiOA/ V5WG- *Gt2/AL ^n *AJ?lO*nE-T&R - &AD/A7ES
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Have Tubes Tested
When you make a purchase of a tube, remember that the safest way is to cater to a dealer who has a testing device that will give the characteristics for the tube you intend to purchase. Nearly every large dealer in tubes has at his disposal a "testometer" for this purpose, and can give his patrons absolute satisfaction in giving them the proper type of tube for their use.
When buying tubes, the general test is to see if the filament lights; if it does, it is assumed that the tube is satisfactory for all purposes. This, unfortunately, is not the case, since there are tubes that are defective internally or their charac- teristics may make them better amplifiers than detectors, or they may be "duds." The common term for a tube that re- fuses to oscillate is "dud." So when buy- ing, specify what your tube is going to be used for, and have your dealer pick one out of stock that which is suited to your needs.
TT might be well to mention that ex- *- treme care should be exercised in tuning the receivers illustrated herewith, as they are especially violent squealers when mishandled. This circuit is bas- ically the Colpitts transmitting circuit, and if hard tubes are used with plenty of B battery voltage, you may do terrible things to your next door neighbor's re-
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ceiving if you are not careful. By all means, do not let the set squeal.
Tuning Simple
The tuning is very simple. For any of the circuits shown, about the same pro- cedure is followed. The filament is turned on till the tube reaches the critical point, which is just immediately below the thump, indicating oscillation and squeals which are heard as the filament is advanced.
With the filament set at this point, the taps or variometer is varied together with the variable condenser knob until a signal is heard. Adjustments are then made until the signal is clearest and loudest.
In an accompanying illustration, we are printing for the benefit of those un- initiated, the common symbols used in connection with vacuum tube diagrams. Simple comparisons between the dia- grams shown elsewhere on the page and with the chart is in itself a little lesson in reading diagrams. Once the reader memorizes the symbols, it becomes quite an easy matter for him to read them and compare circuits.
In reading circuits, always remember that the positions of the symbols on the chart have no bearing mechanically on the layout or assembly of the receiver as a whole. The purpose of the diagram is to furnish a set of electrical connections for the various units of the receiver
We do find mechanical specifications inferred on diagrams when small, light pointed arrows are drawn across induc- tances, resistance or capacities to indicate that they are variable, in which case they are usually controlled from the front of the panel.
For the purpose of giving more infor- mation on this subject, we would refer you to the RADIO AGE ANNUAL for 1924.
20
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doiri'>
Tuning In with the French Fan
C.How French Equipment
Differs from U. S.
Sets and
Parts
PARIS: — Radio reception is now very popular in France; there is not one small village which cannot boost itself as having a score of radio listeners. The programs are very up-to-date and the ears of the countrymen are astonished by the ragtimes and jazz music imported from across the pond. Great was my surprise when I first listened to a radio concert, in hearing "Gallagher and Shean" and "Dream Daddy."
I thought my friend had succeeded in getting an American station and I was going to congratulate him, when the}' announced in true Parisian French, "Vous allez maintenant entendre. (You will now listen to . . .)"
How Sets Differ
rT,HE purpose of this article being to show the main differences between the American and French radio equip- ment, we will start by describing the aerial and ground, the set itself, the radio parts and novelties.
The first thing to consider is what stations may be heard, what kind of program and entertainment they have, and especially what their wavelength is. The aim of the radio fan is to hear as many stations as possible, enabling him- self to pick out the best programs and be entertained at any hour of the day.
Unfortunately, the number of Euro- pean broadcasting stations is far from being as considerable as it is in America; a dozen or so in England, five or six in France, a few in Ger- many, Italy and Spain.
To make matters worse, these stations are far from working in a small range of wave- lengths; the English are between 300 and 500 meters;so aresomeofthe French stations; but the Eiffel tower FL works on 2600, Radio-Paris SFR on 1780, Madrid EGC on 2 2 00, Koenigswuster- hausen on 6000. There is, of course, no danger of interference but the re- ceiving set has to be de- signed to cover all the wavelengths.
The Aerials
By C. R. Bluzat
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Above is a loud speaker of artistic design recently introduced in France. The diaphragm transmits its vibra- tion to a pleated parchment disc, giving pure, unadulterated tone.
sists usually of two units of six turns on a four to six foot square frame, provision being made to use them in series (long waves) or in parallel (short waves).
A new type, just put on the market, consists of a flat copper strip 12 meters long (app. 36 feet). This ribbon is . usually strung around a room, so that its wider surface is parallel to the earth. It is claimed that the ribbon acts like a plate of a condenser, the other plate being the earth itself. Far better results have been obtained than with a loop of same length, due to this capacity effect.
^Frenchman's Set Has to
Be Designed to
Cover Varied
Waves
three square feet laid on or imbedded in the earth at one foot depth.
Receiving set. — Due to the broad range of wavelengths, the maximum inductances of the primary and secondary circuits have to be rather large; they consist of a certain number of units which may be cut in or out through appropriate switches. Condensers of .0005 or .001 microfarad may be put in series or in parallel with the antenna inductances. Use is also made of honey- comb or spiderweb coils, a set being used for short wave, another for long wave reception.
A great number of listeners are still using crystal sets, some built with slid- ing contact coils of pre-war fame; but the tube set is superseding the crystal, especially since the appearance on the market of the so-called "micro" lamp which is of low current consumption like the American UV-201A or UV 199. Radio frequency amplification as well as audio frequency amplification are a feature of any good set. For the first type of amplification, the manufacturer of transformers had to meet very strict requirements. In America, where the wavelength range is only from 250 to 600 meters, we know it has been a real job to realize a transformer which would keep its amplification factor about the same all over the broadcasting wave- lengths.
The French manufacturer had to de- sign a transformer which would amplify satisfactorily from 300 to 4000 meters. Success has been achieved, and some trans- formers cover now from 150 to 12000 meters with- out any tap! Regenera- tive sets are predominant now; Reinartz finds great favor for the short wave reception. Super-regen- eration is tried by a few "dyed-in-the-wool" fans, Flewelling having be-, come a favorite lately. Super-heterodyne sets are the favorites for transoceanic reception.
Their Parts
A typical French receiving set, with its "micro" lamps, or tubes, on the outside. So objectionable has this type become, with its brilliant glare and unsightly appearance, that theFrench are slowly adopting the American design of radio set cabinet.
The antenna constants must be larger than in America. The aerial may consist of only one wire of 90 to 150 feet; preference is, however, given to a high capacity type such as a three or four wire antenna or a cage antenna strung as high as possible. The inside aerial is being used more and more; the loop con-
The Ground
TN THE towns the ground connection -*• is made to the water system; in the country, special galvanized iron rods three feet long are forced into the earth, in a wet place if possible. They also use copper plates or* netting of two to
Parts differ from the American standard by mechanical construction. The variable condensers come in .00025, .0005, .001 and .002 microfarad. The vernier attachment consists of a brass rod with a long detachable knob, the back end being shaped like a small grooved pulley. A large bakelite disc fastened to the moving plates shaft engages in this groove and is (Turn to page 61)
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
21
"Juggling" Your Circuit for
An Efficient PORTABLE SET
I
portable in the strictest sense of the word
and which contains every last item j\J Q QUtslde WireS
necessary to its functioning.
T GOES almost without saying that By BRAIN ARD FOOTE s° '°ng as the R. F. transformers weren't
the ambition of every radio fan and •' ' closer than an inch or so. The audio
experimenter is to possess a com- " transformers were likewise changed about
plete receiving set which will work in J—f p f p o rt f? p r p j 71 p f and interchanged with those of different
any location, at any time, without the makes and varying ratios and the only
slightest wire connection to aerial, bat- 'in fit W/ I 1 1 F*1 J fl ft \ Vlfl perceptible difference in operation was
teries or anything else outside of the i 'IWl W IH i U/tHH/fl that transformers of higher ratio (larger
outfit. In other words, it's a set that is A i p 71 p f\j J r\r fit j nn • secondary windings) required larger by-
■_ y Z_Z.. ' pass condensers.
The Hook-up
T^HE circuit diagram reveals a straight •*- reflex amplifier circuit, reception being accomplished with a loop and one variable condenser. The three tubes 1, 2 and 3 amplify successively at radio frequencies whatever signal is tuned in and passed to the first tube. Next comes the detector, from whose plate circuit the detected and audio frequency im- pulses are led back to the first tube through an audio frequency transformer, "a." Its secondary is inserted in the grid return lead from the loop tuning circuit to the movable arm of a potenti- ometer. Tube No. 1 thus amplifies at audio frequency and the amplified audio impulses pass without opposition through the primary winding of the first R. F. transformer to the second audio trans- former, "b." Here they are transferred with amplification to the next tube, No. 2, which again amplifies at audio frequencies and passes the energy along to tube No. 3. In the plate circuit of this tube we find the loud speaker "L.S." whereby the impulses are rendered audible.
Now, it is well known that the extent to which a radio frequency amplifying tube will strengthen the weak R. F. impulses is depend- ent upon the close- ness'of its approach to the point of os- cillation. In other words, there must be a certain degree of tuning in plate and grid circuits of each R. F. ampli- fier tube and a sufficient negative bias (not too much) to bring about a condition of regen- eration, but not of oscillation. Thus, most R. F. iron- core transformers are designed to do and are intended to have the grid return leads go di- rect the negative of the filament bat- tery. But in the case of the first, tube, the grid cir- cuit does not have the high resistance
Now, it isn't intended that such a receiver shall weigh so much that it's only portable when tackled by a corps of furniture movers or a traveling crane. It must be light enough to be lifted easily and carried about just like a small suit- case. And above all, it must include a loud speaker, for who cares to use head- phones for group entertainment?
These rigid requirements instantly call to mind what type of receiver the portable set must be. It must operate on a small loop antenna, must use dry cell tubes, must have at least three steps of radio frequency amplification, must have at least two steps of audio, prefer- ably three steps of it, and must be selec- tive and sensitive besides. Is there any such thing?
Triple Reflexing
TO embody three radio and three audio, besides a tube detector, seven tubes would ordinarily be necessary, unless we resort to reflexing. This, then, is a most valuable method of reception not only for its economy of expensive tubes, but quite as much on account of its space saving possibilities and the reduction in battery consump- tion. You may say offhand that to reflex sufficiently would use each of three tubes as both radio and audio am- plifiers and a fourth as the detector. This arrangement, you may suppose, will howl and squeal so unmercifully that it would be next to impossible to get it functioning.
Not so, however, for experiments with all sorts of R. F. and A. F. trans- former combina- tions have con- vinced me that in every case the stunt will work and work well, though not without consider- able reversals of audio transformer connections and the judicious use of var- ious sizes of by-pass
condensers as individually demanded. Moreover, the size of the loop with which such a circuit will perform local and DX reception is indeed astonishing! Take the set-up illustrated, for instance. The loop is wound on a cigar box of the ordinary proportions, using common No. 20 enamelled magnet wire for the winding, and enough turns to cover the broadcast wavelength band with the 13 plate tuning condenser shown.
Four UV 199 tubes are employed in the outfit, together with three tuned iron core R. F. transformers. The trans- former at the extreme right is an audio transformer, not an R. F., its appearance being similar since the same sort of con- tainer is used by the manufacturers as for their R. F. transformers. The other two audio transformers may be observed, one at the left, just behind the tuning condenser and the other behind the potentiometer.
The layout was tried in several different ways, to discover what effect criss-cross- ing of wires and juxtaposition of R. F. coils would have upon the results. The set functioned as well one way as another,
Here's an experimental outfit that functions on a cigar-box loop antenna and gets DX in addition to local stations on the speaker. It uses three radio, three audio and tube detector, reflexed in such a way as to require only four tubes. If you'd like to build a really complete portable set in a suit-case, try this with these temporary connections and surprise your friends.
22
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
and iron core which prevents oscillation in the case of the other tubes, but instead has a low resistance loop and a sharply tuned circuit.
Oscillation is therefore present in the first tube unless means be arranged to vary the negative bias, and the potenti- ometer is therefore installed to effect this sensitivity control. The secondary of the audio transformer must be shunted by a by-pass condenser of sufficient size to pass the R. F. impulses past the high impedance winding. Were the con- denser omitted, the tuning would be too broad and oscillation impossible to secure. But condenser C-l must not be large, for it then exerts a deleterious effect upon the audio frequency side of the amplifier.
Audio Amplification
HAVE you ever shunted a .002 mfds. fixed condenser across the secondary of your audio transformer and observed the alteration in quality of tone? Music becomes more mellow, though at a con- siderable loss in volume. If the con- denser be small enough, the mellowing of tone is obtained to a sufficiently pleas- ing extent without any great lessening of signal volume and consequently a condenser of about .00025 mfds. is often employed for such a purpose.
The self-same effect is felt here. Too large a capacity at C-l will greatly cut the volume, but too small a capacity will spoil the sensitivity. The trans- former ratio exercises the controlling power over the exact size of fixed con- denser needed and therefore the ex- perimenter should have a supply of fixed condensers of .00025 mfds., .0005 mfds. and .001 mfds. on hand; say, about three of each. These three sizes will satisfactorily fill the bill and by a proper distribution of these condensers to the various audio amplifying transformers,
a happy condition of sensitiveness and good volume will be arrived at.
Without by-pass condensers across the audio transformer secondaries of tubes No. 2 and No. 3 or across the loud speaker, local stations can be heard loudly and clearly, but the sensitiveness to DX signals is rather poor. Con- denser C-l, however, is a real essential, before any signals will be heard with any sort of strength. Once the set is working on locals, however, it becomes a simple matter to test with the different sizes of condenser at the points recom- mended. It is not necessary to use by- pass condensers in the 'primary circuits, however. Condenser C-5 is of utmost importance, it being a .002 mfds. by-pass condenser for the plate circuit of the detector tube.
It is by the use of these by-pass con- densers that we obtain a condition of regeneration in each R. F. amplifier, but we must avoid too high a capacity in any of the points where good signals are obtained without the condenser for the sake of maintaining volume and clear tone. Condenser C-2 is usually a .00025 mfds. size, C-3 a .0005 mfds. and C-4, if found necessary, a .001 or .0005. Remember, tone and volume are better without the condensers unless the sensi- tivity is too low without them, so use only what condensers show themselves to be needed and no others.
Now as to the battery voltages. Two standard dry cells, three volts, can supply the filament current direct without a rheostat. The rheostat illustrated was employed experimentally to determine how much filament current is necessary and the set operates well on slightly under 3 volts. Hence two dry cells furnish sufficient current, as proved also by later trials. For the "B" battery, better results were secured with 673^ volts than with 90, which is fortunate
because of the space saving feature. Thus, two dry cells and three small size 22H volt "B" batteries were found to supply the necessary filament and plate energy.
Transformer Reversals
\ NYONE who has experimented with -^*- a three stage audio amplifier has found a strong tendency to "howl" or oscillate at audio frequency. This is just like a radio frequency oscillation in its nature, except that inasmuch as the tuning which causes such howling is accomplished by very large windings on iron cores, the oscillation is reduced in frequency to a point where it is heard. This howling is not affected by adjust- ments of the tuning condenser, though it may be changed in pitch or stopped by moving the potentiometer arm.
The audio transformers shouldn't be too close to each other, of course, but with good transformers it isn't necessary to place them at right angles unless they are so close as to nearly touch each other. The heavy iron core prevents the mag- netic fields from straying and in that way causing howling by interstage audio coupling. The trouble is due only to oscillation caused by circuits tuned to an audio frequency, and with connec- tions arranged so that the direction of current flow aids the oscillation tendency.
Hence the howling can always be eliminated by reversing the transformer connections in the grid circuit of the tube which causes the trouble. Since you cannot discover except by trial just where the howling commences, it is a question of reversing one or two of the primary binding post connections till the noise stops. This howling, unless caused by the first tube (No. 1) is not stopped when the detector tube is taken out of the socket and the others allowed (Turn to page 62)
\ LOOP
C-l '^i
DETECTOR.
S C-3
X 3 VOLTS
22fY
The circuit is quite conventional, though quite a few of the myriad fixed condensers common to the complicated reflex sets are omitted. There's only one tuning control and one sensitivity control; a condenser and a potentiometer. Two dry cells light the tubes and three small "B" batteries can supply the plate voltage.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
How
To Construct A Station Finder
The Magazine of the Hour 23
By FELIX ANDERSON
C.A Novel Unit That will Cut out Guesswork in Tuning and Help Reduce The Annoying Set "Squeals"
THIS radio pastime is at last getting to a point where enthusiasts no longer are satisfied with the old haphazard methods of tuning, and the out-of-date system of radio "fishing" is resorted to only as a means of entertain- ment nowadays. The up-to-date listener seeks to go after the long distance sta- tions in a more accurate and sure-fire way; he endeavors to get the results he wants by employing the right methods of tuning.
The recent transatlantic broadcasting tests prove conclusively that there is a pressing need for a unit which will eliminate the guesswork variety of tuning, insure more certain results, and at the same time reduce the nuisance of radia- tion which broke up more than one reception of the foreign stations. You will no doubt recall the pandemonium of squeals and howls which prevailed in the air during that memorable week. And no doubt you more than once "cussed" some neighbor softly when you found that you had been trying to tune in his radiation. There were times when we gave up in disgust, loudly voicing our disrespect for those bugs who couldn't keep their hands off the controls, and who constantly interfered with the in- coming long distance signals with their malicious squeals.
The underlying reason for all the trouble and the real cause for the cease- less search for the carrier waves or signals of the European stations, can be directly attributed to one main and grand reason. Listeners in general are not so fortunate as to have sets that are calibrated; that is, they do not possess
a receiver that tells them where to set the dials for definite wavelengths. So the logical way to get the much sought receptions was to guess — fish, in other words, until you struck something that sounded promising, and then listen until the announcement was made; or until some other bug spoiled it all by squealing you out.
The Right Way to Do It.
TT WOULD be impossible to set down -*- specified rules for the calibration of every receiver now in use. It is a fact that there are some sets which cannot be calibrated because of their circuit peculiarities. What we can do, for- tunately, is make a separate unit and calibrate that instrument, and then tune our receivers to it instead of fishing. The result is that we make only one operation of the job, and then we know that we are accurate and that we are listening on the right wave. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to describe a unit of this type.
For purposes of reference, we will call the unit about to be described and dis- cussed a "Station Finder." Its technical name is wavemeter, or probably more correctly a driver — but that matters only little. What we are after is a unit that is going to tell us where to set our dials
In the circle is a three-quarters view of Air. Anderson's station-finder, giving an unusual angle of the buzzer and the switch. At the left is a top view, showing the dial with its valuable hair-line indicator.
when we want to listen for a certain station, the wave of which we are in- formed.
The preceding paragraph probably sounds a little imposing, and no doubt you have visions of a mighty piece of apparatus with all the embellishments that usually go with a measuring device; but that is not the case. The station finder is a simple affair, and not in the least bit expensive.
The Bill of Materials
TF YOU have the parts listed below — -I all well and good; if not, a visit to the local radio store will be necessary.
1 Cabinet 7 inches long, 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Get a neat one, and make the job a good looking one.
1 Composition panel 7x6x>6 inches, Bakelite, Celeron, Formica, Spaulding or other.
1 low Loss Straightline condenser. Eleven plate 250 MMF. (0.00025 Mfd). The straightline plates are advised for the purpose of making calibration easier. See text of article.
1 Cardboard tube 3}4 inches long and i^i inches in diameter.
2 pieces of brass 2% inches long and }4 inches wide. Any fairly heavy gauge will do.
j| pound No. 22 Double Green Silk Covered wire.
2 Binding posts.
1 Dial reading 0 to 100°. A metal
dial with well etched divisions that
. are easy to read is suggested, since
the readings on it are hair line in
cases.
1 High frequency buzzer. One that will operate on flashlight or C batteries, and give a steady clear note.
1 Switch lever.
(Turn the page)
24
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
Figure 2. // your condenser is one that does not have straight-line plates, your calibration chart will look something like the above. In this case numerous readings make the curve especially accurate.
2 Switchtaps.
2 Three volt C batteries or four 1 Yi volt flashlight batteries. Busbar and stiff rubber covered wire, preferably No. 18 RC, mounting screws, solder, etc.
The above list includes everything you will need. As a word of caution, don't let them sell you anything "just as good" in the condenser line — make it a point to try obtaining one of the straight-line variety.
Building the Station Finder
THE construction is very simple. About the only thing we have to avoid is getting the inductance or coil too close to the rest of the unit, or to get it too close to the hands or dial; bringing any foreign object within the field of the coil changes its wavelength, and as a consequence, the readings of the dial are inaccurate.
Begin by preparing the cardboard tubing which is to be the winding form. Apply a light coating of shellac, spar varnish or better yet a very thin coating of a solution of celluloid dissolved in acetone. If the tube is not dry, it should be thoroughly warmed in an oven before the moisture impregnating compound is applied.
When this has been done, and the coil is still slightly sticky (not wet), two holes should be punched about i/i of an inch from the edge. Thread the No. 22 DGSC wire into these holes, and begin winding the coil in a clockwise direction, (face a clock and wind the wire in the direction of the hour hand with the edge of the tube having the holes in it away from you).
If you use a condenser of the type specified and a coil of exactly the same size as is mentioned, wind 59 turns of the wire on the tube. Wind them tightly and neatly. If the varnish or dope you have applied is sticky enough, you should
have little or no trouble with slipping turns. When the winding has been finished punch two additional holes (opposite the beginning ones) and fasten the wire once more. It is understood of course that you leave sufficient ends at both start and finish to allow soldering to terminals.
Now drill two holes in the brass strips, large enough to accommodate an 8-32 bolt. The exact location of the holes is not a matter of great importance; one half inch from either end to their center is satisfactory. The one end of the strip is then bent to form a foot, which is screwed tightly against the cardboard tubing. The ends of the coil are then
The Magazine of the Hour
soldered to these connection legs. The purpose of these extended legs i's to suspend the coil in midair and also to permit its being coupled to the main tuning inductance of the receiver.
Mount the condenser as illustrated in the photograph. A hairline should be deeply scratched in the panel, and filled with either jeweler's wax or some other white compound to make it plain. This line should be drawn carefully and accurately, and should be very thin indeed. (As a matter of information, we filled the line with Bon-Ami, which hardens and makes an excellent filler.)
The binding post for the coil should then be screwed into place.
On the side of the box which is to be opposite the one occupied by the binding posts and the coil, mount the buzzer and switch with the taps. Figure 4 shows the mounting used on the test Station Finder. Holes should be drilled to allow for wiring.
Wiring
YOU are next ready to wire the Station Finder, and again we find simplicity the keynote. Connect the one binding post (it makes no difference which one) to the stationary plate connection of the condenser, and the other binding post to the rotary terminal. Next connect the one terminal of the buzzer to the left hand switchpoint, and connect the switch lever to the cells of the battery. Polarity is not important. The other open terminal of the battery is connected to the remaining terminal of the buzzer. Use busbar in wiring the condenser cir- cuit, and the rubber covered wire for the buzzer circuit.
On the buzzer you will find an adjust- ment for varying the pitch and some place on the metal support holding the adjust- ing screw or on some piece of metal connected to this screw, solder another piece of the rubber covered wire. Then solder the other end of that same wire
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Figure 3. The graph obtained with the test station-finder is shown above. Straight- line plates were used in this finder, as the curve will show graphically.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
25
to the rotary plate terminal on the condenser. You will then have two wires at that terminal, one for the coil and binding post, and the other to the buzzer or exciter circuit.
The last two mentioned operations are important, especially the matter of getting the right connection to the buzzer. We find in the tests, that any other connection works poorly indeed. Make sure that the one end of that wire goes to the adjustment part of the buzzer, or some metal connected or in direct contact with it. The object is to get the little spark across the buzzer contacts to charge the coil and condenser, and in that way act as a miniature trans- mitter.
After making sure that the buzzer circuit is properly connected, screw the panel down on the cabinet, and fasten the coil. It might be well to explain the reason for the use of the two switch- points — the object is to provide an open circuit for the buzzer when not in use.
Next put the brass legs of the coil on the binding posts, and tighten them down. Your next job (and probably the most interesting radio experiment you can do as a beginner) is to calibrate the Station Finder.
Calibrating
CALIBRATING in our case means that we must find out what wave- length the oscillatory circuit composed by the condenser and coil responds to with various settings of the condenser dial, and further it means that we are enabled to read the condenser in terms of wavelengths instead of degrees.
The first step in this procedure is to rule out a sheet of paper as illustrated in Figure 3. This is what is called a calibration graph, and will give us a wavelength curve for the coil and con- denser combination we are using.
Make a rectangle 10 inches long and divide it into one-half inch lengths. The other dimension is 7 inches, also divided into half
inch divisions.
Then proceed to rule up the chart as illustrated. When you have finished, you will have a rectangle having 20 half- inch squares for its base and 14 for its attitude. Number the lines along the base by fives, starting with zero. These num- bers correspond with the dial set- tings of the con- denser. The ver- tical left hand side is numbered off in twenty-fives, starting at 200, and going up to
550. This corresponds to the wavelength range which we are seeking to cover.
Now the calibrating method differs with regenerative and nonregenerative
sets, so we had best take up the methods separately. With a non-regenerative set, it is merely necessary to bring the Station Finder coil within about two or three inches of the main tuning induct- ance, neutrocoupler, variocoupler, tuning coil or other coil used to tune with. It
A back view of the station finder is shown above. The -oil is in the background, while the switch, at the "off" position, is shown at the nght. The instrument at the left is a buzzer with its accurate adjustment screw.
will even work on a crystal set, and in the tests, we got readings with four inch coupling. When you have the coil fairly close to the tuning inductance of the set, (which should be tuned to resonance with some stations' wavelength) turn the Station Finder dial until the signal is trapped out. Then move the coil further and further away, wiggling the dial very slightly until the sharpest reading is obtained. At a certain point you will find a setting of the Station Finder dial which will almost entirely if not entirely trap out the signal to which vour receiver is tuned. After
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you have found that point with the Station Finder, be careful not to disturb the reading, and make note of the dial setting (that is, take note of the number
of degrees at which the dial is set). Then take your broadcast list and look up the wave of the station. Jot that down too. Now then, take your pencil, and put a dot at the point where the wavelength and dial reading lines intersect. (For instance suppose WEBH is tuned in, and it is found that it can be sharply trapped out with the Station Finder set at 44. The wavelength is 360. Then by drawing a light line vertically from the 44 division on the chart, and another at the 360 division horizontally we will determine a place where the two lines meet. That's where the dot is made).
Go up and down the scale of your receiver, getting readings on as many stations as you can possibly get. Make your readings carefully and accurately, and check them once or twice. After you have made about six or eight of these readings well placed over the scale, you can draw a curve or line smoothly con- necting these points. If a straightline condenser is used, the condenser graph will read almost in a straight line from the bottom of the scale to the top. If your condenser is not of the straightline plate type, your curve will look like the one shown in Figure 2.
Regenerative Sets
X^OR regenerative sets, we have as an -*- additional indicator, the regenerative feature of the receiver. In this case, as in the case of non-regenerative sets, we bring the Station Finder coil near the tuning inductance of the receiver. The regeneration is then advanced to the point where it just spills over (this is of course with the secondary or tuning circuit tuned to some station or signal the wavelength of which is known). The Station Finder dial is then juggled until the set stops oscillating, and the signal is trapped out. Usually with regenera- tive sets it is more pronounced with regard to this reading than with non- regenerative receivers. The station is then looked up, the wavelength and dial setting (of the Station Finder) noted, and the dot is made on the chart in the same manner as was described for non- regenerative sets.
How It Gets Its Name
OW you have probably won- dered why we need a buzzer on the thing. Simple — . Now suppose we had calibrated the Station Finder dial to the curve shown in Figure 3. Again suppose we were going to listen for Europe with a non- regenerative set, with which we were not acquainted as far as wavelength settings are concerned. It is our wish to listen to a 500 meter station which we know is (Turn to page 54)
N(
26 RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
The Latest Edition of One of America's
Adding TWO STAGES of Audio
TO the readers of RADIO AGE 'way back in the early days, the mention of the name of John L. Reinartz brings back many pleasant recollections. At that time very little was known about receiving sets, and Reinartz gave to the fans one of the best circuits ever pub- lished and one which to this day is hold- ing its own against the hundreds of later circuits.
John L. was about two years ahead of the times, and judging from his rapid fire development of new circuits, he is still keeping up this reputation.
When the Reinartz circuit first ap- peared, practically only one good re- ceiving circuit was then used, this being the Armstrong three circuit tuner, which was hard to make in those days for the reason that it was necessary for one to build his own variometers and couplers, as radio stores were unheard of and the wooden stator blocks and rotors had to be turned out in a lathe. The inductance units used in the Reinartz tuner were simple spider-web coils wound upon a slotted fiber disc, which anyone could make and wind without the use of a lathe or any other machinery.
Thus it attracted the beginner, be- cause it made possible the construction of a three circuit tuner in the ordinary kitchen work shop, and those who were interested enough to build the set as des- cribed by Mr. Reinartz were well repaid for their trouble, as it proved to be a good long distance receiver.
A Popular Circuit
TN fact, it became so popular with our -*■ readers that it was necessary for RADIO AGE to publish a special Rein-
artz book to supply the information and take care of the correspondence oc- casioned by the publication of the article. Since that time several modifications of the circuit have been developed, every one of which has been just as popular, or more so, than the original. The one shown in this issue is considered the best and by popular request it is shown with two stages of audio frequency amplification. It will be noted that the spider web winding has been replaced by a simple coil winding and a variometer. The coil is much easier to wind than the spider web arrangement and variometers are now very easy to procure. The original circuit, being of the regenerative type, naturally caused some radiation. This is now taken care of by using a potentio- meter in the aerial circuit, although in this case it is used as an ordinary variable resistance instead of a stabilizer. One of the switches used in the original circuit has also been eliminated, thus making the tuning of the set a simple matter.
Before going into details regarding the construction of this receiver, it might be well to say something about the audio frequency amplification. Three spring jacks are used, making it possible to listen in on the detector only, detector and one stage, or with the detector and both stages. For use with an ordinary phone, the first jack will give ample volume on either local or long distance reception, but when the loud speaker is used, full amplification is obtained by plugging into the last jack. The selection of the transformers will have much to do with the quality of the reception obtained. It is a well known fact that with trans- formers of high winding ratios, more
By FRANK D. PEARNE
volume may be obtained, but such trans- formers will also cause considerable dis- tortion in the phones or loud speaker, and as ample volume may be had with low ratio transformers, the builder is advised to be careful in the selection and to choose transformers which do not have a high ratio. If one has a higher ratio then the other, it is suggested that the ordinary practice be reversed and the higher ratio used in the last stage, thus cutting down the distortion in the first stage, which will prevent any amplifi- cation of distortion in the second. In either case the ratio should not be more than five to one.
If You Want Volume
OF course, if one wishes great volume and does not care about distortion, a transformer having a ratio of ten to one may be used in the first stage, and one of five, or six-to-one in the second. The only special apparatus necessary is the inductance, which may be easily wound and constructed in the home workshop. This inductance is wound on a bakelite or cardboard tube 4 inches in diameter and 3 inches long. The winding instructions should be followed to the letter as the only cases of failure so far recorded were caused by variations in the number of turns used and taps being taken off at the wrong place.
The tube is wound with No. 24 cotton or silk insulated wire and in order that no short circuits may occur at the points where the taps are taken off, it is sug-
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
27
Pioneer Receivers: The Popular Reinartz
The electrical wiring diagram of the Improved Reinartz Circuit is shown above. At the left the re- ceiver is shown in isometric form, which makes the tracing of the connections a simple operation. Inas- much as both diagrams are drawn to read from left to right, you should have little or no trouble in following out the connections.
H
+ A
Mi i
JMlo.
Frequency to Modified Reinartz
TECHNICAL EDITOR
gested that the wire used should have a double silk insulation. The winding is started after two small holes (about the size of the wire) are drilled in the tube about 1-2 inch from the end. These holes should be about 1-4 of an inch apart and in line with the winding. Put the end of the wire down through one of these holes and up through the other, leaving an end about 8 inches long to use in connecting it up after the winding is completed. Wind two turns and take out a tap by making a loop of the wire and twisting it back tight against the tube. Bring out another tap at the next two turns, the next one being taken off at the next turn and two more taps taken off from the next two turns.
The winding is now continued for 35 more turns before another tap is taken off. After this tap, wind seven more turns and bring out the next, then seven more, which will be the end of the wind- ing. Now check up and make sure that this coil is correctly tapped. We have the starting end, two turns and a tap, two more and a tap, one and tap, one and tap, one more and tap, then 35 and tap, seven and tap, then seven more, which is the final end. This will make 56 turns in all, consisting of two ends and seven taps. The final end of the winding is anchored to the tube in the same way as the start- ing end by drilling two small holes. All of these taps, as well as the ends, should be left long enough to allow for connecting up to the switch contacts on the panel. If they are eight inches in length, they will be sure to reach without splicing.
TVTOW the balance of the material and -L ' parts required may be purchased at any radio store. This will consist of one 200 ohm potentiometer, two switch levers, eight switch contacts, four switch stops, one 23 plate vernier variable con- denser, one fixed mica grid condenser having a capacity of .00025 M.F., one 2 megohm grid leak, one ordinary standard variometer, three standard sockets, one 6 to 8 ohm rheostat, two 25 ohm rheo- stats, two double circuit spring jacks, one single circuit spring jack, two standard audio frequency transformers having a four, or five to one ratio, two 3-inch dials, seven binding posts, one, bakelite panel 18x7x3-16 inches, one baseboard 17 1-2x6x1-2 inches, a cabinet to fit an 18x7 inch panel and about 20 feet of No. 14 tinned copper bus bar wire. This material is only that required for the construction of the set proper.
Aside from this the accessories will be as follows:
Materials and Parts
One detector tube (UV-200, or C-300), two amplifier tubes, (UV-201-A, or C- 301-A), two 45 volt plate batteries, one 6 volt storage battery, one pair of phones, one loud speaker and two plugs. With these parts on hand, you are ready to start on the wiring. First the panel is laid out and drilled, after which it is fastened to one edge of the baseboard by wood screws, the holes being countersunk so that flat headed screws may be used. All the parts are mounted on the base and panel as shown in the drawing. The aerial binding post on the panel is con- nected to the movable arm of the poten- tiometer and one of the ends of the resis-
tance coil of the potentiometer is con- nected to the switch lever on the five contact switch. The bottom or starting end of the winding of the special induc- tance coil is connected to the bottom con- tact on this switch and the next four taps from the coil are connected to the re- maining contacts on this switch. This leaves one tap in the bottom group which is connected to the ground binding post to the revolving plates of the 23 plate variable condenser, to one filament bind- ing post on each of the three sockets, to the positive "A" and negative "B" bind- ing posts on the panel.
The two taps and the final end of the winding of the special inductance are connected to the three switch contacts on the other switch, the lever of which is connected to the stationary plates on the condenser and to one terminal of the grid leak and condenser.
Watch These Connections
HPHE other terminal of the grid leak and -!■ condenser is connected to the grid binding post on the first socket, which is the detector. The post marked "P" on this socket is connected to one of the variometer terminals and the other vario- meter terminal is connected to the top spring of the detector jack. The second spring on this jack is connected to the post marked "P" on the first transformer and the third spring from the top is con- nected to the post marked "B positive" on the same transformer. The last or bottom spring on this jack is connected to the 22 1-2 volt positive "B" binding post on the panel. The post "G" on this first transformer is connected to the post (Turn to page 56)
28
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doin^
Let the "Happiness Boyf Help You!
They Wont be Happy Till They Make You Happy Too!
Millions of
Fans Cheer
Peppy Trio
at Station
WEAF
Above are the "Happiness Boys" of WEAF, New York, who cause the radio waves to ripple with joy every Friday evening at 8:30. From left to right: Ernest Hare, Larry Briers, and Billy Jones.
DOWN EAST in little old New I York, people have to work pretty hard or they soon find New York is too big to hold them. Of course, that doesn't include the millionaires, brick- layers and movie producers, but the untold millions who count their pennies every Saturday are the ones who haven't much time to be happy.
Three young Lochinvars who came out of the West a few years ago were as- tounded at the lack of good cheer in New York City. They saw the bright lights and beautiful buildings and wondered how anyone couldn't help being happy. But investigation showed that the aver- age citizen in New York is so busy keep- ing alive that he just can't afford to chase pleasure to its lair and enjoy it.
On a Happy Mission
AFTER this bit of introspection, the -£*- three musketeers mentioned above as Lochinvars went to the owners of WEAF, one of New York's pioneer broadcasting stations — and volunteered to bring hap- piness to millions of American homes — chiefly in New York.
Radio was struggling for popularity in those days, so the directors of WEAF told the boys to "go to it."
The "boys," Ernest Hare, Larry Briers and Billy Jones, "went to it" with a vim and labeled themselves the "Happiness Boys." With that monicker they proceeded to win the hearts of bored and weary New York.
To find out whether they have been successful, the reader should tune in WEAF some Friday evening at 8:30.
The Happiness Boys are on the air at other times during the week, but they can best be "caught" at their regular hour on Fridays. Their programs con- sist of everything from good natured banter to beautifully sung popular and semi-classical songs. They don't care what they sing — and neither do their listeners — just as long as it's full of happiness. And, as one old lady said after listening to "the boys" for the nth time, "Why, those fellows just ooze happiness."
To accomplish such a feat over the radio is indeed something to be proud of. A National Reputation
AND although the Happiness Boys started out to bring cheer to the lives of New Yorkers in particular, their cheery songs have reached to the ends of the continent. Instead of merely a local reputation, their fame has spread far and wide. They are known as "The Happiness Team," and so great has their correspondence become that WEAF has had to instal a special office for them.
Letters from spinsters and bethrothed flappers; from Middle Aged business men and youthful swains; and scrawls from children asking for undreamed of favors — such is a sample of the day's mail addressed to "The Happiness Boys."
Do you blame them for liking their job? Listen to them at WEAF and be happy, too!
Happiness Is Costly
HAPPINESS, although very plentiful at WEAF, is a rather expensive thing.
It is now broadcast regularly by the "Happiness Boys" at the rate of ten dollars per minute. A half hour pro- gram by them costs just three hundred dollars. It's worth it — surely. But the radio fan who gets the happiness does not have to pay for it. Instead, the company which hires the boys finds it worth while to spend the sum.
WEAF, probably one of the best known stations in the world, has prospered by its unique and original "pay-as-you- broadcast" system. It sells "microphone time" and not one fan has said nay. In fact, they like it.
Another expensive entertainment is given by "Roxy" Rothafel, conductor of the Capitol Theatre orchestra. This theatre pays about $600 a night for the privilege of sending its beautiful music through the air.
Although they pay for their time, the "Happiness Boys" trio have become ex- ceedingly popular. Their "Silver Threads Among the Gold" can get tears in the same volume as "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" can get smiles. Every time that they leave the microphone it is a signal for radio fans to sit down and write into the station with their applause cards. The number of these cards and letters that they get has rarely been exceeded by any other entertainers of the air.
On top of all of WEAF'S individual stars, however, stands the famous Graham McNamee, convention announc- er, who broadcast the "play by play" story of the Democratic and Republican conventions. His resonant voice has (Turn to page 46)
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine (bf the Hoi
29
The Hidden Voice
How Some Radio Ingenuity Rescued a Stolen Baby and Sweet- ened an Infant Temper
Soured by Sore Gums, kffi^&fr*
Seated tensely before the micro- phone, Jimmie sent out the call from the broad- casting station — all programs were stopped and the air was clear for the cry for help. Within a few min- utes the whole city was aware of the bold kidnap- ping.
Chapter I.
Radio Lullaby
SISTER Ella's baby had been crying for more than an hour, and every- body in the house was getting nervous. "Everybody," collectively speaking, included Ella, Ella's mother, and her brother, Jimmie Kinney. They were at their wits' end to know what to do.
These three and the baby constituted a family of stay-at-homes from neces- sity. Jimmie's mother had just had all her teeth pulled out, and she wouldn't be seen- out of the house until her new set was finished; Ella was visiting her parents' home, and her lusty-voiced, nine-month-old Edward Jerome Stans- bury, Jr., was so cross from teething that it was folly to allow him to do any broadcasting in the open air. As for Jimmie, he was laid up at home with a sprained ankle, bundled in bandages, and the only way he could move about with any degree of comfort was with the aid of a crutch
Jimmie was almost a man. Patron- izing friends of mature years addressed him as "young man" when desiring a pleasant look in return. But everybody petted him with the diminutive of James, and no doubt his sweetheart, whenever he should select one, would perpetuate the habit. Still Jimmie did not feel diminutive. He usually went at things in a "big way"; that's how he got his sprained ankle. He tackled a half back, half again his weight, on the high school gridiron, and something had to give.
If there's anything that will try the patience of a young fellow like Jimmie, it is to be cooped up at home with a crying baby. And such a fellow will either fume and fret over undeserved punishment of this sort, or he will exer- cise his wits for relief.
Some Radio Paregoric
TIMMIE did both. After fuming and "** fretting for an hour and making his mother and married sister miserable, he got busy with his ingenuity, gave the baby a "dose of radio paregoric," stopped his crying, and nearly caused a tragedy.
However, Jimmie's treatment was in no respect ill-advised. It was really ingenious and highly commendable. He merely unearthed his diminutive super- regenerative receiving outfit from a mass of what a layman would call "junk" in his radio work-shop, tuned it to re- ceive a musical matinee being broadcast for the special benefit of afternoon meet- ings of women's clubs, sewing circles, and ladies' aids, and deposited it in a sliding drawer under the body of the carriage in which the baby lay.
For some reason, explicable only by a teething pathologist, the ruse was successful. Muffled under the bundle of pillows and quilts, the music proved to be gently soothing. Baby Edward became suddenly very still, then actually laughed, "goo-ed" eagerly, and began to bite his fistful of zwieback with in- dustrious contentment.
Up to this time Jimmie could not induce a member of the family to listen to a radio lecture by him, but now he had no difficulty in interesting his sister in a technical description of his miniature receiving set, which he had constructed himself. It had afforded a very edifying substitute for some of the "rough neck" pranks of high school boys soon after
By FRANK HONEYWELL
its completion. It had stimulated some real imagination among some of the usually "slap-stick" fun makers of his acquaintance, and he and a quartet of his friends often indulged their mis- chievous tendencies by conducting radio serenades under the windows of girl friends in the moonlight.
Once they even entertained half a hundred fellow passengers on a street car with a musical concert and announce- ment of "the score."
The outfit was a "mite of a thing," contained in a cabinet box about the size of a portable typewriter case. A small loud-speaker, operated by the tremendous amplifying properties of a super-regenerative circuit carefully de- signed and assembled, held the secret of the marvelous volume of signals which it produced. The circuit, which is so often dubbed a failure, had bowed sub- missively to Jimmie — for he had mastered it after many painstaking experiments in which he endeavored to remove the squeals customary to this type of circuit. His labors bore fruit, for upon their completion he had a circuit that afforded volume obtained from a circuit that amplified millionfold with but a single tube. Few indeed are the successful sets of this type — so critical are they.
At last the baby went to sleep, and
Ella wheeled the carriage out on the
front lawn, with the muffled radio music
still playing softly. Over the open por-
(Turn the page)
30
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
The Magazine of the Hour
Neighbors gathered rapidly at the Kinney home, and in a short time half a dozen boys and two men were hurrying away in different directions in search of the missing babe. The policeman came, made note of a few details, and
JIMMIE returned to his radio work hastened away more rapidly than he shop in the basement, proud of his had come. Meanwhile, Jimmie, realizing brilliant idea. Both mother and sister that he could take no active part in the complimented him effusively and went search, sat down to rest his aching ankle about their housework much more cheer- and racked his brain for
tion she spread a mosquito net to protect the infant from flies and left him in a shaded spot to the tender mercies of gentle zephyrs of a mild Summer day.
His Fame Assured
fully. Once Ella called down to him this blithesome announcement:
"I'm going to write to all the radio editors whose addresses I can find and tell them what you did. It'll make you famous."
"Yes," Jimmie agreed; "they'll run big headlines, reading 'Radio Latest Remedy for Teething Babies. Does the Work where Zwieback Won't.' "
Jimmie had been idling his time away up to the moment when this bright idea came to him. Now, however, he felt much more industrious. With his lame foot resting as comfortably as possible on an empty box, he sat at his work- bench and began to wind a set of coils for a new' low-loss receiver.
But he had not been thus occupied long when a scream such as he had never heard before caused him to drop his work and hobble upstairs as fast as he could go with safety. As he reached the living room, Ella rushed in, weeping and wringing her hands and crying out that her baby had been stolen. Her mother followed, al- most as desperate in words and manner.
"I had him in the carriage out i'n the front yard, and some- body came along and wheeled him away," wailed Mrs. Stans- bury. "Oh, what will I do? Jimmie, can't you do something?"
"You must be mis- taken," her brother replied. "Probably some neighbor's ohild wheeled him down the street."
"No, no," returned the distracted mother. "None of the children around here would do My Edward has been stolen, I know it oh, I know it."
"We'll call the police, then," said Jimmie going to the telephone and lifting the receiver.
He got the nearest station without difficulty and delivered his message.
"We'll have a man right over there," promised the desk sergeant. "But all of our motorcycle men are out on special calls and most of the other men are at a big fire that broke out twenty minutes ago. We'll take care of you just as speedily as we can get the men."
an idea that might res- cue him from the dis- grace of utter uselessness. "I did one smart thing today, they tell me," he mused. "Now, why can't I think of something else to meet this crisis? By Jim- miny!" he exclaimed sud- denly, as the longed-for "bright idea" actually came. "I do believe it's worth trying. That
receiver's still in that carriage, no doubt, and as long as the baby is
Suddenly there came a sound, that of a human voice, from the carriage. Julia was nonplused. The cries for help continued at frequent intervals, and finally she broke into a run, while passers-by gaped in amazement.
thing like that.
being wheeled away in it, I may be able to make that set help to arouse suspicion. I'm going to try it."
A Thought in Time
JIMMIE remembered that the radio *-* set in the carriage had been tuned to the city's only broadcasting station, which was giving its afternoon concert at that hour on a 360 meter wavelength. Jimmie happened to be well in favor with the station, having done several bits of mechanical work for their operat- ing staff in times of need.
His imagination afire with the pos-
sibilities of his plan, Jim hobbled down- stairs, hailed a taxi and sped toward the business center of the town, where the studio was located. The antenna towers were situated some ten miles from the town, in keeping with the latest ideas of Frederick Newgard, owner of the station, who believed that radio towers should be free from the interference- causing influences of a city. Arrived at the studio build- ing, Jim dashed upstairs only to be greeted with a muffled "shhh!" as he neared the studio waiting room.
"No noise!" an important indi- vidual warned him. "There's a concert going on now. Don't you know any better than to come rush- ing in here like this?"
Exasperated, Jim told the self- stylejd guard who he was, with a few added imagin- ative explanations for good measure. His words were "open sesame." He was ushered into the studio waiting room and there word was sent to Larry Hornaday, youth- ful announcer and director of the sta- tion, that a young friend was await- ing him in-unusual haste. After fin- ishing the an- nouncement of the first number on the afternoon's program, Larry sauntered out, carefully closing the studio door, and greeted Jim. "What's on your mind, kid?" he queried. "You look upset. Blow out eight tubes or something?"
"Nope. I want you to let me have your station for awhile." Jim was almost too nonchalant to be true, considering the importance of his statement.
Larry was rightfully surprised. He chuckled and asked Jim jokingly if there was anything else he wanted.
Then Jim got down to business. He outlined his plan; how the baby had been kidnapped while in a carriage equipped with a portable radio set which was tuned to the local broadcasting station.
"Can't you see?" Jimmie demanded, (Turn to page 63)
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doing 3 1
A Pleasing VOICE Isrit Enough !
Says Owen E. McGillicuddy, Who Studies Announcers
CAtwell Photo)
George Hay, "Solemn Old Judge" of Station WLS
A FAIR young daughter of Eve, while listening recently to the conti- nental broadcast, was heard to remark, "There are all kinds of an- nouncers but, in my opinion, it is not so much the voice that counts as what goes with it."
The young lady was right. Of the many announcers heard nightly, there are not more than a dozen whose enunci- ation and method show a conscientious desire to tell the public all it wants to hear in a clear, concise and understand- able manner.
If an earnest desire to please his public, blended with a pleasant voice and a polite manner, were the sole requirements of a successful announcer, Ernest W. Jackson, director of CXRT, the Can- adian National Railways station at Toronto, would be in the front rank. But Jackson possesses more than a good voice and a pleasant manner. He has a keen sense of his responsibility as the vocal representative of Canada's great railway system, and Sir Henry Thorn- ton, the able president of the C. N. R., could not generate more enthusiasm or show more regard for the public than is exhibited when "Jacksy" is giving an oral demonstration.
An Early Broadcaster /~\UR friend Jackson first saw the light " of day at Simcoe, Ontario, in Oc- tober, 1890, where, without the aid of either a transmitting or receiving equip- ment, his broadcasting was heard at frequent intervals by the neighbors. After enjoying farm life near Courtland, Ontario, for three . years the family moved to TiJisonburg in 1901, where he
(Knight Photo, N. Y.)
Thomas A. Cowan, Jovial Announcer from WJY-WJZ.
attended public and high school, and matriculated to Toronto University.
For five years he served the Traders' Bank of Canada and the Royal Bank of Canada in various capacities. In 1916 he took a trip to the Orient, and on his return in 1917 enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps, in which he served in a staff position at Long Branch, Deseronto, Leaside, and Fort Worth, Texas. He was married in 1917, and, in 1919, on being discharged from the Air Force, joined the Treasurer's Branch of the Canadian National Railway.
When the Canadian National Rail- ways decided last Winter to establish broadcasting stations in each province of the Dominion and place receiving sets on their transcontinental trains, Jackson was transferred to the radio department and placed in charge of Station CNRT at Toronto.
The locomotive whistle which always heralds CNRT's coming on the air and the locomotive bells which follow the signing off, are now as well known as Mr. Jackson's voice in Canada and the United States. There are many radio engineers and directors throughout
CPhoto by Lyonde, Toronto)
And Here's E. W. Jackson himself, of CNRT, Toronto
the continent who hold that Jackson knows how to interpret an announcer's relations with the public to a greater degree than any other man depending upon his vocal intelligence.
In a recent conversation the popular director of CNRT gave me his opinion concerning an announcer's responsibility to the public and his relations with radio artists and the company he represents. "An announcer should be intimate without being personal," he declared. "He should be cultured without being too formal, and tactful without being timid. Humor has its place, but there is a type of humor heard sometimes which is violently offensive to all good taste. While an announcer must be honest at all times, there is never any necessity for being brutally blunt. Bru- tally blunt people never accomplish any good in the world and are always ob- noxious.
"An announcer should take extreme care regarding the correct pronunciation of foreign names of places," he con- tinued.
"While he uses his imagination, he should be neither artificial nor super- ficial in either the tone, inflection, or phrasing of his announcement. There should always be congenial relations between the public and himself, and though he is heard often there is no reason why he should be seen. In other words, he should become and remain an invisible friend to every home in which his voice enters.
(Turn to page 58)
32 RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doing
None Other Than Bert Davis
'The Clown Jgt^Km^ of the Air"
Leads in v Contest
Harry
Aldyne Reviews The Votes
Winner
of the Final
Contest to Get
Grand Trophy
THE CLOWN of the air" comes to the fore to prove that all radio fan's don't prefer serious music. By receiving more votes in November than any others entrant in the RADIO AGE Radio Favorite Popularity Contest, the Clown of the Air, more commonly known as Bert Davis, achieves his rightful position as King of Jazz.
Bert has been singing over Middle Western radio stations steadily during the past few months. He has traveled from state to state and "knocked 'em dead" wherever he went, simply because, as one admirer put it, "He can sing more crazy- things than you ever heard before."
He ranks easily with such entertainers as Wendell Hall, Banks Kennedy, Axel Christensen, Art Linick, and others who are acknowledged leaders in their respective lines.
A Vod-Vil Star, Too
BERT is a vaudeville trouper by profession, having started his stage career in Chicago for various vaudeville circuits. (They weren't short ones, either.) When the radio craze hit the country, Bert was among the first to recognize in radio a vital means of getting before song lovers. So he originated his own repertoire and style and started to "do his stuff." He succeeded, and today his name is a byword for the liveliest in jazz. He has appeared at every Chicago radio station, being most consistent at WTAS, WGN, and KYW.
He is to appear regularly on RADIO AGE'S broadcast pro- grams, after he completes a recently inaugurated vaudeville tour.
For Bert, like any other true son of the road, gets the "urge" to appear before visible audiences once in a while. But he
POPULARITY CONTEST COUPON
Harry Aldyne, Contest Editor,
RADIO AGE, 500 N. Dearborn St., Chicago.
I wish to cast ray vote for:
Name of favorite _ _
Classification _ „
Station Date Heard
Name (optional) „ _
Address [optionall
-d
always comes back to the radio studios with greater "wim and wigor" than ever. Bert has been one of the leaders in RADIO AGE'S contest for the past few months, and it was because of his recent programs from Chicago stations that his popularity rose and votesfoegan to trickle in for him with increasing regu- larity. As a result, Bert swept aside all opposition during the month of November, that contest having closed on October 15. Bert has a lot of stunts in common with Gene Green, old time vaudeville star. This pair "stunted" together for a few years, and as a result dyed-in-the-wool vaudeville fans of bygone days can hardly tell the two apart — over radio, of course.
QO GET busy, folks, and help your favorite win the contest. ^ In the February issue of RADIO AGE, we will announce the prize to be awarded the winner of the Grand Contest. So every vote counts NOW! Clip the coupon on this page and send it in. Urge your friends to do likewise before it's too late. THE WINNER FOR NOVEMBER
Bert Davis Entertainer WTAS Elgin
WINNERS OF PRECEDING MONTHS
July _ Duncan Sisters
August. _ Bill Hay
September „ Karl Bonawitz
October H. W. Arlin
STANDING TO NOVEMBER 15th Name Classification
Karl Bonawitz Organist WIP
H. W. Arlin__ _ Announcer KDKA
Bill Hay ..Announcer KFKX
Bert Davis _ Entertainer.- WGN
Duncan Sisters. . Entertainers KYW
Lambdin Kay Announcer. WSB
J. Remington Welsch Organist: _ KYW
John S. Dagget ™. Announcer KHJ
E. L. Tyson _Announcer_-. WWJ
Jack Nelson Announcer W J JD
Ford & Glenn. Entertainers WLS
Harry M. Snodgras3- Entertainer-. WOS
Fred Smith — Announcer WLW
Jerry Sullivan Announcer EntertainerWQJ
Hired Hand Announcer _ WBAP
Edw. H. Smith Director-Player WGY
Nick B. Harris.- Entertainer KFI
Wendell Hall Entertainer.- WDAF
Where Heard Philadelphia Pittsburgh Hastings Chicago Chicago Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles Detroit Mooseheart Chicago Jefferson City Cincinnati Chicago Fort Worth Schenectady Los Angeles Kansas City
The contest is by no means won. Karl Bonawitz leads Wendell Hall by only 52 votes. The scattering of votes over so large a field may ultimately elect a dark horse from among the many strong candidates whose names are not even listed on this page.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doing
33
Wkat tke
Broadcasters
are Doing
KYW Will Have New Station in Chicago
WESTINGHOUSE station KYW at Chicago is not to move, but will build a new station to be located on the roof of the Congress Hotel, on the shores of Lake Michigan, it has been announced.
This will be a new KYW. The antenna and tower will embrace science's latest instructions. Likewise, the studio, which will be in the Florentine Annex, Room 1180 on the Parlor Floor of the Con- gress Hotel, a large and spacious room, will also be constructed in the most modern fashion, with accoustics best adapted for radio uses.
The equipment to be used is of the latest type devised by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, employing water-sealed tubes.
Rectified alternating current will be used, which will change the 60 cycle power service to high voltage direct current.
With the new mechanical equipment to be used at KYW, a vast improvement will be manifest over its present station, which already is one of the best in the country.
Will Use Special Wire
Programs from the various studios will be broadcast by special wire to the station on the roof of the Congress Hotel.
First comes the Balloon Room of the Congress from which come classical programs, renditions by the most famous artists in the world. It is from here that radio fans hear the famous Coon-Sanders' Night Hawks and Joska Debabary's orchestras.
From the Florentine Room will be broadcast programs of a popular nature, the Midnight Carnivals each Saturday night — always a deluxe program. RADIO AGE broadcasts on these mid- night shows the first Saturday in every month.
From the Hearst Studio: KYW will be broadcast the usual afternoon frolics on Tuesday and Wednesday, the "At Home Show," the Revue, and World Crier service. This last goes on the ether every hour and half hour throughout the day and night.
The KYW studio in the Garrick Theatre Building will be used for special programs. Central Church goes on the air each Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, while the Chapel Service goes out at 2:30 p. m., Sunday afternoon. The Sun- day Evening Club broadcasts its pro- grams over KYW from the Orchestra Hall.
Old Time Stage Star at WSAI
John Drury is one of the most popular artists appearing from Station WSAI, of the United States Playing Card Com- pany, at Cincinnati.
Mr. Drury is a former well known stage star, and perhaps several of our elderly readers will remember him for his dram- atic interpretations in days gone by. In a recent popularity contest in Cincinnati, Mr. Drury came out first.
At present he is a reader of well known pieces from WSAI, and his services are also in demand at other stations and from dramatic societies in the Middle West.
Mr. Drury's photograph is reproduced in the inset above.
Mr. Drury will be glad tocommmnicate with listeners who enjoy his programs, he says.
Have you ever fretted at the "One Moment, Please" from broadcasting studios while the artists were preparing for the next number? The newly- developed microphone stands in the WLW studios at Cincinnati do away with waits between numbers. Two signs, labelled "Prepare" and "Broadcast" are illuminated as required and there is no loss of time between selections, as one microphone in the studio is open to "Broadcast" while another in an adjacent studio says "Prepare." Fred Smith, WLW director, is shown before one of the new "Mikes."
'Ghost" Broadcasts from WEEI
/~\NE of the most unusual broadcasts ^J ever transmitted in this country was sent out from WEEI, the Edison Light Station, at 10 o'clock Hallowe'en night, October 31, when a real live ghost was "interviewed."
This unheard of feature was arranged by the officials of WEEI especially for radio fans who planned to put on Hallowe'en parties. Nothing like this broadcast had ever been attempted before, and great preparations were made to give radio listeners something brand new in radio broadcasts.
A real haunted house, located several miles out of the city was selected for the stunt. Special remote control telephone lines were established between the radio station and this house so that when the ghost walked the entire scene could be described to the radio audience.
The broadcast officials refused to di- vulge the location of this haunted house because they believed that if they did this, hundreds of sightseerswouldvisitthe place and thereby interfere with the broadcast.
At exactly 10 o'clock the telephone line from the studio was transferred to the haunted house and from that time until the ghost appeared and disappeared the microphone was in charge of "Whit," well known radio character. In the spacious dining room of this haunted house a man is said to have murdered his wife and two children.
All fans who heard the broadcast re- ported they were actually "scared" by the strange, spooky sounds over the radio.
"Santa Claus Hour" at WLW
Santa Claus has just finished overhaul- ing his airplane and will be ready to read the letters sent to him from all over the country when he arrives at the Crosley WLW broadcasting Studio, this month. Santa Claus hour will begin at 6 o'clock and this jolly patron saint of childhood will be in the studio Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Who will be the first little boy or girl to write to Santa in care of The Crosley Radio Corporation, Cincinnati?
Do you remember the big party at Music Hall last year, with the funny clowns, fine music and then Santa Claus with his candy and fruit? Well, Powel Crosley, Jr., has engaged the large audi- torium again this year and all the children who can possibly attend are ■ invited to the big Christmas Festival to be held Monday night, December 22.
To the little folks who cannot attend, there will be the broadcasting of the entire proceedings.
34
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doing
A Station that Caters to Friends
By Lera McGinty
Inspired by "Hired Hand" WBAP is making life cheery in the sunny south
FORT WORTH:— Upon entering Radio station WBAP, at Fort Worth, Texas, one gets the unusual impression of hard work and content- ment as he encounters the announcers on the job. It was my good fortune to find them all present.
W. E. Branch, program director and announcer, simply radiates satisfaction with himself, the studio and the whole world in general, as he tips his swivel chair back to a dangerous angle and begins telling about the virtues of WBAP. When asked if there was any class of people it wished particularly to please, he said, "Station WBAP caters to its friends — and has no enemies."
This remark incidentally caused C. B. Locke, radio editor, to cease his seemingly never-ending task long enough to slap him on the back and utter a hearty, "Spoken like a man, Bill."
A Real Old-Timer
TF THIS duet smacks a trifle of egotism, *- it is to be pardoned, considering that Mr. Branch is the only one left now of the original trio, composed of G. C. Arnoux, E. L. Olds and himself.
He built the first set used by WBAP, and when it was later equipped with a Western Electric, he stayed on as radio engineer. Recently he has been made program director and announcer. He not only serves in this capacity, but furnishes entertainment for thousands of enthusiastic fans with his popular noon-day piano concerts. He just natur- ally feels as proud of the studio as an adoring parent does of a successful son.
Mr. Locke joined forces with WBAP as editor in November and seems to have been promptly submerged under a blan- ket of requests for WBAP acknowledg- ment stamps. Various attempts have been made by others to get an interview with him to no avail, and so far the most I have heard him say is: "No money enclosed."
"The Station with no enemies" is the favorite among the southland's radio fans. In the oval is a view of the studio of WBAP, which has the highest power rating of any station in the Southwest. The right portrait above is W. E. Branch, veteran announcer at WBAP — and with his back unceremoni- ously facing us, Mr. Reader, is the inimitable and mysterious " Hired Hand."
Not knowing whether or not he was talking to me and meant, "No money involved," I deliberately reached across his desk and picked up the paper he had flung aside and found it to be a request for a WBAP stamp, and the writer had forgotten to enclose the dime.
That was indeed a happy occasion for me, because I feared that he expected to be paid for an interview.
However, his fellow workers say he is talkative when he isn't so busy, and he is certainly an addition for any studio to be proud of.
(Whisper, he is good looking and per- sonally I believe he is trying the "work cure" on a broken heart and that would be an interesting story if it is so. I am going back again when the rush is over, and if I find out I will let you know).
"PVERYBODY likes surprises, that -L-' is why I have saved the best for the last.
It is the "Hired Hand," comedian and substitute announcer. Of course, it is needless to say that he is the outstanding feature offered by WBAP. To hear him announcing, one would naturally draw the conclusion that he has nothing else to do but think up funny jokes and get
himself into tight corners, but when it comes to having nothing to do, it just doesn't fit that individual at all.
He will have to be given credit for being an extraordinarily clever person when it is considered that he toils daily in the boiler room from early until late, trudges to and from his boarding house, cleverly dodging his landlady when he deems it necessary — -and that is one place his good judgment never fails him, he says — and besides attending to his regular studio duties of sweeping, dusting, errand boy and sub-announcer, I think it will be agreed that he is just naturally "clever."
He is never heard to complain and it is only by close discernment that one is ever able to catch a gleam of wistfulness in his eyes for less work and more pay.
These sacrifices are not always without their recompense, however. Almost daily he is rewarded with one or more boxes of cigars or candy, pecans, fruit, ducks, and he has been known to even receive packages of fried chicken and at one time, three live possums and a porcu- pine, (saying nothing of the mash notes).
So you see he manages a rather well balanced diet in spite of the usual boarding house hash.
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doinz 35
"Why I NEVER SMILE"
— As Told by a SAD but HOPEFUL Musical Director
By CHARLES H. GABRIEL Jr.
Musical Director, Station WGN.
TAKING a receiving set apart to find out what makes it tick has nothing whatever on taking an "artist" apart to find out what's wrong with the picture. Note the quotation marks inclosing the word artist. It's always the sort of musician we describe with "quotes" that makes musical directors tear out the few wisps of hair remaining on the old bean and laugh hysterically.
Real, honest-to-goodness artists are seldom difficult to get along with as long as you remember that they actually are famous or deserve to be. Used as they are to the exigiencies of concertizing, they appreciate the efforts made in their behalf and know of the vexatious "little things" that may almost wreck a recital at the last moment. But the "artists"!
Why a Musical Director?
Everybody knows what an announcer does — everybody hears him doing it. A pianist's place in the scheme of a radiocast is pretty well defined. The title of "publicity director" is self- explanatory. But what on earth is a musical director and why?
Well, he arranges the programs and provides the "talent." Simple, is it not? It is not, even if we do say it.
Boiled down (!) the musical director's job is to provide some 300-odd programs a year, each requiring the services, co- operation and good will of from four to twenty musicians; to see that everybody arrives in time to "appear" on the dot; to placate the wrath of the small-timers; to use diplomacy in the case of perform- ers of fame; to accept the mean cracks of those who have no idea of the machin- ery of radio programs; to get up in- stanter the soft answers promulgated to turn away the anger of simple, unofficial critics; to give hearings to those who would like to sing or play for the public; to announce all kinds of "numbers" in all kinds of languages; to perform himself when somebody doesn't arrive for the show; to play accompaniments for those who failed to provide their own pianists. . . . The rest of the time he has to himself.
His Crown of Thorns
T^OR ways that are hard and tricks -^ that are vain — to jumble a metaphor or two — the impresario of musicians wins the mothproof medal. The average "manager" of talent finds his path
bestrewn with tempera- ments of great variety and curious design.
The late F. Wight Neumann and the present Louis Eckstein of Ravinia fame con- firmed that rumor to us in person. But whereas men of their profession are concerned with but what amounts to a handful of concerts or opera performances yearly, the radio direc- tor must scare up hun- dreds of musicians and arrange hundreds of programs. Not only that, but his audience is multitudinous and supercritical, whereas the concert manager's patrons are fewer and not so apt to be rabidly critical, since only those who understand and enjoy this type of program pay him for seats. They wouldn't go if they didn't like the kind of music the recital or con- cert assured.
The radio audience, on the other hand, is a cross section of the population of the United States. Some like jazz; some despise it; some dislike sopranos, some revile contraltoes; some root for piano solos, other say "bah," not to say "blah"; some w-ant old time favorites, younger hearers cry for popular songs of today. And so it goes. Yet all these "critics" of each other's tastes are listening to the musical director's daily programs at the same time and each type thinks the pro- gram is terrible if it does not consist of just what it likes best.
Starting out in the early morn intent on catching the early artist and "booking" him, the pale young man with the high forehead and fallen arches finds two classes of musicians awaiting him — the kind that begs to be put on a program and the kind he has to ask to do their stuff for this radio age. The former keep the telephone wires sizzling throughout the day and wear out the anteroom car- pet during "tryout" hours. Here begins woe. Most of them know they are good.
Charles H. Gabriel Jr., of WGN
(Drake Photo)
But the others. Knowing they are good, nine times out of ten they are in- sulted when the inevitable request to hear them is made.
"Why," said a young near-soprano to us the other day, "Mme. Screech says I am really too good for the radio. She says, everybody says, I have a wonderful voice. I only want to sing because so many of my friends who live out of town are anxious to hear me. When can I come? I prefer your Master Artist re- citals on Sunday and could do a whole hour for you."
What to do? What to do? What to do?
When she finally consents to sing a little test song, the voice, what there is of it, is very good — only for talking, not singing. To plainly say so would not be quite what they are doing this year in the best circles. To book her for an appearance would be a pitiful thing to do, not only for the reputation of the station but as an unnecessary torture to the future hearers. What would you say? What we say is a secret of musical directors.
Too recently a gentlewoman was Honestly, most of them are good and booked by error of confusing her with dating them up is merely a question of another of the same name, and immedi- "how soon can you come?" (Turn to page 67)
36
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
Above is Harry Snodgrass, during one of his "at home" programs from the Missouri State Penitentiary, where he has been confined for three years. His piano renditions are broadcast regularly through Station WOS, at Jefferson City.
' Stone Walls do not a Prison Make'
By RUSSELL H. HOPKINS
"Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage."
— Old Saying. "Love laughs at locksmiths."
— A nother Saying.
NO ONE knows the truth of the foregoing sayings better than Harry Snodgrass, who is known throughout the United States and Canada as the inimitable "King of the Ivories" from Radio Station WOS, at Jefferson City, Mo.
Three years ago this January, Snod- grass was an Unknown — a mere cog in the world's everyday life. And he wasn't very successful at that.
Harry was somewhat shiftless back
in 1921. He couldn't hold a job for more than a month. He had a wonderful gift of piano playing, but he had no one to inspire him. So he drifted along — not even a pebble on Life's beach.
The Turning Point TTE GOT into bad company. One *-*- night the police made a raid and Harry was "among those present" when charges of robbery were made. Harry was tried and convicted on a charge of attempted burglary. He was sentenced to serve three years in the Missouri State Penitentiary.
Most people regard a prison as the last place to achieve fame, but Snod- grass looks upon his jail sentence with
What the Broadcasters are Doing
The Real
Story of Harry
Snodgrass, Who
Won Radio Fame in Prison
a feeling of gratitude. For were it not for that chance arrest back in 1921, he might still be an unknown wanderer.
Not long after his advent into the prison, radio began to win popularity. Broadcasting stations sprung up, and among them was WOS, at Jefferson City, Missouri. While visiting the peni- tentiary one day, a representative from WOS happened to hear Snodgrass play- ing the piano casually and disinterestedly for a group of prisoners.
The radio man was astounded. He marveled at Snodgrass' natural ability as a pianist, his easy skill and expert technique. The radio man brought visiting pianists of note and several musical instructors to hear Snodgrass play. All were of the same opinion; Snodgrass was a "genius of the ivories," wasting his talents behind the bleak walls of a penitentiary.
J. M. Witten, chief announcer and a director at WOS, arranged to have Snod- grass broadcast regularly from the Jefferson City broadcasting station. Wit- ten dubbed him "King of the Ivories" and advertised him on WOS programs, neglecting, however, to mention that Snodgrass' studio was a trusty's parlor in the state penitentiary.
During the year or so Snodgrass has been performing over radio, his whole attitude of life has changed. As he faces the microphone in his gray "studio," he visions the untold millions who are listening to his varied concerts — jazz, classical music, and old time favorites. He sees the men, women and little chil- dren who sit open-mouthed on hearing his lightning-like speed and his tender, impassioned handling of the Old Masters.
A Purpose in Life
CNODGRASS admits that now he ^ has a purpose in life. The piano is his life, and now he knows it will guide him to greater fame once he leaves the confines of the prison walls.
"Love laughs at locksmiths," he told his warden. "I love my work. When I play I am not in prison. I am surrounded by millions of admirers instead of four gloomy walls. If I get so much pleasure from playing now, can you imagine what will happen when I get out of here?"
If Snodgrass contemplates fame now, he does not realize he has already gained it. Few persons know he is a convict, but those who know who he is admire him all the more for the change radio broadcasting has wrought over him; the spiritual transformation that radio has caused over this once indifferent "floater." (Turn to page 69)
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
Can Beauty Be Sent
Over Radio
DO YOU THINK it possible to transmit part of your physical being as well as your voice by radio?
Byrdetta Evans, nation- ally known radio singer and a prominent society beauty as well, was the person who asked that question at the opening of an informal inter- view over the teacups the other afternoon.
The question proved to be the first and the last to be asked in said inter- view. In fact, it was enough for a whole interview.
Assuming a very thoughtful air, the writer started to quote several well known radio engineers to disprove her point, but Miss Evans assured him that she was interested in the psychological and not the technical side of radio.
"Why?" we asked, coming to life.
"As you probably know," Miss Evans began, "I have sung from a large number of broad- casting stations recently, including such well known ones as VVGN, WLS, WJAZ and WEBH. Of course, I have received my share of letters, phone calls and telegrams, commenting on and praising my voice, as well as requesting favorite numbers.
Those Forward Fans!
T>UT the reason I asked you that question is because nearly f-f all the messages from masculine fans not only praise my vocal ability, but request my telephone number or home ad- dress and express a desire to meet me.
"I have heard from many sources that many movie stars receive proposals from persons who have never seen anything but their image and who have no idea of their personality or speech. But here it is the reverse, for the radio fans who write me have only heard my voice and have no idea how I look.
"Naturally, I am considerably intrigued by these incidents, and I wonder if by any chance my listeners could have received an impression of my physical self along with my voice."
In other words, Miss Evans wants to know if the average radio listener can tell, by paying rapt attention to a girl's voice
Miss Byrdetta Evans
(Drake Studio Photo)
What the Broadcasters are Doing 37
By "Buddy Snaps '
Who, After an
Interview with
Miss Byrdetta
Evans, Feels
Convinced that
Radio Listeners
Can Determine
Whether Beautiful
Singers Are
Beautiful !
over the radio, whether she is as sweet and pretty as her voice would have you believe.
Look at Byrdetta!
TV/TAYBE there is some-
-'-'-*■ thing in her theory.
The reader will be able to
solve this riddle by glancing
at the portrait of Miss
Evans accompanying this
article.
In a moment of confidence Miss
Evans showed us a typical letter she received
after singing an unusually sentimental song;
one which undoubtedly stirred several listeners to
romantic ravings — -particularly the writer of this billet
doux:
"Dearest Radio Songbird:
"I must express my deep appreciation of your won- derful voice which came to me so marvelously from WGN last night. You do not know the solace and comfort your song inspired in me. Why, I can scarcely wait until your voice comes again stealing out of the night, bringing comfort for a lonely heart. I feel that such a lovely voice could only have its origin in an equally lovely body.
"Please answer this message so I may have the privilege of personally thanking you for your artistry. "Anxiously,
"George "
Before taking up her song career, Miss Evans was the town belle of Fargo, N. D., where she won the annual beauty contest for several seasons. While attending the University of Min- nesota she was asked to enter a bathing girl contest, and although her nearest approach to bathing exhibitions during past years had been in a railroad water tank near Fargo, she entered the contest and was selected winner.
"I love radio for its romance," Miss Evans assured us. "No one ever knows where her voice is going or to whom she is singing. Wouldn't it be marvelous to have the Prince of Wales listening!" she sighed, just like any other American girl would at such a supposition.
But the question still remains unsolved — Can beauty be transmitted by radio? Try it and see.
(Copyright: 1924: by Radio Abo.)
38
RADIO AGE for January, 1925
What the Broadcasters are Doing
How a Touch of
Radio Finesse
t
Makes Broadcasting a Pleasure at WEBH
By WILLIS ARNOLD
(Chicago Aerial Survey Fboto.) A bird's-eye view of the Edgewater Beach Hotel, home of WEBH.
FINESSE! Art! Color! Those are three things that the Radio broadcasting field is destined to possess some day, but which it lacks to a noticeable degree at present.
Eight out of ten of our broadcasting stations are the most uninteresting things in the world. Artists "dated" to appear for the first time before the microphone go to the studios with hearts aflame, dreaming wild dreams of the romance and thrill they will get from their first broadcast.
Instead of the romance they had supposed was behind the microphone and the broadcast studio, they usually find a dull and overheated room; a few disinterested persons in charge; and a mechanical way about doing things that breeds "stage fright" and many times causes a promising artist to fail com- pletely.
Mind you, not all stations are like that. But the majority of them are. They feel that because a broadcast studio can- not be seen, it need not cater to the artistic, the colorful and the romance that is in radio as a science. In other words, the finesse — the finishing touch — ■ is lacking.
A Step Forward '"PHE Edgewater Beach Hotel, one of Chicago's most pretentious show- places, purchased Radio Station WEBH with the avowed intention of forming a studio that would inspire radio artists instead of terrify them; that would make them feel at home and arouse all that was artistic in them. The Hotel manage- ment wanted class to pervade throughout every inch of its studio.
The Hotel already had something to build from. It had a crystal radio studio situated in a cozy cor- ner of the hotel building; a st udioenclosed entirely in glass and built along the lat- est lines of studio development. The mechanical side of the station was acknowledged one of the best in the country; the operating staff was the most efficient that could be found. The original apparatus had communicated daily with Capt. McMil- lan during his explorations in Arctic regions. These experiments were carried on when the station was under another management.
Everything was ready, then, for the final step; the introduction of the elusive bit of finesse.
Robert D. Boniel, a veteran at the gentle art of studio management, was chosen to take charge of the newly created Station WEBH. That was four months ago. And today WEBH is the last word in "artistry" in radio broad- casting. Just as the Hotel itself strives
The famous Langdon Brothers, Hawaiian guitar artists who appear exclusively on WEBH programs. They are known from Coast to Coast for their unique presenta- tions.
to cater to the best tastes of Chicago's elite, so has "Bob" Boniel injected a colorful atmosphere in the studio he manages.
Unique Crystal Studio
'T'HE studio consists of two glass com- partments. One, a very small room, houses the announcer — Mr. Boniel — and his operator. The other room, also glass enclosed and adjacent to the operating and announcing room, houses the artists in charge of Dean Remick, musical director. To avoid timidity on the part of the entertainers who view the micro- phone for the first time, the microphone is concealed in a piano lamp, and singers and other performers sing "at" the lamp, thus making it unnecessary for them to concoct any weird illusions about the powers of the more or less harmless microphone.
Velvet drapes further enhance the beauty of "the crystal studio" and add to its sound values. The broadcasting antennae are located nearly a block away from the studio itself, free from interfer- ence of steel girders. The Hotel is situa- ted in Chicago's fashionable North Side.
One of the most renowned features of WEBH and a typical example of its finesse is the Sunday afternoon twilight musicale. Operatic selections by Dan Russo and Ted Fiorito's Oriole Orchestra attract a gathering of socially-elect every Sunday at 5 p. in.; and a famed singer, sometimes a soprano, and at others a tenor or baritone, also appear on these musicales, as an added feature. The best in opera music and classical selec- tions is broadcast on this special program.
But that is not all. Mr. Boniel's forte is variety; and he can arrange jazz pro- grams with the same success that greets his handling of classical arrangements. But Mr. Boniel has the gift of making jazz presentations seem ethereal; he is like Paul Whiteman in that respect.
RADIO AGE broadcasts from the crystal studio once a month, the next program being scheduled for Tuesday, December 23, between 9 and 10 p. m. Tune in! Wavelength, 370 meters.
WEBH is continually hanging up dis- tance records. It is one of the two strong- est stations in the Chicago territory, but in spite of the force behind its broadcasts, the modulation is practically perfect. This is accomplished only by close observation by an expert corps of operators.
RADIO AGE-