Period Wireless

[Flyfisher]

How about this for a rather stark example of old and new in the world of radio receivers?



I took this photo during a recent trip to Germany. The valve receiver (for our younger readers, that's the one in the wooden box :wink was still fully working and had the most wonderful audio tone. It made me wish I had kept the similar old valve receiver I had during my early teens, instead of taking it apart . . . .

Do PPUKers have any examples of period electronics?

 

[88v8]

We have a valve FM radio, in store at present.

This chap does modern in old boxes. Very decent cove.
http://www.dabhandradio.com/

Ivor

 

[Keith Bowman]

I can remember people bringing their glass cased wireless batteries to my father's garage to have them charged up! At the other extreme, my son has recently built a computer inside the case of an old valve wireless. I wanted to get him to make it tune into Hilversum to connect to the internet but I don't think he knew what I was talking about. (Nothing new there.)

 

[atlasfever]

Sorry, the opening line of your first entry should read " Old and older." For new, try wireless connection to earplug set directly Step on your earphones a few times, and you can have your scratchy noises too

 

[plasticpigeon]

This is a favourite of mine. Away in storage at the mo unfortunately.

 

[LadyArowana]

If you are quick there's still time to get a bid in for any of the things here https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/first-bytes-iconic-technology-from-the-twentieth-century/lots/9 Personally my tastes run much more to the small and sparkly, http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...andrite-and-diamond-ring-5499280-details.aspx sadly I seem to be about 18 months late :lol:

 

[philpjuk100]

Had an old "ghetto blaster" in the workshop it worked well until it died when the welder tripped the supply so treated myself to an expensive digital radio and a surge free adapter,it will not get any of my favorite progs (radio leicester,droitwich,hilversum etc) that the old one did!.I think I need a trip to a car boot to replace it with another old ghetto blaster or maybe a car radio,so much for progress!.

 

[TheForge]

An acoustic iPod type dock I made for the other half for Christmas, from an old radio horn and a block of oak, no electrickery though! iPod sits in the little routed slot.



Sounds great and amplifies the phone/iPod etc by about 10 decibels!

The little HMV dog is optional!

 

[Keith Bowman]

Ah, the Bowman family valve wireless pc is a bit more sophisticated! Here it is part way through the construction process:

 

[Flyfisher]

Excellent! Have you tried looking on the web for "steampunk pc"? Some amazing creations out there.

 

[Keithj]

Sitting out in my workshop I have one of these:

Indeed a thing of great beauty. It's almost as old as I am!

 

[Flyfisher]

Just to update Milady's Apple auction post: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23243069
(if you can ignore the annoying presenter).

I paid £600 for my Apple II in 1978, which was something of an achievement as my (full) uni grant** at the time was £500 per term.




** Younger readers may not understand this word but it's similar to today's 'student loan' except it never had to be paid back to anyone. Hard to believe, I know, but it's all true!