New Points For Listeners and Dealers

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 33, 2 March 1928, Page 2

New Points For Listeners and Dealers

By

Meter

’ may, HE English, not to be outMali done by the pushful Yanks, are now on the New ZeaMiland market with electric fe) gramophone pick-ups. This (womens) device enables the owner of a gramophone and a radio set to so link them ‘together that the gramophone music, is. passed through the audio-fre-quency stages of the radio set, which amplify them end .astonishingly improve the tone of reproduction. Radio traders are now stocking. these devices as a good demand has set in for them. 7A Wellington radio trader recently gave me 8 demonstration of an English electrig gramophone pick-up, which. certainly proved eminently pleasing. The last audio valve had a B battery poten--tial ot 185 volts, and no matter how great the volume (and it was very considerable) there was no tendency to "chatter? on the part of the pick-up, and J failed to detect any trace of negdle-scratch. A smooth-working volume control enabled one to vary the volume from zero until it was more than ample for a large room. A commendable feature, also, was that the pick-up did. not bear too heavily on the gramophone, record-a fault not unknown in gramophone pick-ups, which slows the record unduly, The connecting cords are, adequately Jong, and the contrivance ‘is. well finished and of good desigy...,I was rather surprised to learn. that it is being retailed at as low as £4 10s. complete. | | A GOOD MILLIAMETER. A ‘USEFUL instrument for keeping | *. a constant check on the B battery consumption is a milliameter, and a check. on the stability of the valves. While there are some quite serviceable moderate-priced milliameters on the market, it is advisable to purchase the very best if one’s pocket will admit of so doing. The instrument should be placed in the negative lead to the B battery. A high-class American milliameter is on sale, ranging from zero to 60 milliamperes, which can be safely . assessed. as the "last word" in these devices. ,A trader informs me that it is selling at 87s. 6d. retail. PEDESTAL PORCELAIN INSULAy TO HERE there are high winds the aerial lead-in is apt to tug. and strain on the small tube insulator which gives entrance to the house. TI have =

. e seen several of these tubes broken by this undue strain. A useful article designed to take the strain from the leadin tube is now on sale. It is a porcelain pedestal insulator, strong and with a highly glazed surface, which prevents the collection of moisture. It can be screwed over the lead-in tube, and heing hollow will permit the lead-in to be run throngh it to the lead-in tube. Where it is necessary to guide the leadin away from contact with a building the pedestal insulator is particularly serviceable. ‘The line is marketed at 3s. 6d. retail. HANDY REEL AERIALS, QNE of the bugbears of using a portable receiving set with a good aerial is the transport of the aerial itself. We know what a nuisance it is to carry an unsightly coil of copper wire, which with characteristic malignity develops kinks and is unwieldy. All this can now be avoided by a neat little contrivance in the form of a "reel aerial" which lately came on the market. A radio trader demonstrated the handiness of the ‘‘reel aerial" the other day. In outward appearance it may be described as resembling a surveyor’s stnall metallic tape, which can be wound up into a container in the conventional way. The metal container is small enough to fit into a coat. pocket, as it is only about half an inch thick and scarcely larger in disc than a motor-car clock. The aerial is thin, but substantial copper tape, brightly tinned, and about a quarter of an inch wide, totalling 100 feet in length. It winds up with a small handle on the side of the container. This line is retailing at the modest figure of 22s. 6d. ADVICE TO RETAILERS. N American radio business man advises radio retailers when considering the purchase of goods to bear these points in mind :- 1. Is it an item that will increase in stock. 2. Is it so much better than some present line that a present line should be discontinued to make room for it? 8. Is it in public demand or will the demand have to be created? 4, Will it be a permanent item, or ‘here to-day, gone to-morrow’? 5. How it is priced in comparison to competitive lines? "Buy strictly on these lines,’? he says, ‘‘and do not hesitate to say ‘No’ if it won’t stand the test.’’

ENGLISH TRANSFORMERS. HE Americans hit out boldly on improved audio transformer design a few years ago, and there was sound reason for their increasing the size of audio transformers to create better tone in broadcast reproduction. A_ radio dealer drew my attention last week to an English audio transformer which for size, design, and workmanship leaves nothing to be desired. Its guaranteed characteristics, too, are notable, namely, a flat amplification ‘"‘eurve" over a range of from 200 to 3000 frequencies, and a primary imductance of 124 henties. These transformers are standardised with a ration of a 3 to 1 step-up. To the uninitiated it may be explained with regard to the amplification curve that imperfectly designed transformers amplify well on some notes, but fall away badly on others. It is the aim of high-class transformer designers to maintain the amount of amplification over as wide a band of frequencies (or notes) as possible. In these transformers the uniformity of amplification ‘is guaranteed to extend over a range which is quite exceptional. The retail price of these transformers is 35s., a figure which, considering the quality of the line, is most reeasonable. ENGLISH CONDENSERS DE LUXE. HE British radio component manufacturers were caught uappmg in the New Zealand market when the Americans took it by storm when the popularity of broadcasting commenced in this country. Those who advocated trade within the Empire shook their heads regretfully when they saw the shoddy stuff shipped to New Zealand by British manufacturers I believe some of this is still on the shelves im some radio houses. It "‘stuck’’? badly, and slaughtering prices failed to clear it all out. It is, therefore, a subject for gratification that one now sees some remarkably fine components on sale from Fngland. The other day a trader showed me a truly superb line of British variable condensers-veritable RollsRoyce goods-which are of outstanding merit in design, material, and workmanship, They are fitted with thrust bali-bearings, a 60 to 1 milled friction vernier, unaffected by wear, and with a positive grip which renders slipping or back-lash out of the question. They are of the straight-line frequency type, with ‘"‘shaved" plates, and are neatly "pigtailed’’-a method of maintaining a

circuit, which I have always preferred | to the average friction method. These condensers are marketed in two capacities, .0002 mfd. and .0005 mfd They are sold complete with dials at 22s. 6d. retail. I cannot pass these condensers without mentioning their handsome, masterpiece, built-like-a-watch finish. METALLIC RECTIFIER. AN extremely neat little device 1m. the form of a metallic disc rectifier was shown to me thegother day. It seems astonishing that scientists have Giscovered 4 method of changing the structure of metals which permits electrical current to circulate, or flow, in only one direction, thus enabling it to convert alternating current into direct current, without the use of the ordinary battery-charger rectifying valve, or without the use of liquid acid rectifiers. The metallic rectifier shown to me has a capacity of 1 ampere, and is, therefore, particularly adapted for trickle charging "A" batteries. It, of course, must be used in conjunction with a transformer. The dealer informd me that he expects soon to have these metallic rectifiers in stock with a capacity of 24 amperes, so that they can be employed for charging ‘‘A’’ batteries in the ordinary way. ‘The metallic rectifier is permanent, when properly handled, and even after lengthy operation is warmth is scarcely noticeable to the bare hand. The device is selling retail at 82s. 6d. WHEN A SET GOES "DEAD." RADIO service men sometimes encounter peculiar instances when receiving sets go ‘dead,’ and the cause is somewhat difficult to detect. Whenever the signals cut ont or the receiving set goes dead, at a certain place or at various places on the dial after it is rotated, it is probably because the plates of one or more of the tuning condensers are touching at these particular spots. This may be only a loose connection, which sometimes shows up on a very strong signaj, The way to remedy this is to find the exact spot where the plates. are touching and which plates they are-usually one of the rotary platesand then with a small piece of sharpened wood or some insulating material bend the plate, so that it is in its normal position in the centre between two stator plates. Q md |

. VALVE TESTING, eh [* is always preferable to test valves with a regular valye tester instead of in the set. A defective valve inserted in a set will sometimes cause considerable damage, as it will short circuit and possibly burn out coils or resistances, Valve testers can be purchased from about £3 up, and many American dealers have found it to their advantage to maintain and advertise a free testing service for any valve brought in. This leads to more business, for the public is still under the impression that if a valve lights it is O.K. This, of course, is not true, as a valve may light and still be defective. By maintaining this testing service the dealer, of course, makes sales on valves to replace defective ones, as well as other accessories. One of the first things you should do if a customer is complaining about valves is to request that the valves be brought in for testing, and a regular valve tester is essential for this. work. A CRUCIBLE YEAR, [N New Zealand, as in America, this year is generally looked upon as the "‘crncible year." Retailers and wholesalers alike, who cannot make the grade, are going to fall by the wavside in greater numbers than ever before. Unfortunate for those who go. Fine for those who remain. The mortalities may be high, but it will make more comfortable living for the rest of us. There is money to be made in the radio business, and much money will be made this year and in the future. Those who make the grade will prosper. Dealers. keep that in mind. There have already been some obituaries this summer, and some wholesalers have been left lamenting at the meetings of creditors. QGOMETIMES the top of a radio cabinet arrives from oversea with an ugly stain or signs of chafing, and the appearance of the set is somewhat spoilt. Sometimes, also, the hot ashes from a cigarete or pipe fall on tthe top of a radio cabinet, and slightly char the polished surface. Any of these marks can be removed with wood alcohol and a clean cloth. A drop of oil should be applied immediately to aid in the restoration of a glassy surface, and to prevent the cloth from sticking.