Record Season Foreshadowed at Olympia

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 12, 16 November 1928, Page 8

Record Season Foreshadowed at Olympia

This article tells the story of the most wonderful Radio Exhibition ever held. Radio is no longer a novelty--it is now an essential. —

HH last mail from Ensland has brought a huge amount of literature pearing on the National Radio Exhibition held at ama Olympia, London, Septeniber 22 to 29, So great in importance has this most recent annual exhibition proved that the remarks previously made in the "Record" have proved totally inadequate to do justice to such an important event. Mr. Owen’s Observations. UR thanks are due to Mr. J. H. Owen, former president of the Wellington Radio Society, who has spared no trouble in obtaining literature for us on the subjects. Brightly coloured folders, attractive leaflets, bulky catalogues, and numerous maga zines have come.to hand from Mr. Owen. A letter which should prove of interest to all who remember this able "vireless enthusiast, and all those who are at all interested in radio, has reached us from him. send you per this post a catalague °~~ of the Radio Exhibition at Olympia, also two bundles of catalogues. Of the latte: one could fill a wheelbarrow in no time,

The show is an immense success. The 2s. 6d. day was as full as the other days, 1s. 6d. Some 20,000 visitors each day made the task of viewing the exhibits a difficult one. Fancy four acres of exhibits, with 300 firms showing the latest gadgets in Wireless. One stall was made in the model of a battleship with four funnels. Compiete sets, loudspeaker, ete, lined the bulwarks, hatches, and decks, whilst a diminu. tive admiral in full regalia walked tli: bridge. Many quaint mechanical figures drew attention to some special feature. one, a nigger, moved eyes, lips, head, and hands, and was'a great attraction. Many stalis employed young girls dressed in sports costumes, and in smart attire, several at one stall. The smartest of these was the young lady whose picture (enclosed) is on the

face of the catalogue, and was distributing them herself. QGCREEN grid valve, sets with detector, followed by a pentode valve, were much in evidence, whilst the moving coil unit was on a score of stands in its lateset improved form. The magnets are energised from a 6-yolt accumulator or mains, and it is the most sensitive, and the best toned loud. speaker I have yet heard. The combined radio and gramophone, entirely self-contained, from the table form to the 200-guinea hall model, was a popular exhibit. No sets were working and no sounds were heard above the music from the Royal Flying Corps’ Band. Demonstrations were given in shops and offices adjacent to the show by makers of well-known sets, and loudspeakers, valves, and batteries. These

firms called attention to their displays by large calico signs, printed and hung across the road overhead. By reference to some of the leafiets, which I send you, you will see that a great advance has been made in the manufacture of moving and _ fixed condensers, transformers, leaks, coils, fixed resistances, valves, and accessories generally. The trade generally seems prosperous, and the stallholders I spoke to were satisfied with the large orders received. Brilliant Spectacle. TO do justice to the exhibition and the details sent by Mr, Owen, a special edition of the "Radio Record" would need to be prepared. Each of the English magazines has prepared special numbers, and even to rapidly read through these is a work of hours -but it is intensely interesting. The National Exhibition is not a new feature. For the last five years the northern radio season has been introduced with an exhibition by the radio manufacturers. The fact that each exhibition is larger and more successful than its predecessor goes to prove that the public are realising the value of radio, and with the march of scientific application comes the greater i

popularity of radio. This last show has been no exception. Yet in another a@ense it has been a great exception, for this year’s advance has been far greater than any previous. The novelty of broadcasting may be wearing off, but the people are settling ywh to recognise radio as an essential. . In its splendour this exhibition has surpassed everything of its kind. Exhibitors have made use of every possible device to attract attention, Long before the show was reached silent mystery men, robed as members of a sinister brotherhood, moved among the thronging crowd, calling attention to a certain mystery stall. Attractive girls, attired in characteristic costumes moved among the crowd, "and," as a publication remarks, "young men and old men are radio enthusiasts, and young men and old men wit] turn their heads to see--" (the name of a popular valve). © Mechanical men, almost Robots, attracted attention; in fact, it was almost impossible to carry out a systematic survey. sO numerous were the dazzling exhibits with their undeniable attraction. i General Tendencies. 1B a previous article moving coil -speakers, pentades and screen grid valves were mentioned. These were the prominent features, the big feutures that are to distinguish this year from last year. ‘The reduction of the royalties has no doubt meant the lifting of a re pressing hand and everywhere the greatest incentive has been given for the small set owner to increase the size of his set and bring in some of the delightful programmes from overseas. . Constructors. REAT incentive has been given to constructors, At. one time to construct a set one had to have some technical knowledge, plenty of time and patience, as well = as have a good supply of tools. In this year’s models even the blue print is done away with. An iilustrated booklet takes any constructor

through the intricacies or should it be said, simplicities of assembling" a shield grid set in a handsome cabinet. Every piece of wire is shown cut to length in one particular diagram. Television apparatus procurable for £180 and a Fultograph receiver were on view. This is the first year of their introduction, and it promises to be a record year, especially for the Fultograph. ‘Television is to follow. The British Broadcasting Corporation had a fine exhibit to which they charged twopence admission, the proceeds being in aid of charity. It depicted the evolution of music, commencing with a tableau of early man sitting listening to a bubbling brook, and to the song of a bird. ‘The final tableau represented the modern home. It is said that it took an hour to inspect the exhibit-half an hour of waiting in a long queue, the remainder examining the exhibit. ORN type speakers were conspicuous by their absence, the tide of public opinion having swung to the moving coil and cone type, which tend to aeccenuate the bass notes. Horn types when present were represented by the. famous exponential type--those with a long tapering column. The stalls where mains units were displayed were very popular, as were the all-electric sets. The general trend for those who are in the position is to substitute batteries by eliminators. These are becoming cheaper and more efficient. In fact, the keynote of the whole exhibition was simplicity with cheapness, though by no means at the expense of quality. "Popular Wireless," an enterprising tnglish technical journal, had a large stand on which it displayed models described through the magazine, and their technical staff was in attendance to help amateurs to solve their difficulties. Some people had travelled hundreds of miles "Just to see ‘Popular Wireless’ itself." For DX Men. WILE the majority of the manufacturers sought to cater for the family who wanted reliable entertainment, vet the DX man was not for-

gotten, He had been provided for by a series of new models of components, ball-bearing ‘condensers, accurate vernier dials, carefully made grid ledks and resistance. High-re-sistance potentiometers ranging from 5 to 5 megohms tend to replace rheostats. Numerous kits by reliable makers were on view. These contain every part necessary for the making of a sensitive and selective apparatus, and the instructions that accompany them are so clear that it is almost impossible to go wrong. The exhibition has created great interest the world over and promises to usher in the greatest radio year the world has yet known.