Of Topical Interest

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 15, 24 October 1930, Page 8

Of Topical Interest

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A MELBOURNE radio writer says :- . "The announcer has his troubles, of course. In ordinary conversation, or n some .forms of public speaking for that matter, many little mistakes are passed unnoticed. When the self-same slips are broadcast they appear to be much more serious-perhaps because we are not able to see the speaker-and the condemnation is instant and severe." THE same writer said that almost every "sundower" (bush tramp) includes a small set in his swag. When he camps at night he erects his aerial, secures his earth connection, joins up his set, and is entertained while his billy boils. A bullock driver had a five-valve set of his own construction connected to an aerial strung round the waggon. As he drove his team, music -could be heard coming from the loudspeaker underneath the seat. It is obvious that broadcast listening has made a wonderful hit in the country districts, as well as in the cities, of Australia. "THANKS for the hint about ‘trim‘ming’ up A.C. sets," writes "TMC." (City). "I found that my _ get worked better on the lunger wave- ‘ Jengths than on the shorter. I thought . that the set was O.K., and was quite ignorant about the method of ‘trim‘ming’ until I asked an expert to give ‘the set a look over. He showed me that there were gadgets inside the set for bringing the volume up to a uniform strength on all wavelengths. Two of my friends who operate A.C. sets were equally ignorant, although they have had their outfits for two years." "QWITCH" has had confirmation of his surmise that the Miss Ruby MeDonald, violinist, who has been performing as a soloist from 2FC, Sydney, was playing in a Wellington picture theatre orchestra some eight or nine years ago. Since then Miss McDonald has toured the Eastern and Western States of America, and appeared at the Princess Theatre and St. Raphael’s Auditorium, New York, as a soloist, HE battery-operated set is still in considerable demand in Australia, according to a letter to hand from a Melbourne friend. He says: "In large country areas which are well populated there is no hope of electrical reticulation for many years to come, and battery sets are selling well. I have met many farmers and their sons who have built their own battery sets, and it was surprising to note how well informed many of these people are on technical radio matters. There cannot be the slightest doubt that radio is playing an important part in making country life more attractive. I rather imagine that with your higher proportion of rural population, the same thing would apply in New Zealand." URING the recent drought in America, the U.S. Weather Bureau was deluged with a flood of letters demanding that all wireless activities should cease until the weather broke. Only one letter contained a constructive snggestion. This came from a man who offered to precipitate a downpour by means of a short-wave apparatus of his own invention, The offer was not accepted,