British Radio Flourishes

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 18, 14 November 1930, Page 5

British Radio Flourishes

1930 Exhibition Marks Tenth Anniversary of Radio in England —

HB considerable reduction of the net royalty on valves used in England has had a big effect. on the trend of radio design in that country. It will be remem‘bered that until recently a prohibitive sum was demanded in royalties for eyery valve sold, and this naturally meant that only the smaller sets found a market. The: construction of four and _ fivevalye sets was an. unheard-of thing, and one and two-valvers were developed to very high degrees. e absence of the heavy royalty had aj{very marked effect upon this year’s Rée=io Exhibition, which has proved the most ambitious yet held.. More valves are being used in this year’s sets, though the American style of seven and eight valves hag not yet found favour with British manufacturers. An increase in the number of valves has meant that sets can be simplified and the gain per valve need not be so high. The net result is a non-radiating set, in which tone is a feature. ‘The A.C. Set. [THE a.c. set has, as in other parts of the world, captured the buying public, though, judging from the exhibitions of parts, not the home constructor. This enthusiast is still interested in the construction of simple battery sets, The Ruse of mains current has to a large extent been responsible for the marked increase in the number of portable and novelty sets. The objection to the portable is undoubtedly the impracticability of the small batteries that one must neeessarily use. The mains set has overcome this problem, and the up-to-date sets exhibited can use either a light eliminator or a battery. This is of highest advantage, for the set can now be used in the home without the constant expense of batteries, and can be taken out into the country and put to its proper'use. Just how small these ean be made is exhibited by the tiny set shown in the accompanying photograph. The development of power from the mains has introduced a large number of sets built particularly for room. Thus we see sets built into a dummy bookcag. into a marble or enamelled-topped tai@' for the kitchen, another into a woman’s work basket, and still another into¥ihe glove drawer of the hall. The prices have shown a greater range than ever before. There was the two-valve set costing £2/10/-, and the 500-guinea machine that, combining gramophone and radio, incorporated not only an automatic record-changing device, but also a needle changer. The most remarkable thing about -this set wags: the fact that it contained only five valves. Such a state of affairs is without explanation to the New ZeaJander who thinks of this class of instrument in terms of sevens and eights, fxut when it is realised that all the statidus that are worth hearing are within a radius of 2000 miles or so, one can seen the futility of powerful sets. The number of English programmes available can be'counted on the fingers of one’s hand.

Anniversary of British Radio. "THE exhibition this year marked the tenth anniversary of the introduction of radio into Great Britain. Just this time. ten years ago Dame Nellie Melba san™ "Home, Sweet. Home" from Chelmsford to some 1000 listeners: Now some three million are registered set owners. This large: number represents a percentage of nearly 31 per cent. of the total population and determined efforts are being made to increase this. It is anticipated that at least 25 per cent. more listeners will be added as a result of this drive. . When it is realised that there are about four people to every family and‘ one in every three persons now: has a wireless set, some idea of the tremendous popularity of Wireiess will be gauged. The New Zeajend ratio is about 4 per cent. and the Australian’ 5 per cent.

APPROPRIATE to the 10th anniversary of the birth of British radio, the Broadcasting Corporation arranged a special exhibit, showing the progress of wireless transmission during the ten years of operation. The first apparatus was very simple aud inadequate as compared with the modern complicated machinery whica was actually used during the exliniticn. As with the New Zeaiaud exhibi-. tions, programmes were reiayed to the exhibition and over 250 toudspeakers were used to convey the music to the thousands who were present every day. With over 400 stands,: representing a value of £5,000,000, and stretching as far as five miles, one had a good deal to see if the exhibition was to be coveréd in one visit. The stands were drawn by hallot, so that there was no grouping and one had to go to some pains to see everything he

was interested in. To facilitate mat--ters a most comprehensive guide was prepared, and with this was a list of the principal stations in Hurope, ale phabetically arranged. : No Unemployed. . ey connection with the exhibition it is interesting to note that the rapid progress of radio is not leaving. behind it a long list of unemployed, tor it is claimed that in this industry alone there are no unemployed, not even an unemploynient register. The industry has even absorbed large numbers of the unskilled. Six big factories have been opened in various parts of the country and a total of more than 200,000 square feet of new factory floorage has been laid down. Nearly a million people are employed in the Bnglish radio business and plans for its extension are now being matured.