The Season's Sets Reviewed

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 43, 6 May 1932, Page 10

The Season's Sets Reviewed

Brief Descriptions of the 1932 Models

Johns, Ltd. Few New Zealand radio enthusiasts are not familiar with the name of Johns. The oldest radio firm. in Auckland, if not in New Zealand, Johns Ltd. have been engaged in the manu: facture and supply of radio acces: sories since 1921. Johns Ltd. are the manufacturers of the famous Well-Mayde radios, The success of these receiving sets is due in no small part to the experience gained by the Johns brothers in those far-back years of 1920-23 when radio broadcasting and reception was in its infancy. One of the lessons learnt in those early days was the need for exactness and precision in radio if unvarying results were to be achieved. That is why they use in Well-Mayde Rangatira radios the Elammarlund four-gang condenser, a die-cast pre: cision job costing over 50 per cent. more than ordinary good condensers. The resistors, too, in Well-Mayde radios are only permitted a variation of 10 per cent. This is on a par with the variation allowed in the highest class American sets, so costly that they never reach this market. Johns Ltd. are now a thriving firm. Theirs is the only factory in New Zealand where every detail of a radio set is carried out under the one roof Even the cabinets, usually in other cases relegated to an outside firm of cabinetmakers, are made in the fae tory. Details like this are in line with the policy of the firm never ta make quality subservient to quantity. The need for the finest care and painstaking exactitude learnt in the early days has never been forgoiten. A.W.A. MALGAMATED WIRELESS have followed up the success of last season’s A.W.A. Radiola 458 with a model which is claimed to be the finest British-made recciyer which has ever been offered to the New Zealand publie,

The new A.W.A. Radiola 55K has hairline selectivity with unrivalled clarity. It affords musical reproduetion of brilliance, warmth and power, and reproduces every note from top . to bottom of the musical scale. A extremely noticeable feature is the low noise level, In addition to incorporating the most worth-while developments in radio engineering, the 55E Radiola has a modernly designed, artistie cabinet -a cabinet that has the quiet dignity of appearance so desired by the discriminating, All interested in this wonderful receiver should apply to Amalgamated Wireless (A’sia) Ltd... Box 830, Wellington, for descriptive leaflets of these sets, which will be supplied along with the name of the local Radiola dealer. Telsen Radio Parts HOME constructors and radio dealers will be pleased to know that a complete range of Telsen parts is now in New Zealand. One feature that will be welcomed by the set builder is that every component is provided with serew terminals, so that solder is eliminated when building from'#hese parts, The complete range is finished in brown polished bakelite, which ensures a neat appearance to the interior of the completed set. Nearly all parts required to complete a set are available, including transformers, chokes, condensers, resistors, ete., ete. Illustrated price lists are obtainable from the N.Z. distributors, The International Radio Co., Ltd. 22 Blair Street, Wellington. Stewart-Warner J HERR are almost 200 shortwave stations here and abroad; and such stations are below the range of the standard radio receiver alone. But, the new Stewart-Warner sets areavailable with receivers for both standard broad cast and shortwave receplion., hese

sets make available not only favourite local stations, but also broadcasts from all over the civilised world. Imagine the thrill of tuning in direct to a foreign station-or listening to a ship’s band entertaining passengers a thousand miles at sea-or, possibly, the daily report of an exploring party encamped in a South Ameriéan jungle-or perhaps the exciting orders broadcast from some metropolitan police headquarters. In addition, there are numerous amateur stations all available within the shortwave band. This year Stewart-Warner is celebrating its 25th anniversary. During the past quarter-century this corporation has grown to be the greatest institution of its kind in the world. Today, the users of its products number 29,000,000. As a climax to such a record of growth and development, Stew-art-Warner has offered this great silver jubilee line-incorporating everything wanted in radio for years to come-yet S@d at very low prices. ‘or these new sets, Stewart-Warner engineers developed an entirely new and simplified super-heterodyne circuit, with a total of only six valves. But they are peaked to obtain the best of championship performance, which means better performance at less cost to the radio listener. Progress has been made by the radio division of Hope Gibbons, Limited, distributors in this country. Several important policy changes have been | effected in recertt months, with the result that the latest model radios are now less than 20 per cent. foreign manufacture. The cabinet work, patent _line filter (the big feature in New Zealand electric radios this year), printed literature, cardboard cartons, packing cases of New Zealand white pine, and other products are now entirely made in New Zealand. Even the assembly and building up of these fine radios is now done in New Zealand. Radio Exchange NEW departure in the radio business is the Radio Mxchange. Here radio fans, "Hams," or dealers, can = turn their old parts in stock into cash, or make an exchange for new goods. Starting from this week, a list of used parts will be advertised every week in the "Radio Record,’ and those who through adverse circumstances cannot afford new goods will do well to watch the weekly advertisements for cheap used radio apparatus. Country listeners who are not able to use the electric power will do well if they look out for some of the cheap sets thet have been traded in fo more modern receivers. The Radio Exchange is located at Radio House, 32 Courtenay Place, Wellington. New Philips Radioplayers WO new Philips Radioplayers have just arrived in New Zealand which have features all their own. Like all Philips receivers the tone is remark‘ably rich and lifelike. One is the new British 980A Radioplayer, a four-valve (including rectifier) set specially de- / signed with inbuilt speaker to give h quality reception to local stations; the other is the new 982A Radioplayer, a set (including rectifier) with inbuilt speaker, which brings in Australian stations with remarkable ease and clarity. Both these Radioplayers are housed in a similar cabinet of beautiful design, Quality and modernity in appearance and performance have both |

been achieved. The prices of both these new Radioplayers are strictly competitive. weed let beeen A sample has arrived of a new Bri-tish-made Philips Radioplayer, No. 730A, which will shortly be available to the public. It is a. six-valve (including rectifier) set-an outstanding job. It is modern in appearance, and is exceptionally selective. Distance seems to be no object with this new Radio-player-station after station comes in with every turn of the dial. A most impressive feature is its tone, which is startlingly lifelike, due to an entirely new type of dynamic speaker with super-sized cone. Standard Telephones STANDARD TELEPHONES AND CABLDS, pioneers in radio research and controlling the largest laboratories in the British Empire, are / now marketing a range of receivers ealled 8.2.0. radios. The firm has had many years’ experience in the manufacturing and development of radio equipment, and are suppliers of equipment and apparatus to all the big broadcasting stations throughout Australia and New Zealand. | It is interesting to note that their equipment is also in use at the famous Rugby (British Official Wireless) station, and that 8.7.C. equipment will be used for the new high-powered _ British Empire Broadcasting station tro be erected this year. All of which goes to show that 8.T.C. radio sets are built with a full knowledge of local and distance requirements, and are backed by manufacturing and laboratory resources which eliminate guess-work and guarantee a practical and reliable receiver. Model 535 employs three stages of screen grid, tuned r.f. with pentode output, the selectivity and sensitivity pbeing much in advance of previous stanwards of this type of machine. Agents for S.71.C. Silent Tuning Radios are belng appointed, so that an interested public may now have an opportunity of testing this new development by Standard ‘Telephones and Cables. , A particular feature is stated to he that the §8.T.C. set is built specifically for New Zealand conditions, and as the result of much research on the part of Standard Telephones’ engineers in this’ Dominion. Fear and Co. REALISING the need for a local station receiver which will not only discriminate between nearby powerful stations, but whieh will also give fidelity of tone, Fear and Co. have developed the "Direct Coupled Two." Is it based on the famous Loftin-White circuit, which is noted for its purity of tone -over the whole frequency range. The set has been built into a very presentable midget. It employs reaction, so that, even with a small aerial, two fairly powerful nearby stations can be brought in at good strength. The entire set is made in Wellington, and only first-grade material has been used. The result is a set that, in both price and workmanship, can compete with anything of its kind. Gulbransen HD automatic volume control incorporated in the Gulbransen 53 brings new realism and enjoyment to radio reception. By cutting out excess vibrations, this device enables high soprano or deep contralto notes to come through in all their natural beauty.

In the same way it is now possible to receive all bass parts in orchestral music clearly and full strength, but free from "boom" and in perfect proportion to the treble parts. It is well worth while to ask for a demonstration. Musicians are enthusiastic about the artistic quality of Gulbransen 53 reception. The Lamp House "PHERD is always one name that comes to mind when radio accessories are required at reasonable prices. Carrying a complete stock of radio -goods, from tiny screws to complete electric sets, The Lamp House is one of the most interesting shops to radio enthusiasts in New Zealand. Jountry builders who cannot see for themselves should not fail to obtain a 1932 catalogue, from The Hlectric Lamp House, Ltd., 27 Manners Street, Wellington. Empire Concertone Radio | [t is a remarkable fact that the maj i ity of radio buyers seem to comsider the distance-getting properties of a receiver as the most important feature. A moment’s reflection reveals the fallacy of buying a radio set on this basis for, after all, it is as a musical instrument that the fullest enjoyment is derived from radio. Make tone your first consideration, just as you would if you were buying a piano or gramophone, and you will enjoy to the full the many hours of entertainment that come over the air. The new Empire Concertone radio receiver has been specially designed to reproduce radio concerts faithfully and flawlessly-giving every instrument its full tonal value. quipped with the famous Loftin-White Amplifier, this , set has been called the "Set with the Singing Voice,’ and. those who have taken advantage of the demonstrations offered by the distributors claim that their slogan is well deserved. This amplifier is one of the latest. developments of radio, science and embodies revolutionary principles of construction that places it as one of the finest types of amplifier on the market. The rest of this remarkable set is in keeping with its beautiful tone. Housed in a striking mantel cabinet of modern design it.can be conveniently transferred from room to room. Volume, selectivity and range are other features of the Empire Concertone Radio that make it truly exceptional value at its price of £22, Thos. Ballinger & Co., Ltd., are the N.Z. Distributors, and Agents are established in practically all the leading towns of the Dominion. \ *