Early Wireless sets?

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:01

ThreadID: 55988 Views:2142 Replies:12 FollowUps:8

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Member - Axle

Back in the days of the first transistor radios, and the old valve sets, there was also a little unit that could be built by those that were that way inclined, it was called a crystal set. As kids we used to build these and have fun trying to think of ways to pick up other stations, as they were only good for two close range ones at the time/ am 2BL, 2FC. I would love to build one now and see what happens if anything...lol.

Can't for the life of me remember the circuit, or all the components.

A0 90 Diode
22ohm resistor
680pf capacitor
single gang tuning condenser
3in areial coil about 50 windings on a ajax can
headphones
?????.
Anyone Familiar with these little old time gadgets?
Would love to get a circuit.

Cheers Axle.

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Reply By: Member - David P (VIC) - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:07

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:07

Geeee, there are some reeaall old codgers on this web sight....lol....silverback

AnswerID: 295079

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:12

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:12

Hahaha, Not that old mate, But living without power and without any convenience what so ever made us think all the time of things to do...lol

Cheers Axle.

FollowupID: 561018

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:25

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:25

This old Codger had a Crystal Radio, I didnt make it, I saved up my
money selling News Papers, and purchased one, I used to listen to
Three radio stations I remember the Aerial had Alligator clips on it
and you had to earth it to a Metal object, I usually clipped it to the
metal Bed Frame or some times I would clip it to the Chain Wire Fence. some how Game Boys and Nintendos ect would have cramped
our style. any way I was to busy chasing young Sheilas. didnt catch
to many.

Cheers
Daza

FollowupID: 561026

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 21:00

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 21:00

Bringing back a few memories now Daza!....lol

Cheers Axle.

FollowupID: 561044

Reply By: Member - David P (VIC) - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:15

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:15

and you were too young to be up to THAT!!!

AnswerID: 295083

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:22

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:22

Can get them as kits, but need parental supervision :-)))
Crystal radio kit

AnswerID: 295087

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:31

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:31

Phil they have made it to easy...lol we had to buy the bits seperately and follow a mud drawing.

Cheers Axle.

ps might get a kit.

FollowupID: 561029

Reply By: Footloose - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:27

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:27

Actually, crystal sets go back a lot further than transistors. A LOT further.
Anyway, getting off the soapbox...you can buy them on Ebay from time to time.
They are a great little way of getting the radio bug.

AnswerID: 295088

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:43

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:43

It felt like you had achieved something when you got them to work, better than having nothing :)))).

cheers Axle.

FollowupID: 561037

Reply By: graeme28 - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:40

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:40

Axle

I build them over 60 years ago. Go to YAHOO type in
CRYSTAL SET, You will find all ways to build them.

AnswerID: 295096

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:47

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:47

Thanks Graeme! Been a surprise, Thought they would have been long forgotten.

Cheers.

FollowupID: 561038

Reply By: greenant - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:46

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:46

At work today we were talking about the exact same thing crystal radios when we were kids
Then it went to trucks with mechanical hand signaling device which you had to juggle with while changing gears and when you let it go it slammed down against the door
And then cars with turn indicators that were a small arm that came out of the door pillar before flashers were around
I must be getting old to remember these things there again my bike did have a big wheel at the front and a tiny one on the back
and my only toys were a piece of wood and a piece of string

Greenant

AnswerID: 295099

Follow Up By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Friday, Mar 28, 2008 at 05:27

Friday, Mar 28, 2008 at 05:27

Yeah, well now that brings back some long fogotten memories! & I remember Dad had a Chev truck & the self starter (it had a crank handle as well) was a sturdy metal button on the floor & the ignition switch was just a toggle switch on the dash. I used to have a vehicle & the headlight dimmer switch was activated with your foot via a floor button.
Dad, he is 93 now, still reckons they stopped making decent cars when they stopped fitting them with crank handles!! Thank God for progress.
You must of came from a wealthy family? I only had the piece of wood, mum used to save the string for wrapping up things. Cheers.

FollowupID: 561120

Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Friday, Mar 28, 2008 at 11:36

Friday, Mar 28, 2008 at 11:36

Hi Barry

My dad had a T model Ford, when I was a kid, it was my job to turn the Tail Lights on at the back of the vehicle, a little push pull switch,
and it had no Fuel Guage, you would have a wooden stick, to put
down the filler pipe to see how much petrol was in it.also the doors
had no glass wind up windows, just clip on clears, so when it rained
you would have to stop and put them on.

Cheers
Daza

FollowupID: 561184

Reply By: Member - David P (VIC) - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:54

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 20:54

crystal not "KRYSTAL" right.....oops

AnswerID: 295104

Reply By: Notso - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 22:16

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 22:16

I think you can buy a kit at Dicky Smiths.

AnswerID: 295127

Reply By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 22:38

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 22:38

You have over designed it Axle

All you need is a set of high impedance headphones (2000 ohm was common and what I used)

Wrap some 28swg wire around a former of about 12 inches circumference until the coil is about 2-3 inches long then connect a germanium diode to one side of the coil then to headphones to complete the circuit.

It'll pick up the strongest local station.

Robin Miller

Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 295138

Reply By: Ianw - Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 23:57

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 at 23:57

Have a look here.
Basic crystal set
Add an amplifier and lo and behold - a transistor radio
Add another bit and you get a better radio etc etc

Basic Radio Circuits

AnswerID: 295148