4

OCTOBER IST,

ADVERTISEMENTS

'WIRELESS WEEKLY

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and the Wireless Constructor,

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N111AIIIIIIiIIUI

The Presidential Address

of the R.S.G.B.

y'

.-

Practical Hints on Valve Set

Troubles.
A Low Power Transmitter.
Another Circuit on the Omni

Receiver.
Buying Wireless Components.
Jottings By The Way, Valve Notes,

,-

How Every Crystal User May

Become a Valve Expert, Apparatus We Have 1 ested, Correspon-

dence, Information Department,

etc., etc.
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.,rc.)eYL-+1'T1.): `-Jf)@rLdS..r-_.-.i%H( C.>17t1 -(..r,

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Drury
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:-

The B.B.C. and that Money

1--"-",

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

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Assistant Editor:

9/

Staff
E. H.
M.A.,
A. D.
M.Sc.
R. W.
M.A.
G. P.
B.Sc.

PERCY W. HARRIS.

Scientific Adviser :
Prof. G. W. O. HOWE,

D.Sc., M.I.E.$.

Advisory Edeltors:

Prof.R. WHIDDINGTON,

M.A., D.SC.
Prof. C. I,. FORTESCUE,

S.

M.A., M.I.E.E.

I* f.*y

CUT HERE,.

To BURNDEPT, LTD., Aldine House,

Bedford St.. Strand, W.C.2.

THE dream of the manufacturer and the public has come true at
last. An efficient receiver for loud speaker reception to sell at

moderate cost has now been produced. The Ethophone-Duplex,

a fully -guaranteed Burndept instrument, at five guineas represents the
finest va!ue in wireless apparatus that has ever been put ou the market.
If you have a crystal set, replace it with the Ethophone-Duplex and let
ail your family hear this season's attractive programmes. If you have
not got a set, get the Ethophone-Duplex now and you will soon realise
what you have been missing.
The Ethophone-Duplex employs two valves, the first of which acts as
radio -frequency amplifier as well as detector. Dull or bright valves may
be used without alteration to the set. Tuning is simple, and the wavelength range is from 25o metres to 5,000 metres or more.
The Ethophone-Duplex, with all the newly-designed Burndept apparatus, is
being exhibited at the MI -British Wireless Exhibition at the Albert Hall,
Sept. 27th-Oct. 8th, Stands 72 and 74, and Boxes 134 and 135. Displays of
new Burndept products are being held at our Provincial Branches and by
our Principal Agents.
No 5o3.-Ethophone-Duplex, without valves, coils,
batteries, etc., 5 5s., to which must be added t 5s.
Marconi Licence.

Please send Me full particulars -of the

Ethophone-Duplex Receiver..

BURNDEPT
a . q`

NAME

au\mu \i` \\\\\u\

a

ADDRESS

BURNDEPT LIMITED, Aldine House, Bedford

LEFDS

DATE

L__

Wireless Weekly,Oct.rst, 1924

ma m

Street, Strand, W.C.2.

CARDIFF
Basinghall Street (near City Square).
NORTHAMPTON-: 8; The Drapery; - --_.

CowpER,
HALLOWS,

KENDALL,

RATTER,

Member I.R.E.

A.M. I E. E.

OCTOBER h 1924.

500

Purchase Burndept by its namesubstittes are not the same.

CHAPMAN,

D.Sc,

EDITED BY JOHN SCOTT-TAGGART, F.Inst.P.,

Vol. 4, No. 22

T he Ethophone - Duplex will

operate an Ethovox or ally other
good loud speaker within zo miles
of a normal power broadcast
station and within too miles of
the high -power station.

G.

Editors:

67, Queen

Street.

Price 6d. net.

To Fight The Post Office

Our readers will, no doubt, have

seen in the daily Press that the Editor, on behalf of Wireless Weekly,
has offered the sum of 5oo to the
Radio Society of Great Britain towards the expenses of fighting a test
case with the G.P.O.
Since the
announcement of this offer the
Wireless World have also offered a
similar sum, and by the time this
appears other wireless interests may
have followed our lead.
'fhe remarks of Dr. Eccles, President of the Radio Society of Great
Britain, appear elsewhere in this
issue, and it will be seen that at
last the Radio Society is appreciating the fact that the Post Office
policy s to tighten up the reins as
much as possible and to introduce
as many difficulties as they can in
the way of experimental transmitters.
With unfailing monotony the Post
Office blandly declares their good
intentions, while at the same time
they introduce more and more restrictions and become more and
more reluctant to grant licences at

Office can fob off the general public

with statements of this kind, but

the excuse offers little consolation
to those intimately in touch with
affairs.
To introduce all sorts of heavy
restrictions and to leave a loop -

am0000o.a0000rooo
CONTENTS
Page

Editorial
..
..
..
The Presidential Address of the
R.S.G.B.

..

Jottings by the Way ..

..
..
Practical Hints on Valve Set
Troubles ..
..
..
..
Winter Preparations
..
Buying Wireless Components ..
Valve Notes ..
Random Technicalities ..
..
Another Circuit on the Omni
..
..
Receiver
..
The B.B.C. and their Revenue ..
How Every Crystal User May
Become a Valve Expert
..
..
Handy B.A. Screw Ganges
Better Days for Wireless ..
..
Wavemeter Troubles-About Our.
selves

..

..

..

705
706
710
712
714
715
717
-719

720
722
723
725
726

727
728
731
733

all.

A Low -power Transmitter ..

The Marconi D.E. 5B Valve

-734

ment or elsewhere, they fall back

Bench Tools ..
..
Correspondence
..
Apparatus We Have Tested

Information Department ..

741

If the Post Office is definitely

challenged on the subject in Parlia-

upon the old formula in which

they declare that restrictions are
necessary,
because of possible
abuses, but that all genuine experimenters will be given every facility
and that extra power, extra wavelength, and all other so-called concessions are readily made in all
suitable cases.
Perhaps the Post

739

Q OOOOOCvOGE 00404000CL

00

hole by saying that these are

removed in all suitable cases, is an
attitude which we consider should
not be tolerated for a moment.
In actual practice these restrictions are only lifted in a compara 705

tively few number of cases, and a

large number of highly competent
applicants are refused licences

altogether.

Dr. Eccles, in his address, disclosed the fact that the Post Office
refused transmitting licences to a
special list approved by the Council
of the Radio Society. This ' list
included applicants of the very
highest qualifications, and if the
Radio Society requires any evidence of what the Post Office
thinks about their qualificatiof_; as
judges in these matters, here is a
startling example.
The Post Office simply relies upon
the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1903
for imposing all sorts of regulations
and restrictions, quite unnecessary,
and merely vexatious.
Some of
their acts, such as the imposition
of royalties and the withholding of
licences, are absolutely illegal and
the sooner this is shown t be the
case in the courts, the better.
We have often criticised the Radio
Society in the past, and we will
probably do so in the future, but
our offer of 500 with a promise
of more is ample proof of our
earnestness in these matters. The
Post Office have played the fool
long enough with the Radio Society,
and if the- latter's eyes are not open
now, they never will be. Let them
stage a suitable case and openly
challenge the Post Office to take
action. It is the only way to bring
matters to a head.
If the Radio
Society fails to show a strong spirit
now, their influence will disappear.
-


mi
October

Wireless Weekly

October

1, 1924

BlIBIE
El

Dr. 'Eccles Attacks

the Post Office

The Autumn Address before the R:S:G.B:

by the President, reveals the strong feeling

111

111

existing between the Society and the Post

Office anent the transmitters' position.

MI

-.

ie

every country towards physical

science. We think this is highly
commendable because we know
that the spread of a knowledge
of electricity and the cultivation
of electrical skill (for which there
is no better medium than wireless) is in the widest sense of the
utmost national value in this
glowing morning of the electrical
age of mankind.
Since - the time when Admiral
Sir Henry Jackson, my predecessor in- office, gave the first
autumn Presidential Address, the
custom has grown up of employing the occasion to- tell members.
and the public of the recent joys
and sorrows of the Council I
shall take advantage of this
custom to -night.

affiliation between
Gr e a t
Britain and the Colonies for
the general benefit of amateur
radio."
Transmitting Permits
Very shortly after these events
the Post Office began to issue
their permits to transmitters
with new and unexpected restrictions printed upon them. The
one striking directly at the international co-operation of amateurs
just described is numbered 7 on
the printed permits. It reads
" Messages shall be transmitted only to stations in Great
Britain or Northern Ireland
which are actually co-operating in the licensee's experiments and shall relate solely
to such experiments."
I will read to you what The
Electrician, ane of the most
important electrical journals of
the world, said about it

the printing of the- restriction on under- what Act of Parliament

the permit was merely embody- and for what national or other
ing .a practice already -recog- reasons this limitation of a
nised; and that each -expe-ri- licence -holder's - liberty is immenter desiring facilities far posed.
They have found no
foreign communications should answer and they have concluded
furnish particulars of the experi- that such a restriction would
ments and evidence of an destroy one branch of research,
arrangement for co-operation by would prevent the development
a foreign or colonial station or of friendly relations between
stations.
Our comment upon amateur workers in this and
this is that it is impossible to other countries, and would tend
make arrangements for receiving to isolate the British amateur
from unexpected places -and from international co-operation
acknowledging the receipt.
with the rest of the active world.
An Example
Continental Amateurs
I think the restriction may
may
It
not be generally known
have been conceived without inthat
the
volume of continental
formation of the methods necesamateur
transmission
can
sary"for carrying -out this very now be heard in this that
country
valuable wireless range finding.
For example, during the past from dusk to midnight is vastly
few weeks very strong signals greater than the whole volume
our own amateur transmission
have been received in London of
at
all hours. At this point one
from a powerful- amateur station cannot
reiterate too forcibly that
in
the
Argentine.
right
"A Curious- Restriction. thing for any EnglishTheamateur it was the amateurs who dis-The permits to transmit, to do would be to reply instantly covered- the valuable- properties
which are now being issued by and endeavour to get into touch of short -waves across- long -disthe Postmaster - General to on the same wavelength after tances. Up to three years ago
wireless
experimenters and making sure that he would cause the commercial companies and
amateurs, contain a condition no local interference.
If he the experts thought that short
and limitation which is likely succeeded and made records of waves were no use for long
ranges.
Then the amateur
to give a good deal of trouble the variations of signal strength,
in
stepped
and
bit by bit extended
and whose precise object is not he would have contributed someHow thing to wireless progress. But, the range across which one -could
altogether clear
. .
Two
is it to be ascertained that the
according to the new restriction, communicate with another.
energy transmitted is passing he would thereby be endangering years ago, as a result of the
Society's transatlantic
within the frontiers of Great his permit: As The Electrician Radio
the incredulous ones
experiments,
Britain and Northern Ireland says :-` What is the aim of the
looked into the matter. Then the
and no further? .
. Again,
restriction? If only experimental
what exactly is the aim of the messages are sent there can be engineers of the Marconi Comrestriction? If only experi- no objection to whoever will pany, by using larger powers and
screens, developed the
mental messages are sent there receive them." I agree.
It reflecting
Beam
system,
which, it is hoped,
can be no objection to whoever makes no difference whatsoever
will afford many parts of the
will receive them, and in the whether a message is addressed
possibility of reception in un- by a Sheffield amateur to a man Empire a service of high speed
expected places lies a good in the Shetlands or a man in telegraphy. In view of these
deal of the use and interest of Dublin, yet the latter would be very recent triumphs of the
this class of work. But quite a breach of the permit. It makes amateur, this seems quite the
apart from these points, the no difference because the same among moment to introduce reimposition of such a restric- waves go forth in the -same all- strictions which will push the
tion, except in so far as it round way whatever morse call British amateur off this field of
relates to what is sent, seems sign is put at the front of the discovery and leave it to the _.
amateurs of other nations.
to us unjustified, not the least message.
because it may have a harmful
Protests
The Wirelss Telegraphy Act.
effect on the development of
The restriction and the disradio communication."
I cannot imagine that international amenities can be assisted cussion have called great attenI call attention to the words
in this criticism :-` in the possiby any restriction that asks a tion to the Wireless Telegraphy
bility of reception in unexpected British amateur to turn a deaf Act. The Act seems very clear
places lies a great deal of the ear to his brother amateur in and I propose to give you my
use and interest in this class of other countries who is not under reading of it. First notice that
This is so obviously such a restriction and will not the expression " wireless telework.
true that the Society got into understand it. The Council have graphy " is defined to mean any
touch with the Post Office in received so many protests from system of communication by teleorder to elucidate the matter. members all over the country graph without the aid of any wire
We are given to understand that that they have had to enquire connecting the points from and
-

:-

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

"

:-

The International- Congress

First of all, I have to inform
you -.that- the Society had the -pleasure last Easter of taking
part in the International Congress
in Paris, held under the-Chair-manship of Mr. Hiram Maim,
which led up to the formation of
the International Amateur Radio
Union. Mr. Marcuse, the Hon.
Secretary of the Transmitter and
Relay Section, represented- the
Society in Paris and was elected
to the International Committee
which is to meet next Easter to
draw up schemes for international
amateur work. Since the formation of the International Union,
Mr. Marcuse has been travelling
in America and Canada. He
came back with a message from
Radio Relay
the Canadian
League, worded as follows
Please convey our greetings to the Radio Society of
Great Britain with congratulations on their achievements.
We also congratulate, t h e
Transmitter and Relay Section
on their wonderful success in
the transatlantic tests and take
this opportunity of expressing
our desire for a stronger
-

of Great Britain,
Dr. W. H. Eccles, F.R.S., President of the Radio Society
whose trenchant remarks concerning licenses are given below.
HE Radio Society and its menting-- with- receiving apparaAffiliated Societies comprise tus. As broadcasting flourishes
every kind of amateur-the so will -the number of amateurs
that a
home constructor who has fallen increase. It is inevitablet h e s e
of
proportion
large
of
a victim to the fascination
making or improving tuners and amateurs will in due time desire
-

amplifiers, the ripe enthusiast

who welcomes morse as much as
music and constructs reflex circuits and other modern marvels,
and the matured transmitter who
fishes in the ocean of space and
learns the ways of the waves in
our ever-changing atmosphere.
By uniting all these the Societies
will surely gain in strength as
time goes on. At present the
Radio Society consists of about
Soo ordinary members and over
200 Affiliated Societies and is
governed by a Council and by a
General Committee.
The advent of broadcasting
has greatly augmented the ranks
of the amateurs, especially those
interested in building and experi-

to supplement their knowledge

of receiving apparatus by actual

work with transmitting apparatus. We hope to- see- them join

the Societies early and climb
through the various stages into
the Transmitter and Relay
Section and thereby enter the
ranks of the lite in the amateur
movement.
We of the Society think that
one of the most lasting benefits
of the spread of broadcastinga benefit much less ephemeral
than the music and the speeches
-lies in the stimulus it is giving
to the study of electrical things;
and from this point of view
broadcasting is an immense force'
attracting the quicker minds of
-

706

:-

707

October

Wireless Weelily
at which the messages for other
communications 'are sent and
received. The main object of the
Statute is to protect the State
monopoly of the electrical transmission of messages or communications between individuals. A
second object is to establish control over the sending and receiving of messages inasmuch as
transmission by wireless telegraphy was thought to be a
possible source of danger to the
State in certain events, especially
war. Another object is to obtain
such control as will minimise the
interference of one user of wireless with another. All these aims
They
are just and necessary.
by
prohibiting
obtained
to
be
are
persons from establishing any
wireless telegraphy station or
installing or working any apparatus for wireless telegraphy except
under licence from the Postmaster -General.
Two Important Provisos
Two very important provisos
are made in the Act. The first,
which governs the whole Act, is
that " nothing in this Act shall
prevent any person from making
or using electrical apparatus for
actuating machinery or for any
purpose. other than the transmission of messages." In other
words, if the purpose of a piece
of electrical apparatus is not the
transmission of messages it need
not be licensed. This provision
is obviously a necessary one, for
otherwise every piece of copper
wire wound into a coil and every
pair of metal plates fixed up as a
condenser, would need to be
licensed, which would reduce the
Act to an absurdity.
The Second Condition
The second proviso is that
when a British subject wants a
licence for the sole object of conducting experiments in wireless
telegraphy, .that is, in communication to a distance, a licence
shall be granted to him as. his
right. But he must prove to the
satisfaction of the PostmasterGeneral that his sole object is to
conduct experiments; that is to
say, he must not have the intention to transmit, messages for
money, must notintend to interfere with- other users of wireless
maliciously, and must not intend
to do anything dangerous to the
State. This is the amateurs'
Magna Charta.
,

Restrictions
The licence which the Postmaster -General must grant to the
amateur may be " subject to such
special terms, conditions and restrictions as the Postmaster General may think proper, but
shall not be subject to any rent
or royalty." I think much of the
trouble that has arisen comes
from the last sentences. For
example, they seem to have been
interpreted to mean that the Post
Office may restrict the licence to
the use of a station for a few
minutes a day between specified
times and on a very low power,
thus depriving the licence of
nearly all utility. The phrase
terms, conditions and restrictions " has been applied to compel applicants to -disclose completely the object and the method
of their proposed experiments.
Experiments
are some experithere
Nov
ments for which the method can
be foreseen and some for which
it cannot. For most of them the
method and the apparatus must
be evolved as we go along.
Hence the applicant for a permit
to try experiments of this latter
class is refused his licencewhich is quite contrary to the
spirit and the letter of the
The ultimate conseStatute.
that some surprising
is
quence
anomalies have arisen. For instance, at the beginning of the
year the Council sent forward a
select list of names of applicants
of whose bona fides and competence the Council was confident.
-

Applications Refused
The list included among, other
experienced wireless amateurs
one who has graduated in electrical engineering at a great
College of the University of
All the applications
London.
were rejected. At the same time
the Council heard of licences
being granted to inexperienced
beginners with inferior qualifications. I am informed that- the
solution of this mystery is that
some of the successful applicants
for permits copy a few pages out
of- a technical treatise or published paper and present it as a
description of their proposed research.
The Pre-war Transmitter
Another instance in which the
Society has tried to assist is that
-

708

of a pre-war transmitter in the

North of England who has retired from business and is anxious
to return to the study of the
variations of signal strength

produced by the atmosphere. His

application has been refused although, he tells us, beginners in
his neighbourhood, some of them
his pupils in the art, have been
granted permits since.
The Post Office Desire
Even in those cases where a
problem can be delimited and a
method tentatively suggested,
the desire of the Post Office to
weigh the scientific value of the
experiment and method before
granting the permit is unpractical. It is an axiom of science
and invention that such adjudication is worthless. It is a
responsibility that no man of

experiment.
The Society's Station
While. I am speaking of the
Act I might refer to the enactment that the licence granted for
experimental purposes shall not
be subject to any rent or royalty.
The experience of this Society in
connection with its own experimental station is as follows.
The original licence was required
to cover three and a half months'
operation and was granted on
December 7 last. The licensing
fee of 2 and a royalty, of
2 tos. for a complete half year
had to be paid. The permit restricted the use of the station to
any one night
15 minutes on
of i a.m. and
the
hours
between
7 a.m., and the pow er was
limited to i kilowatt. It is to be
regretted that so severe a curb
should be imposed upon altruistic
scientific work. It is reminiscent
of the dark ages. At the present
moment the position is that the
Society is prohibited from using
its station, even for helping
amateurs to tune their apparatus
correctly, unless the Society consents to pay another 2 1os. in
royalty for the remainder of the
year.
A Similar Position
Perhaps the anomalies I cite
above have grown up as the
-

result of a system adopted long

ago and have not been brought
plainly before the authorities. I
think it will be universally agreed
that the system ought to be revised so as to remove them. An
analogous case and its remedy
is to hand. It will be remembered
that at the beginning of the
broadcasting movement in this
country the Post Office applied
the Wireless Telegraphy Act to
compel all broadcast listeners to
buy their apparatus from a specified group of firms. The upshot
was that the home constructor
arose in his thousands and defied
the regulation. The Post Office
thereupon tackled the problem
afresh and rectified the mistake.
The Present Difficulty
This is exactly analogous to
the present difficulty with the
amateurs, but in this case the
regulations
are
hindering
scientific discovery, are robbing
the best men of opportunities for
learning advanced technique, are
diminishing our wireless prestige
relative to other nations, and will
ultimately react adversely on the
output of invention and technical
improvement.
The remedy is
easy ; it is to recast the regulations in the light of the experience of other progressive countries. British transmitters would
then attain the same measure of
freedom and be put under the
same obligations as their fellow
amateurs in America, France and
elsewhere.
A Year of Reorganisation
I have dwelt at some length
upon the licensing anomalies
because of the great importance
of this matter from the national
and scientific points of view; but
the Council have had many other
problems before them. This has
been a year of re -organisation;
and therefore a very arduous one
for the Council, which has in
fact held thirty-four meetings in
the twelve months. Their work
has resulted in many improvements. The first great improvement consisted in concentrating
all the work of the Society in a
central office and in appointing a
Secretary. Next, a number of
Standing Committees were
formed to deal with much of the
detail work of the Society. The
amount of devolution can be seen
from the list of names of these
Committees :-The General Com-

science, no scientific body would

presume to undertake. The unexpected happens and is valuable.
In short, it is much easier to spot
the winner in a handicap than
to forecast the result of an

Wireless Weekly

October i, 1924

1, 1924

mittee of Affiliated Societies, the

Membership Committee, t h e
Papers Committee, the Licensing
Committee, the Publicity Committee and the Standards Committee. Full particulars of these
Committees will be published in
the Annual Report.
Besides
these there are permanent Committees of the two new Sections
of the Society, namely, the
Schools Radio Society and the T.
and R. Section. Since January
the Committees have altogetherheld more than forty. meetings.
Activities
The activities of the above named Committees are more or
less invisible, but the scientific
meetings of the general membership of the Society constitute an
equally good record. During the
twelve months there have been
ten ordinary meetings with an
average attendance of ninety,
nine informal meetings with an
average attendance of forty, and
eleven meetings of the Transmitter and Relay Section with an
average attendance of fifty-five.
Among the greater of the
public efforts of the Society during the past twelve months I
must mention the organisation
of the transatlantic tests last
Mr. Coursey's report
autumn.
was published in May last, and
is familiar to all members.
Another important piece of work
was the transmission and reception tests conducted in an express train on the London and
North-Eastern Railway, organised by Messrs. Child, Coursey
and McMichael. Full reports of
these tests have now been published, and the thanks of the
Society duly tendered to all who
had assisted.
The Society Badge
Another matter which has
engaged the attention of the
Council has been the choice of a
badge for the Society and its
affiliated Societies. In order to
obtain suggestions, the Council
offered a prize of 5, reserving
the right to use any or none of
the suggestions in any manner.
Prize Winners
A large number of designs and
ideas were sent, in, many of them
beautifully executed. They will
be exhibited at the Society's
stand at the exhibition opening
-

709

on Saturday.

A Sub -Committee,
consisting of Admiral Sir Henry
Jackson, Mr. Campbell Swinton
and myself, went through all the
suggestions, and agreed that no
one of them was exactly suited
to our purpose. Finally, it was
decided to combine some of the
elements occurring in two of the
best designs and to divide the
prize. The winners are Mr.
Frank W. Taylor, of 6o, Cleveland Gardens, Barnes, and Mr.
H. H. Townley, 26, de Crespigny
Park, S.L. Many other of the
competitors deserve prizes, but I.
can do no more than give them
honourable mention, together
with the thanks of the Society
for their efforts. They are
Messrs. Adeane of Shepherds
Bush, Bampton of Salisbury,
Bassett of Crofton Park, S.F.,
Bowes of Darlington, Brayshaw
of Huddersfield, Church of Hendon,
Clamp
of Sydenham,
Cooper of Acomb, Cumming of
Yeovil, Farrar of Cardiff, Flinton
of Scarborough, Francis of Barnet, Goundry of Barrasford,
Harvey of Bristol, Helps of
Bradford -on -Avon, Ibbitson of
Sunderland, Larkin of Eltham,
Loughlin of Salford, Marshall of
Harrow, Mitchell of S. Croydon,
Rowell of Gateshead, Sugarman
of Abercynon, Wright of Portsmouth, and Wysehall of Rotherham.

:-

The Marconi Direction

Finder 'on American
Vessels
The United American liner
Reliance, which arrived at Southampton on September 24, is being
equipped with a Marconi wireless
direction finder. The range of
the instrument is loo miles without correction, and it covers all
wavelengths from 400 metres to
i,000 metres. This ensures that
accurate bearings can be taken
with maximum efficiency over all
the wavelengths used in maritime
signalling. Most of the signalling between ships and between
shore and ships is on 600 metres
wavelength, and the transmission
of special signals by beacon
stations is usually on i,000
metres, so that the Marconi
direction finder is as suitable for
assistance to navigation in open
waters as it is when making land-

fall.

1, 1924

October

Wireless Weekly

Wireless Weekly

October 1, 1924

ago you placed it upon the table

straight in front of you, but it is
not there.
It is not upon the

JOT TINGS
BY
THE WAY

nail upon which it normally

hangs.
It has not fallen upon
the floor. It is not under anything else. It is nowhere. If
you are wise you will realise at
this point that Fate is out to have
a game with you, and you pay
her out in her own kind by spoiling, the whole. show. .' Well, I
don't really need the setsquare,"
you say; " it will turn up some
time.
Meanwhile I will just
light a pipe."
You put your
hand in your pocket to pull out
your pipe, and there is the setsquare. The lady will now leave
you alone for the rest of the
afternoon.
If, on the other
hand, you begin worrying about
the wretched thing, she will allow
you to turn your workshop upside down before you find it.
She will send you indoors in
search of matches, and feeling
that the day is rather warm you
will leave your coat hanging up in
the hall and go to the workshop
in your shirt sleeves. You will
behave like a perfect maniac, and
Fate will laugh till she is fit to
bust. Then you will decide to
chuck it for the afternoon, and
will reach to the peg on which it
usually hangs in the workshop
for your coat.
Not there, of
course.
You try your wireless
den; no coat. You go up to
your bedroom, fail to find it, and
don another. Late that night you
come across it hanging up in the
hall, and as you reach it down the
setsquare falls out of the pocket
and smites you on your pet corn.
Temporary Insanity
I have never been able to
understand why it is one suffers
on occasions from temporary insanity.
Have you not many a
time searched high and low for
your pencil when it was in your
hand all the time? Have you not
looked everywhere for a muchneeded drill only to discover at
last that it was all the time
safely grasped in the embrace of
the drill chuck and waiting for
you to use it? Have you never
mistaken IS for OP in wiring up
thing you could not possibly
do in sane moments-and then
spent days in wandering why the
set would not work? You have
done all these things, and so have
I, and we shall all of us do them

IPLEADED

am by nature a gentle,
easy-going soul, there are times
when my strong passions are
aroused and I feel like murder of
the most unpleasant kind. Take
the case of valve legs. I have

inough

Mud
some

time

ago for something like

the
of
standardisation
all
must
we
that
small parts
use for making up wireless sets
or the small gadgets, upon the
construction of which most of us
spend so much of our time and
money. Nov I have another
grouse, which concerns that inebonite.
material
dispensable
Much of what we buy is very
good indeed, but for all your
care, you may occasionally be
landed with a slab which is of no
use for wireless purposes, though
if you have not drilled it too full
of holes it may be used to replace a missing slate upon your
workshop roof. There is, I am
told, a variety of the substance,
which is known to the trade as
" mud." On occasions, when a
chunk of it has been planted
upon me, I have found :a very
much worse name for it than
that. The trouble is that it looks
just the same as the genuine
article, and that if you go
through life with a trusting faith
in your fellow human beings, you
may very easily find a quantity of
it has been palmed off upon you.
You will not find it out at once,
for, suspecting nothing, you will
spend hours, even days, in marks
ing out, drilling, making up and
wiring your latest wireless set
upon it. You will try the thing
out, and it, will not work. -You
will apply every known test to
discover the seat of the trouble,
and fail to find it. You will consult your friends, getting no help
from them. Your plight will indeed be a pitiable one, until perYou
chance the light dawns.
are a victim of mud
Other Things as Well
And there are lots of other
little things that make me
want to arise at times and
go out and slay somebody.
'

a predilection myself for

tapping

these in, so that nuts need not be

used on the underside of the
panel. Thus is capacity saved.
To revise an ancient proverb,
take care of the micro -microfarads and the milliamps will take
care of themselves. Very well,
I go forth to a wireless shop and
purchase, let us say, .a couple of.
dozen valve legs, all of which.
come from the same box and look
exactly alike. I run the gauge
over one of them and find that it
is screwed 5.B.A. This alone is
sufficient to disturb one's equanimity, for I have never been able
to discover any reason for the use
of the odd B.A. sizes- in wireless
work. However, being a proud
possessor of a drill- of the correct
size (if I could only find it) and of
a 5.B.A. tap (which ought to be
in that box over there), I eventually get down -to it, and after
some strenuous ' work twenty
neatly-tapped hales appear on a
large panel for the reception of
the legs that will support five
valves. Then comes the task o
screwing in the legs. The first
one goes in beautifully,- and so
does the second, but the third is
unaccountably -loose; it does not
seem to be gripped by the
threads, and when it is screwed
home you cannot tighten it up at
It is withdrawn. It_ is
all.
measured. It is 6.B.A., and so,
on further examination, are about
_

half those that I have purchased.

How it Happens
And there you are, you. see.
If only the first valve leg
measured had been 6.B.A. things
would not have been so bad, for
it is possible to put a 5.B.A. tap
through a 6.B.A. hole. But you
710

cannot turn a 5.B.A. hole into a

6.B.A. by any process known to
me. It is a perfect example of
the perverseness of the lady
The radio
known as Fate.
dealer starts it by mixing up anyhow his stock of valve legs and
dishes out an odd lot to you.
Then Fate, observing what is
happening, chuckles up her
sleeve and carefully places in your
hand a 5.B.A. leg when she sees
that you are about to measure the
She watches you drill
thread.
and tap your holes with unholy
With fiendish ingenuity
glee.
she makes you pick out 5.B.A.
legs for the first two that you
screw in, so that you may think
that all is going well. It is
always the third or a later one
.

Really, you
which is 6.B.A.
know, Fate ought to be spanked.
She ought to be old enough by
this time to know better instead
of going on like some silly
flapper.
Unfortunately it is
always she who administers the
spankings and you who receive
them. You may grin and bear
them if you are a stoic, but gnash
your teeth and tear your hair
should you be made of the same
clay as most ordinary men.
For It
It is really amazing to notice
how absolutely wrong things can
You go to your
go at times.
workshop whistling gaily and
feeling at peace with all the
You start some small
world.
piece of work, using a setsquare
and scriber and ruling a line.
Then you lay these two down for
a mment whilst you reach for
the centrepunch, the hammer
and the footrule. After making
one or two measurements you
become a little doubtful as to
whether one of your lines is ruled
The setsquare
quite correctly.
will remove all doubts in a
moment; but where is the set square ? About half a minute

again in the future. I ' suppose

that one must try to cultivate a
philosophic calm, but it is a little
hard to do so at times. At the
moment, for example, I am
searching for a stamp wherewith
to post my manuscript. I bought
no less than twelve this afternoon
in a moment of extravagance, and
placed them in the small drawer
where stamps always live. They
are no longer there, but I am not
going to fuss about it, at least- I
think I am not; but why on earth
people cannot leave one's stamp
drawer alone but must be eternally taking the wretched things
out when they know how impor;

tant it is to you to have a supply

always at hand I cannot think.
It is a rotten, miserable shame,
and here am I working like a
nigger to catch the post and
handicapped just because somebody who has come along to my
drawer and borrowed a stamp has
not the common decency to put
the rest back aftertaking one. It
is absolutely sickening.
Quite
enough to drive a man insane. If
I can find out who it was I'll .. .
I beg your pardon; let us say
" as you were." I have just
found them under my writing
pad.
WIRELESS WAYFARER.

-a

Our photograph shows a standard Marconi transmitter and receiver

for shipboard use. Apparatus of this type may be seen at the Palace
of Engineering, Wembley.
711

Wireless Weekly
0

IT

that the few notes

to follow will be of assistance
to amateurs who have built up
valve sets from instructions given
in these or other pages, and

as

is hoped

experience a n y difficulty in
getting their completed products
to function satisfactorily.
Soldering
One of the most frequent
sources of trouble in amateur built sets is in 'badly made
soldered -connections. For some
reason or other, soldering, in
reality an extremely simple and
even delightful operation, is to
the average experimenter a painful, laborious process, to be got
over with the utmost expediency.
The essentials of efficient soldering are as follows :-(1) an
iron of the correct size, shape
and temperature, (2) a suitable
flux, only the best solder, and
(3) clean, bright working surfaces. A very convenient iron
for electrical work is one weighing about 6 oz. ; a smaller iron
than this being apt to lose its
heat too quickly, a larger one to
become unwieldy. When in use,
all surfaces of the iron must be
kept well tinned, and particular
care must be taken not to overheat the iron, or it will be rendered useless for any really
On the other
efficient work.
hand, any attempt to work with
an iron not sufficiently hot can
only result in ragged, ineffectual
joints being formed, at which
there will be every likelihood of
trouble occurring. In regard to
flux, the writer is very much in
favour, where electrical work is
concerned, of resin; but if sparingly used, there is no objection
to the use of a good commercial

preparation.
Liquid Fluxes
Liquid fluxes, of which a
number appear to be marketed at present, are best
used
The
solder
avoided.
should be of good quality, and
if the writer may be pardoned
for mentioning so obvious a
point, the next best thing is not
Wood's metal. Finally, all surfaces to be soldered must be kept
scrupulously clean-in this respect a card of small files will be
found very useful-and all brass
terminals, etc., will require care-

'October

ZINN

ful tinning before it is possible

to make an efficient connection.
Modus Operandi
The actual modus operandi of
as
is
somewhat
soldering
follows In the first place, a
short length of wire is cut, the
usual thing being a tinned copper
wire of No. 16 or 18 gauge,
stretched taut prior to use. The
two points which this wire is
required to bridge are now
cleaned, tinned, and finally given
a thin application of whatever
flux is being used. The wire may
now be held in the centre by
means of a pair of pliers, its end
dipped into the flux, and the iron
brought into play. Assuming
this to be hot and well tinned,
the making of a sound connection
is the work of a second. The
iron is plunged momentarily into

IN

the flux, a little solder is picked

up and run into the joint; the
merest touch being usually
sufficient to ensure a scientific
weld taking place.
A point the writer would like
to emphasise is, that once the
knack of efficient soldering is
acquired, wiring up a set is a
considerably simpler matter than
where a lot of nuts, bolts and
washers have to be fiddled about
with.
Some Frequent Causes of
Trouble
Where a set refuses to function
in spite of the soldering having
been carried out in an efficient
manner, one might proceed somewhat as under

:-

712

31

a4

vd
1

Practical Hints
on Valve Set
Troubles . . .

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1
1

By R. ROBERTS.

article which
many readers will
find both interesting
and instructive.
An

1
1

1
1
1

ev

do

In the first place, the wiring

should be carefully checked over
with the aid of the technical
diagram, and thorough investigation made for any imperfect connections or wires crossing and
In any such
short-circuiting.
overhaul it is a good idea to start
with the aerial circuit and proceed
systematically to the high -frequency and detector units, and
thence, stage by stage, through
the
low -frequency amplifiers.
Everything being found correct,
it now becomes necessary to test
out some of the components.
Condensers
Condensers, for instance, should
be disconnected at one terminal
and tested out for possible shortcircuits, particularly the small
fixed condensers used in various
parts of the set for coupling the
detector valve, shunting the
primary of the first L.F. transformer, and so forth. A leak in
one of these might be responsible
for a good deal of trouble. Reactance units, transformer windings and inductance coils may
also be tested out for breaks or
short circuits ; all of these tests
being readily carried out by
means of a small battery and
a pair of telephones.
Failure to reveal trouble in any
of the components will mean that
the fault is extraneous to the set
and must be sought in the
external accessories, such as the
H.T. or L.T. battery. Either
of these connected up in the
wrong manner might be responsible for the set not functioning, and both should be tested
with a voltmeter.
Ebonite
A very frequent cause of
trouble in amateur-built sets is

Distortion
Of all the various troubles met
with in amateur-built sets the
most frequent one is, however,
distortion.
Very often this is traceable to
the use of cheap components; an
arch offender being the inferior
low -frequency transformer. With
an inadequate or badly -designed
transformer' distortion can be
counted upon as a certainty.
For pure reception, the writer
would recommend in the first
stage a substantially - built
instrument, with a ratio of
not higher than 31.- or 4 to 1.
For the second L.F. stage,
a one-to-one ratio " power "

sometimes be considerably improved by connecting a large

fixed condenser of, say, 1-2
microfarads capacity across the
loud -speaker and H.T. battery
terminals ; or almost the same
purpose may be served by shunting the secondary of the last
transformer by a 2-3 megohm

leak.

Other Causes
Other causes of distortion are
(i) too tight reaction coupling,
the remedy for this being obvious,
and (2) the use of the wrong type

prepared ebonite
panels. It should be pointed out
that ordinary commercial ebonite
is of no use whatever for wireless work until the outer polished
surface has been removed. This
may be done by rubbing the
panel down, on both sides, with
a coarse -grade emery paper,
afterwards applying a touch of
paraffin or turpentine.
If this
" matting " process has been
omitted, it is strongly urged that
the entire panel be dismounted
and a fresh start made, as with
unprepared ebonite there is little
likelihood of ever getting the set
to function efficiently.
Bad Contacts
Another common s eat of
trouble is in bad contacts made
by valve legs and the pins of
honeycomb coil and plug-in high frequency transformers.
Pins
should be opened out slightly
The interior of the receiver is as
with a penknife, and when reattractive as the outside.
inserting in their various sockets
it should be noted whether an
transformer should be used, a
effective contact is being made.
really efficient component being
obtainable for about 2, which
Other Points.
may seem a lot, but is practically
Other little points that should essential where distortionless
be looked far are (1) See that loud -speaker reception is desired.
for short wavelengths the aerial
Even when first-class transtuning condenser is in series formers have been incorporated
with the inductance and in
in a set, distortion is, however,
parallel for the longer wave- sometimes experienced.
This
lengths. A list was given last may be due to the IP-OP-ISweek in which were shown the OS connections being wrongly
wavelengths of some of the Con- made.
The correct method of
tinental stations.
(2)
Make connecting most transformers is
certain there is no trouble IP to plate or anode of the valve,
in
the
'phones or
loud- OP to high-tension positive, OS
speaker, burnt -out windings, or to grid, and IS to low-tension
an incorrectly adjusted
dia- negative. Small points, such as
phragm. (3) Where H.F. trans- these, will be found to make an
formers or reactance units are
enormous difference so far as
being used, see that these cover tone and clarity are concerned.
the correct range of wavelengths
Where the amount of distorrequired.
tion is only slight, matters can
in improperly

vc

Wireless Weekly
U
13

October I, 1924

1924

a4

A portable two -valve receiver made

by a " Wireless Weekly " reader.

Y,

of valve.

In the opinion of the present

writer, another absolute essential for perfect loud -speaker
results is a suitable type of power
valve for the last stage of
low -frequency amplification. A
number of these valves are now
obtainable, and among them the
B.T.H. B4 and the Mullard
DFAI, both designed to operate
on 6v L.T. supply at a filament
consumption of only .25 of an
ampere, are to be thoroughly
recommended.
These valves
require an H.T. supply of 80-120
volts.

Elimination of Distortion
Finally, the elimination of
distortion is very often merely a
matter of adjustment. Particular
care must be taken to get the
correct values of H.T. on the
various valves, and separate
H.T. batteries are recommended
for the H.F. and detector units
and the low -frequency valves.
The correct value of grid bias on
the L.T. valves will also be
found to make an enormous
difference to the quality of the
speed and music being received.
Correct adjustment of the filament rheostats is a further important factor, and one too often
overlooked.
As a concluding hint, it may
perhaps be mentioned that where
it is desired to obtain first-class
reproduction and absolute purity
of tone in preference to mere
volume of sound, it is advisable
to adhere strictly to a straightforward circuit arrangement.
" Supers " and " reflex " circuits
-good as some of the latter
may be-are best avoided by the
beginner.

0 0

0 VII

713

la

October 1, 1924

Wireless Weekly

Winter Preparations
that the best season
ivOW
of the year for wireless re-

will be felt, even though it can-

not be seen. Next look to the,

low-tension battery.' See that
the electrolyte in the accumulator
is up to its proper level and that

ception has begun the set

should be givenn a thorough overhaul so as to make it thoroughly
not corroded.
efficient- for the work which it the terminals have
long
the
during
do
to
have
will
Batteries
evenings. Here are a few of the
as well to take the
It
is
just
points which demand attention.
charging station
the
to
battery
examined
be
All terminals should
to see that their contact surfaces yourself and to see the specific
have not become dull or verdi- gravity of the acid solution
polished tested by means of a hydrometer.
grised. If the nuts arepaper
far
emery
fine
with
up
better contact will result, with
probably an increase in signal
strength in many cases. Next
see to the valves. You will
probably find that their pins are
dull. Polish them with emery cloth or scrape with a penknife,
and -before replacing in the
holders splay all the pins out a
little with the blade of the knife.
During the summer your variable
condensers will most likely have
collected a considerable amount
of dust on the surfaces of the
vanes. Clean out both fixed and
moving vanes by working a pipe
cleaner or feather between them. You may possibly be surprised
on finding that it is about io per
Condensers
cent. too high. If the sp.g. is
The presence of dust, hairs and too high or too low the battery
so on between vanes is one of the will suffer, since the acid solution
commonest causes of noisiness in in this condition has a very
the set, though apparently few
severe action on the lead plates.
amateurs seem to realise this. Lastly, run over the high-tensionThe upper surfaces of panels will battery cell by cell with a reliable
probably have been dusted .in the voltmeter to see whether there
ordinary course of events but are any that are dead. In. spite
what of their undersides? Dust of a popular belief, high-tension
collects here as well, even when batteries do not last for ever.
the panel is protected with a Cells are very apt to give out
well -fitting cover, especially if after a period of hard work, and
during soldering operations a one " dud " cell in the middle
certain amount of greasy flux has of the battery may reduce the
been left on the ebonite. Clean total voltage to something very
over the under sides of panels, small indeed. All cells which
dusting also the wire. Examine show less than two-thirds of their
carefully all connections screwed proper voltage should be shortor soldered below the panel. circuited.
Nuts have a way of working
The Aerial
loose in the interior of sets, and
When you are doing the
when this happens connections
may become bad and results will autumn overhaul do not forget
Many of those
be very poor. Soldered connec- your aerial.
tions, too, sometimes give way, erected since last spring are very
and though they may appear all flimsy affairs likely to fare badly
right there may be really only in the storms of the colder porGive each tion of the year. One sees these
the poorest contact.
gimcrack affairs everywhere, and
soldered connection a good pull.
If anything is wrong the fault it can be only a question of time
714

October

until such things are " earthed,",

possibly in rather an expensive
way if they should happen to
crash through a neighbour's
greenhouse. Quite a flimsy pole
will suffice for supporting the
aerial wires if only it is properly
stayed. If therefore your mast
is of the willowy kind purchase a
length of ex -Army telephone cable
and rig up a few stays to keep it
from swaying too much. Even a
backstay alone is better than
nothing, and will often preserve
the mast from destruction in bad
weather. Old masts which have
been standing for some time
should be examined at the point
where they enter the ground. -

Masts
The best way of doing this is
to remove the soil at the foot for
a few inches and to try the wood
with a bradawl. You may get
an unpleasant surprise by finding
that a stout -looking mast is
really thoroughly rotten and
likely to snap like a carrot when
the next gale comes. Should
such an unpleasant discovery be
made there is no need to tear your
hair or to burst into scalding
tears. All that you have to do is
to obtain a 6 -ft. length of good
pine with a pointed end and to
drive it well into the ground close
to the foot of the mast with a
maul. You- can then splice the
mast to it with rope or wire, and.
may sleep soundly even when the.
wind howls, knowing that your
mast is perfectly safe.
R. W. H.

Buying Wireless Components

*
NEW REFLEX

CIRCUIT
" Modern

Wireless"

for
October (out on October 3rd)
will contain an important
article by Mr. John Scott -

Taggart ,F.dnst.l'.,

Resistoflex, a new
reflex circuit without a
crystal. Order to -day.

on the

04

oa

va

By R. W. HALLOWS, M.A., Staff Editor.

A Dubilier variable

no

condenser.

PERHAPS one of the most

difficult tasks which faces
the constructor to -day is
that of selecting really good com-

"

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

ponents for the sets or pieces of

apparatus that he intends to
make up, With most of us the
tendency to economise is a natural and strong one. But in wireless it simply does not pay except
possibly for such simple things
as terminals, valve legs and similar small articles. Even here one
has to be careful, for if you order
a dozen terminals of a cheap
variety you will quite possibly
receive, as I did the other day,
eight of one sort, three of -a
second and one of a third
And
I have actually had two valve
legs in one dozen which were
solid-that is, they had no holes
in them for the pins to fit into.
The golden rule is to get the
best that you can possibly afford.
If you are prepared to spend only
a certain amount of money on
the construction of a receiving
set, then make a good single or
two -valve receiver rather than a
three or four-valve using cheap
and doubtful components.
Condensers
There is, unfortunately, at the
present time a very large amount
of stuff of the poorest quality on
sale.
How bad some of these
things can be you do not realise
until you have the opportunity of
testing them with accurate
instruments. Then their performances come as an eye-opener.
Some of the very worst components are the cheap fixed condensers that one frequently sees,
all of which are " guaranteed "
to be of a stated capacity. Not
one in a hundred of them is actu-

ally anywhere near it. You may

purchase two ,0003 F fixed condensers of this kind, one of which
will have a capacity of less than
.0001 F, whilst the other may
be anything from .0002 to .0004.
The points to look for in
a fixed condenser are these:
In the first place, a good
finish is in this case generally a
criterion of quality. Most of the
cheap and nasty affairs have a
kind of ragged half -finished
appearance. See that the contact
points are good and there is no
wobble between them and the
case of the condenser. The grid
condenser na-ust have a dielectric
of the very best ruby mica of
uniform thickness. As you cannot see inside the case of an
ebonite -covered condenser,' it is
_.

"

An Igranic Potentiometer.

always best to buy one of known

and reliable make, even if it does
cost a few pence more than other
kinds.
Variable condensers again can
be very good and very bad,
though it is quite possible to buy
cheap odes which will give perfectly satisfactory results. Here
are the points to look for. Rotate
the knob and see that the spindle
which carries the moving plates
is straight in its bearings. If it
is slightly askew the capacity of
the condenser will be " all over
the place " and the condenser
will not be of much use, even if
Push
its plates do not touch.
and pull the knob to see that
there is no play in the spindle.
The moving plates should go
round quite smoothly, but the
bearings should be fairly tight.
If you can spin the moving plates
715

The Sterling
" Dinkie " Loudspeaker.

round you may be pretty sure

that their contact is of a pretty
chancy kind. The plates themselves should be of stout gouge,
and the condenser should be so
constructed that both those
which are fixed and those which
move are very tightly clamped
on their rods. The point at which
a fault is most likely to occur is
in the cntact between. the spindle and the bush into which it
fits. See that there is a good
fit. An excellent type of contact
is that made by means of a spiral
of springy copper, but .if this is
fitted there must be stop-pins,
otherwise a break is likely to
occur.
Rheostats
If cheap fixed condensers are
bad, cheap` rheostats run them a
very close second for sheer nastiness. Usually you will find that
they have a thin flimsy winding
not properly supported, and therefore bound to get out of shape in
a very short time, formers made
of very poor material-I have seen
painted wood used instead of
ebonite-and contact arms so
designed that they are bound to
work loose at frequent intervals.
Go for a good solid -looking winding brushed by a contact arm
which is firmly fixed to the spindle. If possible, see the rheostat
which you are buying, or a similar one,tried before you purchase,
and note whether it does dim the
filament of the valve properly.
Avoid anything which gives a
harsh grating -contact.
L.F. Transformers
inter - valve
Low -frequency
transformers, if they are bad,.
will utterly -ruin the reception of
`

October I, 1924

Wireless Weekly
any set. The commonest faults
in them are these. There may be
too little wire in the primary
windings ; the core may not be
sufficiently substantial, and the
connections between the ends of
the windings and the terminals
may be so flimsy that they will
break very readily.
The thing to choose is a
good solid -looking transformer,
not the kind of miniature
affair which you can put into
your waistcoat pocket and never
notice it.
Not everyone, perhaps, realises
the importance of having thoroughly good gridleaks. Of all
the components in the set, the
gridleak is perhaps the most difficult to make, for it is a very hard
task to manufacture a high -resistance which will remain constant

innovation
which n:ay be seen at the " All
British " Wireless Exhibition is
the Safety Disc which' is being
given away at the Mullard Stand.
An

interesting

under all ordinary conditions. It

pays distinctly when buying grid leaks to go for a well-known
make. You may be rather surprised if in an access of recklessness you open an expensive grid leak to see what is inside it. You
may feel for the moment that
there is not very much for half -a -

unaffected by heat, cold or damp.

And you will find that if you try
gridleaks of good make with a
" megger " everyone of them is
very close to the stated resistance. This is a great deal more
than can be said of job line grid leaks whose resistance may be
anything from a few thousand
ohms to infinity.
The conclusion to which we
come is that you get what you
pay for. The saving of money
in buying cheapjack parts is very
small when you come to think of
it, and it is much more than offset by the trouble that you have
with your apparatus and the
The
poorness of your results.
strength of a chain is that of its
weakest link, and the quality of
a wireless receiving set is that of
its worst component.

Wireless Weekly

October 1, 1924

JOHN SCOTT-TAGGART,
F.Inst.P., A.M.I.E.E.

Bowyer -Lowe valve disc.

crown! But you must remember
that the makers have discovered
the secret of so encasing the

" innards " that they are quite

A Safety Disc for Valves

This device, which consists of
a disc of coloured insulating
material, has been designed to

prevent the filament pins touching any metal in the valve holder until actually in contact
with the filament supply sockets
when they are safely home.

THE EDINBURGH STATION.

Our photograph shows the control room of the Edinburgh station.

716

A New Variable Condenser

IHAVE been trying the new

Fulstop variable condenser,

and for general use in wire
less circuits it can certainly be
very strongly recommended. A
great feature is made of the
absence of hand -capacity effects,
but the point which appeals to
me most is the fact that a 36o
degrees scale is provided. In
other words, very fine tuning may
be accomplished, because of the
special gearing introduced into
the condenser.
This gearing
works admirably, and to those
who are prepared to pay a little
more there will be the great
advantages of fine tuning without the necessity for a vernier
condenser.
A Vernier Policy
Continually I am coming
across people who imagine that
by using a small variable condenser of, say, .00025 F, they
are going to get very fine tuning
and that tuning on weak signals
will be easier.
This is far from being necessarily the case. I will readily
admit that it is better to use a
.00025 F variable condenser
than the lower range of a .00i
F condenser. Obviously, in the
former case, one has a half -circle
variation (18o degrees), while in
the other case all the tuning
must be accomplished on a sector
of, say, 4o degrees.
There is
obviously no comparison.
Inductances
Let us, however, examine
another aspect of the subject,
and to do this we must consider
the amount of inductance we
have in the circuit.
A given
wavelength may be obtained by
a small value of inductance and
a comparatively larger value of
parallel capacity, or it may be
obtained by a large inductance

and a very small capacity. In a

wireless receiving circuit the
capacity in parallel with the inductance is not merely the variable condenser, but also incidental capacities, such as the
grid to filament capacity of the
valve and the leads going to the
electrodes of the valves and the
self-capacity of the coils and
similar factors, which all contribute to the capacity in shunt
with the inductance.
Effective Tuning
It is generally accepted that
the larger the inductance and the
smaller the parallel capacity, the

small, and such a circuit will not

be selective. For example, when
listening to broadcasting on, say,
400 metres, spark interference on
600 metres is often obtainable.
If, however, we have reaction

introduced into the circuit, either

by inherent reaction or by some
deliberate coupling, then tuning
is sharpened up remarkably,
and the fact that the parallel
capacities are small makes little
difference.
Tuning
To return, however, to the
question of using small variable
Te!

`---,
C5

-vvvVV"

.C3

R2

Fig.

1.-A

loose-coupled circuit 'employing a

" split secondary " for

T,

easier operation and adjustment.

larger the potentials built up

across the inductance. It is, of
course, always desirable to have
sufficient capacity to provide
effective tuning, as otherwise
the circuit would become virtually aperiodic.
This aperiodic
effect, however, is not so important when reaction is introduced, but it is important when
reliance is placed simply on the
ordinary selectivity of the circuit.

Variometer Coupling
If, for example, we use a large
variometer for coupling one valve
to another, the capacities across
the variometer inductance are
717

condensers, the object of using

such small variable condensers
is to enable a large inductance
to be employed, and so enable
an increase of signal strength to
be obtained. At the same time,
of course, it is expected that
greater ease of tuning will be
accomplished.
I want to point out, however,
in these notes that working with
large inductances and small
capacities makes tuning considerably more difficult and not
by any means easier, although,
of course, I have admitted above
that it is better to use a small
variable condenser than a small

October i, 1924

Wireless Weekly

give the same wavelength as a

single coil of 120 turns. This
point is frequently overlooked
by experimenters who use coils
in series, and the reason is
because when a single coil is
employed the turns act mutually
on each other to increase the
inductance. When we have two
separate coils of 6o turns each,
and these coils are separated,
the total inductance is exactly
twice that of a 6o -turn coil, but
if the two coils are put close
together, or wound as one big
single coil of 120 turns, we not
only have twice the inductance,.
Incidental Capacities
but also the added effect, or
In a circuit of this kind the
mutual inductance as it is called,
incidental capacities may be
due to one coil acting on the
Use of Square Law Condensers
kept small, and it is possible to
other and helping it in its inducuse a large amount of inducttive effect. We have an effect
to
course,
of
brings us,
to that in a vario ance in the grid circuit and a theThis
subject of square law con- very similar
corresponding small value vari- densers, which have their plates meter where the two coils are
able condenser C3. In actual so shaped that on the lower brought together so as -to help
The inductance,
experiment it is found that 2L0 degrees the capacities are much each other.
much larger than
is
very
on 369 metres could be received
then,
an
of
case
the
smaller than in
add e d
when L2 was a 6o coil and L3
condenser. In other the two inductances
in
coils
two
The
a coil of similar size. The vari- ordinary
together.
the capacity is not even
do not act
L3,
and
able condenser used was of .0003 words,
1,
L2
Fig.
to
proportional
and this arrangeF value, and it was possible approximately
number of degrees of the on eachis other,
similar to a
therefore
to cover from 30o metres to 600 the
ment
degrees
A
few
condenser used.
metres with only about one-third on the lower end of the scale variometer in which the two
of the condenser in use. This, represent a very much smaller windings are wide apart or are
needless to say, made tuning change in capacity than the at right angles to each other, in
considerably difficult, not because same number of degrees at the the case of a rotating type.
selectivity was so perfect, but top end of the scale. This, of
If, however, a single coil. of
because the slightest variation in course, makes the tuning very 120 turns were employed, then
the variable condenser made a much easier.
we would have an effect similar
big change in the wavelength to
to that in a variometer when the
above
the
I can summarise
which the circuit L2 L3 C3 was remarks by saying that a large two coils were close together and
other so as to
tuned.
inductance and a small ordinary assisting a each
increase in the
big
produce
requires
condenser
variable
Critical Tuning
inductance.
greater skill in tuning than a
The reason is not far to. seek. smaller inductance and a larger
A Single -Valve Reaction Circuit
We are using a very large in- variable condenser used with a
ductance and -a very small fair amount of capacity in use.
Fig. i itself is interesting as
capacity, and under these condiA fairly large variable conexample of a single -valve rean
of
tions the slightest variation
denser will not give the same action circuit, which will combine
the capacity will make a big signal strength as a small vari- selectivity with good signal
change in the wavelength. The able condenser with -a larger strength. It will be seen that
Wavelength of a circuit is propor- inductance. The advantages of two separate couplings, LI L2
tional to the square root of the both arrangements may be ob- and L3 L4 are employed, instead
capacity across the inductance; tained by using a large induct- of the more usual three -coil
consequently, if we multiply the ance and a small square law arrangement.
In the ordinary
capacity by four we will double variable condenser.
any variaarrangement
-coil
three
the wavelength to which the
of the couplings will
any
of
tion
circuit is tuned. If we assume,
Inductances in Series
others,
seriously affect t h
for the sake of simple explanaI arrangethe
Fig.
in
whereas
the
Fig.
with
In connection
tion, that the variable condenser
ment, by separating the coupprovides all the capacity across circuit or, in fact, in any circuit
lings, the effect is almost elimiconare
inductances
two
where
the inductance, and that the
nated and the whole circuit
longer
a
amount of capacity tuned by the nected in series to give
becomes much easier to handle.
rememmust
be
it
wavelength,
the
upon
condenser depends
This, however, does not mean
are
inductances
larger
number of degrees, then, if we bered that
single coil that even with this circuit slight
are working on 5 degrees of the required than if one
were variations of either coupling will
turns
of
larger
number
a
of
condenser and receive a station
two not necessitate a slight readjustexample,
For
of, say, 30o metres wavelength, employed.
not ment of the variable condensers.
will
each
turns
6o
of
coils
if we now turn the condenser

portion of a large variable

condenser.
Let us assume, for example,
that we are receiving zLO on a
circuit of the kind shown in
Fig. 1. It will be seen that
loose-coupling is employed and
that the aerial coil LI is coupled
to the grid coil L2, a reaction
coil L4 being coupled to a
separate grid coil L3 in the grid
circuit. The aerial tuning is
accomplished by means of the
condenser C2, while C3 tunes
the grid coil.

round to 20 degrees, we should

reach a wavelength of 600
metres.
If, on the other hand, we were
to use a single inductance coil,
say, a No. 5o plug-in coil and
shunted by a .o05 F variable
condenser, we could cover this
range of wavelength over the
whole scale of the condenser, and
consequently tuning would be
very much easier.
We therefore have to bear in
mind that by the use of a large
inductance and a small variable
condenser, especially when the
latter is used at its lower values,
tuning becomes a really critical
operation.

718

October

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

Random Technicalities.
By PERCY W. HARRIS.

Some Notes of interest to the Home Constructor and Experimenter.

SOME time ago there was

Wireless
in
published
Weekly an article describing
the tests which took place in the
vicinity of New York to ascertain the difference in signal
strength and the effect obtained
by screening of high buildings.
The results were very illuminating and showed quite conclusively that there were extraordinary variations in signal
strength between a number of
different points at equal distances between the broadcasting
stations. I was reminded of this
a few days ago when I ran
home to Wimbledon in a friend's
car, a portable set with loudspeaker being kept in operation
the whole time. Outside Bush
House immediately in front of
2L0's transmitting aerial (or,
rather, immediately below it) the
strength of signals was not surprisingly great, certainly no
stronger than we were able to re-

ceive two or three miles away.

Down the Strand signal strength
was fairly constant, although in
Whitehall we were obviously
screened from 2L0. It must be
remembered that we had but a
small low aerial (not a frame,
but a few wires strung underneath the hood of the car), and
one would have thought that this
would have been screened very
considerably when passing high

buildings.
*

variations of
Considerable
strength revealed themselves
when running along the Embankment, and prior to this a
run alongside some iron railings
had completely cut off signals,
not a sound coming in. As soon
as we had passed these, signals
came up again, and the only
other " cut off " we experienced
was when we found ourselves
underneath an iron bridge.
From Westminster onwards there
were quite large variations in
signal strength. At Putney and
on Wimbledon Common signals

were excellent. My companion

informed me that in one small
area -on Wimbledon Common
it is impossible to receive
2L0,
although
a
few
yards away signals come in
at excellent strength. It is evident that we have still much to
learn about the differences of
signal strength in the vicinity of
a broadcasting station, and the
causes of these variations.

During the early hours of September 21 (in fact, just after

1 a.m.) I picked up fairly strong
signals on a wavelength of about
120 metres, which I took to be
KDKA owing to the peculiarities
of transmission and that distortion which one learned to recognise so easily last year. After two
or three items, which may have
been gramophone records, I
heard the announcer's voice, but
could not identify the station.
It was obviously not English,
and sounded more like Spanish
or Italian. The peculiar distortion was identical with that heard
last winter from KDKA on ioo
metres. Later, I learnt that the
station is one operated by the
Italian Army. I tried a few experiments while the transmission
was on to see if any alteration
of distortion could be effected in
the receiver.
*

The particular receiver I use

for this short wave work has the
grid leak clips mounted on the
outside of the panel, so that a
quick change can be made. Two
or three months ago Messrs.
Dubilier kindly supplied me with
a set of calibrated grid leaks
from 2 to 5 megohms. I use
these in preference to the variable
grid leaks which cannot be properly calibrated. I found there
less
was
distortion
when
using a high value of grid leak
(for example, three or four
megohms), and values below two
megohms reduced signal strength
quite 5o per cent. Five meg719

ohms, however, was too high for

the particular detector valve
used. I should say that the
signals were strong enough to be
heard without forcing the set up
to the critical point of reaction.
In- all cases, however, the peculiar distortion was still there.
*

am glad to see that two

components for which I have
I

pleaded for months are now

generally available.
The first is guaranteed ebonite,
free from surface leakage, and
the second square law- con
densers, which at last are being
made by a number of manufacturers. In future it will he
increasingly difficult to realise
that there was ever a time when
strenuous advocacy of these components was needed, yet twelve
months ago there was but -one
make of square law condenser,
and not a single firm advertising
its guarantee that the ebonite
supplied was free from surface
leakage.
*

Now that Esperanto has been

officially- recognised
by the
American Radio Relay League,
interesting developments are
likely. It is a good sound idea,
and is easily learnt. I gained
my own diploma in it as long
ago as 1909, and was teaching it
in London in that year. In the
autumn of the same year I delivered in Esperanto, at the
London Esperanto Club, a lecture on wireless, with experimental demonstrations. I believe at
the moment I am the only
English Esperantist with a transmitting licence, but this will soon
be remedied 1
*

Many people believe that

gramophone records are made of
ebonite. Actually this is not so,
though they are nevertheless
good insulators, and may be
used to good account in small
constructional work.

Wireless Weekly

October

1, 1924

Wireless Weekly

October i, 1924

UULLLLLLLLLUULLLU

._

,.
55

* * *

The ST75

L S.

Another circuit which

may be experimented
with upon this popular
receiver.

Circuit on the
0

CS

13
0001

Tn
o

17

43-40
27-14

6-

I -2I

22-24
32-40

18

Operating the Set

The operation of this dual
The high -frequency potential' receiver is exactly the same as
variations across L2 are com- that of a standard i H.F. and
municated to the grid of the detector circuit, the aerial tuning
second valve Vz by means of the and anode tuning condensers
condenser C5, a grid leak R1 being simultaneously varied until
being connected across the grid maximum signal strength is obReaction is introduced
of the second valve and the tained.
positive side of the accumulator. by coupling L2 and L3, and
This second valve acts as a although there is no danger of
detector, and an inductance L3, causing outside interference,
coupled to L2, is included in its there is no advantage in using
anode circuit, in order to intro- any more regeneration than is
duce reaction into the tuned necessary just to overcome the
anode circuit L2 C2. The rectified losses in. the circuit.
With certain valves the adjustcurrents also pass through the
primary Ti of the intervalve ment of R1 (35-43 on the panel)
transformer Ti Tz, the secondary may be found critical for best
results, and a little experimenting
of which is connected in the grid
circuit of the first valve, which in this direction may be carried
consequently acts also as a low - out.
The connections to the
frequency amplifier. The loudspeaker, L.S., is included next secondary of the iron -core transformer may be reversed, to see if
to the anode of the first valve,
the condenser C4 of .004 F better results are obtainable by
capacity being connected across this means. Disconnect 49-29
and 30-52, and connect
it.

Fig. 1.-The ST75 Circuit.

amplified by the valve Vi, the

amplified currents appearing in
the circuit L2 C2.

nl

Using the Wireless Weekly

Omni receiver, the connections
required are as follows
51

:-

26-25
31-46
46-47
39-45
45-23
31-19
27-35

50

49-29
30-52
51-34
42-49
50-12
52-48
1

720

ONE of the most convenient

gadgets for the workshop
bench that I have come
across for a long time is a
special cylindrical container for
drills of Morse sizes from
No. 1 to No. 6o. -This consists of a wooden body in
which are made sixty holes to
act as containers for the drills.
It is fitted with two metal lids,
both pivoted on a spindle running
down the centre of the container.
In the outer lid are
three holes corresponding to the
concentric compartments made
for the drills. The inner lid has
also three holes made in it, one
of which can be made to coincide with a corresponding hole in
the upper lid by moving a small
knob.
These three holes are
marked 1 to 20, 21 to 4o, and 41
to 6o. To obtain any particular
drill, say No. 16, one sets the
figure on the rim of the outer lid
against the pointer and puts the
knob of the inner lid to the posiThe holes
tion labelled i to 20.
in the two -lids then coincide
with the hollow in which the
required drill rests, and on the
container being inverted it falls

It may also be found that, with'

certain types of coils where the
connections from windings to
plugs are not in the standard
direction, difficulty will occur in
producing oscillations.
In this case, disconnect 6-g
and I -2i, and connect

6-

9-2 I

when no difficulty in producing

12

19

14

T 27'

34

-Tr-

,
o

43

42

21
LP.

az8
36

,re-SMEe

*41
49

26

15

22

1.5.r'810061,110`1 O.S.

37

oof

-11-

-- - a 46

45 '002

..L52

50

o 24 H.T.

31

38

V0000
44

23

0006 0,.-/ O.P.

39

32

H.T.

40

+
TA".1-.002

o
53

47

-imp-

1------------ .

i
-

"48

x.'L

54

.0

Fig.

2.-The terminal board.

will sometimes cause the difference between good and bad

reception.

out into your hand. The description may sound a little complicated, but the container is
delightful to use, for any drill
can be obtained in a moment, and
as all are kept covered up they
are always clean and bright.
Those who already possess sets
of drills can obtain these containers separately at reasonable
prices.
There is only one disadvantage to this type of drill container, which is that a drill
should always be replaced after
it is used,' for otherwise one may
have a medley of drills lying on
the table.
If these are of very
small size some difficulty may be
experienced in getting them back
into their right places, since on
fine drills there is no room for
the numbers to be marked.
If
one always replaces the drill after
use there is no trouble, but
should one fail to do so the size
can be found by putting it
through the drill plate.
Constructors who do not
possess complete sets of drills
will find it most convenient to
make a stand far such as they
have, which can be done very

ii

16

F-

0.P.

20

A Handy Drill Container

49-30
29-52

Connections

2s

3o-38
37-29
4-23
31-25
17-24

DOUBTLESS many readers

have wished that they
could taste the sweetness
of the reflex receiver without the
attendant bitterness and instability of the crystal detector
necessary in most reflex circuits.
Although it is largely true that
the bother of crystal adjustment
th e
is greatly exaggerated,
damping effect of a crystal
detector is a decided disadvantage in reflex working. The
damping necessary across certain
coils should be kept constant,
but this, of course, is not consistent with correct adjustment
of the cat's whisker.
The ST75 circuit employing
a valve rectifier in place of the
crystal is a means of overcoming
these difficulties, and a very
handy means where reliability
is essential in the resulting
receiver.
It is certainly true that with
two valves at hand a much more
efficient circuit may be devised
if the crystal detector is introduced, since the detector valve
in the ST75 has only one function
to perform, but for stability this
circuit will be hard to beat.
The theoretical circuit is shown
in Fig. i.
The incoming signals a r e

33

oscillation and the usual advantages of reaction will be found.

The brightness of the filament
of the detector (second) valve
may be found to affect signal
strength and stability.
A little experimenting in the
correct value for the filament
current for this valve, and also
in the types of valves themselves,

e
a

v
O

BA

.r

moa

Omni Receiver

_,,

56

easily. All that is required is a

piece of hard wood about 4 in.
A hole is then
in thickness.
made with each drill in turn and
the drills are inserted point
uppermost, the size of each being
marked in pencil against its hole
on the wood. I use a stand of
this kind for my taps, each size
having three holes for first,
second and third cut. For loose
dies I use a stand made on the
same lines, but instead of drilling holes headless nails are driven
into the wood at regular intervals. These are passed through
the middle hole of each die and
keep it in its proper place.
R. W. H.

Broadcasting Alterations
We learn that on and after
Monday, September 29, all the
stations of the B.B.C. will revert
to their winter schedule of times,
commencing their programmes
half an hour earlier, and that on
Tuesdays and Fridays one provincial station will continue its
transmission for half an hour
after the closing of the other
stations.
Chelmsford will radiate the
programme of a provincial
station upon one night in each
week, and the 2L0 programme
upon the remaining evenings.
The fifteen minutes preceding
the first news bulletin is to be
filled in the case of the London
station with a topical talk.

11

721

Wireless Weekly

October

1,

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

924

OCTOBER IST, 1924

The B.B.C. and their Revenue

Britain's

By THE EDITOR.

Best
HE number of licences
.

issued

' ception

for

is

broadcastrenow

in

the

neighbourhood of 1,000,00o, and

a revenue of -L400,000 will go to
the British Broadcasting Company.
This huge sum is going to a
company which has its profits
limited to 7'-- per cent. The company is a public utility concern,
and since it is the public which
is contributing the whole of the
revenue by a form of taxation
they are ini:inately interested in
the use made of these funds.
We do not know the full programme of the B.B.C. during the
coming year, but we may,
perhaps, be permitted to make
'one or two suggestions. It is,
of course; very demoralising
generally for a company -to have
its profits limited to a certain
amount. The directors of the
B.B.C. have already voted themselves sums of money as a reward
for their hard work, and salaries
of the B.B.C. staff have been
raised. We do not question these
matters because we believe that
this expenditure was, and is, a
justifiable one.
.

The Wireless Industry

We believe that the B.B.C. can
do a great deal more to stimulate
the wireless industry, which is by
no means as great a one as it
The B.B.C. can
should be.
assist by demonstration programmes which at present are
only given on certain days.
Moreover, we have constantly recommended that the B.B.C.
should
advertise their programmes just as any other entertainment organisation, and such
advertisements will increase the
ranks of listeners and will undoubtedly have a great influence
on the development of the industry and the relief of unemployment in this country.

Encouragement
It is a curious fact that there
are many businesses which are
still in doubt whether broadcasting has come to stay, and whether
there will be a permanent demand
The result is
for apparatus.
that these timid ones are not expanding, building new factories,
or launching out in the way which
would be of national benefit. It
should be the policy of the B.B.C.
to try and instil the fullest confidence in broadcasting, and by its
own bold action encourage others.
Much improvement could also
_

be made in the purely local relay

stations, the power of which is
too small. Then again, we notice
that it is the intention of the

transmit the same

programme from 5XX, the highpower station, as from London.
It may be desirable to send the
programme from London to
5XX, but we do not think that
it is at all desirable that the same
programme should be radiated
from 2L0 and 5XX. There is no
reason, with such an ample
revenue behind the B.B.C., why
an entirely separate and distinct
programme should not be radiated
from the high -power station.
Gramophone Recitals
Another point we notice is that
gramophone recitals are being
given, and we have some doubt
whether this is being done as a
matter of economy or whether it
is done for the purpose of
amusing those who have gramophone records. As we are only
afflicted with these recitals at the
less important times of the day,
we are inclined to think that the
first consideration is the chief
one. It is interesting to note
American broadcasting
that
stations are prohibited from
radiating music produced from
gramophone records.
The Official Organ
We may be accused of selfinterest if we criticise the policy of
B.B.C. to

722

Broadcasting
Sets

the B.B.C. in issuing their programmes in a form which competes with private enterprise.
The Radio Times does not in any
way compete with technical
journals as regards circulation ;
it is purely and simply a programme paper. 0n the other
hand, the wireless industry is
spending some 50,000 a year
with the B.B.C. whose paper,
being purely a programme, does
not contribute to the development
of the industry, as is the case of
In other
the technical press.
words, as regards advertisement
revenue, which is the backbone of
any publishing organisation, the
B.B.C. are seriously competing
with private .enterprise, and this
very largely by virtue of their exclusive programme and the exclusive publicity which they enjoy
by announcements regarding the
paper by radio.
N.A.R.M.
-

This serious competition with

private enterprise is not consistent
with the policy of a public utility
company, and cannot be defended
at a time when the revenue of the
company is of the order of half a
million pounds annually.
The
matter is a small side -line to the
P.B.C., but it is of vital importance to wireless publishers.
The National Association of
Radio Manufacturers, we understand, is io favour of wireless
advertisements being excluded
from the Radio Times, and
private enterprise and the wireless public generally would benefit
by the B.B.C. making a voluntary
sacrifice of wireless advertisements in their journal.

(REGISTERED TRADE MARK)

NEW
GECOPHONE Models

for 1924/25
Crystal Sets
Single Valve Sets
Two Valve Sets

(Det. & L.F.> in

Table and Cabinet
Models
Two Valve Sets
(Det. & H.F.> in
Table and Cabinet
Models
Three Valve Sets

in

Table and

Cabinet Models
Four Valve
Cabinet Sets de Luxe

Five Valve
Cabinet Sets

For full range ofOE CO

PHONE Sets and parti.

DON'T FORGET TO BUY
THE OCTOBER NUMBER OF

culars, enquire of your

local dealer, and ask
for List No. B.C. 3425

MODERN WIRELESS
per OUT ON OCT. 3rd -1

1924/5NOWMODELS
READY

In the construction of the new GECOPHONE Models it has been the aim to produce sets
which combine the finest results with simplicity of operation and handsome appearance.
The range of 1924/5 models has been considerably extended to meet every requirement.
They embody to the fullest extent the same superlative qualities which have given the
original GECOPHONE Model its unrivalled reputation.

If you desire

-- A Crystal or a 5VaIve Set

Long range, Maximum volume of sound

To use a Loud Speaker or Headphones
Cabinet or Table Models
To use Accumulator or Dry Batteries
To get the best value for money

and to ensure the maximum pleasure from broadcasting

THERE IS A GECOPHONE FOR YOU
Obtainable from GECOPHONE SERVICE DEPOTS. Electrical and
Wireless Dealers, Stores, &c.

ALL BRITISH WIRELESS EXHIBITION

Royal Albert Hall, Lonaon, September 27 -October 8
CALL AT STANDS Nos. 51 and 53
where the new GECOPHONE Models will be displayed

Advertisement of The General Electric Co., Ltd. (Manufacturers

Magnet House, Kingsway, London. W.C.2.

It

&

Wholesale only).

will pay you always to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY 'Advertisements.

ii

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

LISSENI UM

October

COAXING THE VALVE-AT NIGHT TIME

How every Crystal User may become

a Valve Expert

SIGNALS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT !-You get them stronger and from farther

IS YOUR LEAK RESISTANCE RIGHT?

11=)}

LISSEN

You can put a resistance in circuit

whose value will be so inaccurate and

fluctuating that the leak is useless.
Though some circuits and valves are
not so susceptible to variable grid control as others, it is reassuring to know
that one has the means to control grid
potential so.that the correct value is
obtained for any circuit or valve, or the
particular conditions under which a
valve may be working. With the
LISSEN VARIABLE GRID LEAK
fitted, the receiver will yield the utmost
sensitivity which correct grid potential
under all conditions implies.
LISSEN ONE -HOLE FIXING, A /C
... G/ V
...
...
OF COURSE
LISSEN VARIABLE ANODE RESISTANCE, 20,000 to 250,000 ohms, same
outward appearance as LISSEN
...
U
Variable Grid Leak

away if you are using LISSENSTAT control. After you have tuned in as far as you can go
with every other control on your receiver you can still do a great deal more-IF YOU
ARE USING LISSENSTAT control. When at last you realise that you are on to an unknown
station there is a thrill in the thought that it has been brought in to you by nursing the
valve with the turn of a knob that stands out so simply above your panel.
The secret is in the structure of the LISSENSTAT and
its composition-so critically is it possible to control
`;;;;;;; , ;;;;;':r;;;::: ::c;;:
electron emission of the valve that you can get right
LISSENSTAT
on to the very spot necessary for the finest detection of
long distance telephony.
,:::::?:"7:'.................

LISSENSTAT (patent pending)-gives the

...
...
most acute tuning possible
I,SSENSTPT
.

..

SMOOTH

LISSEN VARIABLE
GRID LEAK ACROSS THE
SECONDARY OF THE LAST
TRANSFORMER, OR ACROSS
THE LOUD SPEAKER ITSELF.
FIRST POSITION IS BEST.
THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE
VERY NOTICEABLE.

PARTS THAT PULL

TOGETHER
Use LISSENAGON COILS for sharp

tuning-for strong tuning.

Use LISSEN TRANSFORMERS and

LISSEN CHOKE for fine tone and
pleasing volume.
Use LISSEN H.F. Parts for extending
range.
Use LISSEN TUNER for conveniently
covering a wide wavelength.

Hammersmith.
" Lissenium, London."

It

Some further constructional details of a Single -Valve Flewelling Receiver, together with some
notes concerning its operation.

Components Required
One ebonite panel, 9 in. x
Sin. x 4 in. thick.
One containing box to suit,
42 in. deep inside.
Eight terminals.
One two-coil holder with extension handle.
Four valve sockets.
One filament rheostat.
One variable condenser (capacity o.00i or o.0005 F), with
single - plate vernier for fine
adjustment.
One grid condenser 0.0003 or
preferably 0.0002 FtF.
One variable grid leak, about
I to 5 megohms. (This must be
smoothly and continuously variable. That shown in the photograph is a " Microgrid. ")
One fixed condenser o.005 aF
(McMichael).
Details of Operation
t the first few attempts to

operate practically any superregenerative receiver, there are

certain to be loud howlings and
whistlings in the telephone
receivers.
Accordingly, until
some experience is gained the
set should b used only upon a
frame aerial, which may consist
FRAME AER/AC

/0 rep,., ON
Z4 "SfQL/ARE

ro (iR/O

F/L.

i-

Fig. 5a-Showing method of connecting a frame aerial to the receiver.

of a temporary arrangement of
to or 12 turns of wire upon a
rough frame. Alternatively, a
loop " aerial, consisting of a
single turn of cotton-covered wire

suspended round a picture rail,

may be used. To use the set
upon the outdoor aerial before
experience has been gained in its
operation will be almost certain
to cause considerable interference
to neighbouring receiving stations. The method -of connecting
the " frame " or " loop " aerial
to the receiving set is shown in
Fig. 5a. The aerial coil L may
be either a 35 -turn or 5o -turn
plug-in coil of the honeycomb
type, whilst the reaction coil LI
should be a 75 -turn or a too-turn
coil.

When all external connections

are completed, set the variable
condenser to zero approximately,
bring the reaction coil fairly close
up to the grid coil, and vary the
grid leak until a howl or whistle
is heard, upon which make further adjustment of the grid leak
until a steady and extremely

Switches off one stage of L.F. without touching the filament controla separate switch for each .stage.
b. Connects the telephones to the plate of whichever valve it is desired
to use, and at the same time switches off the L.T. current from the
unused valve.
Cuts out a stage of H.F. in the same way as it does L.F. (we do not
C.
recommend any switching in H.F. circuits where it can be avoided, but
where it is decided to use a switch, this is the switch to use).
d. Will also disconnect both the H.T. and L.T. batteries, and short the
aerial to earth so that the receiver can be left adjusted ready for
q
switching instantly into commission next time.
With diagram. Price `t a.

LISSEN REVERSING SWITCH

Particularly useful when the LISSEN 5 -point switch is used for cutting out one stage
of H.F. When a H.F. stage is cut out, and reaction is being taken off the aerial
circuit, it is necessary to reverse the reaction coil connections for each H.F. stage cut
out, and this new LISSEN switch conveniently does it. Can also be used anywhere
when it is necessary to reverse the connections of a battery, a coil, or a condenser, for
instance. VERY USEFUL FOR COMPARATIVE TESTS. With diagram

4/

PARTS WITH HIDDEN POWER

-BUILD WITH THEM.

By E. REDPATH.

WHAT LISSEN 5 -POINT SWITCH DOES

built with all LISSEN

parts will give results which would
never be possible if you used mixed
parts.

Telegrams

LISSENSTAT Control.

Many switches sold are undesirable for radio work-they have been designed from the purely
electrical point of view, which is not good enough for radio.
LISSEN SWITCHES, on the contrary, have been designed primarily for radio, but
they are useful also for other twitching purposes. You just gently pull or push
them, and you hear them make with a reassuring " click "-and you know they are
free from capacity effect.

A Receiver

30-32, Woodger Rd., Goldhawk Rd.,

Shepherds Bush, London, W.12.
Telephones: 3380, 3381, 3382, 1072

detection-if you use

USE A RADIO SWITCH

PARTS

LIMITED

10/6

ERSAIi:-

You can feel for fine

DON'T MIX YOUR

L.ISSEN

LISSENSTAT UNIVERSAL (patent pending)-with

its protective device for dull emitters

All types have LISSEN ONE-HOLE FIXING, OF COURSE.

OUT LOUD

SPEAKER DISTORTIONPUT A

11ssESiSTAT

9/s

TO

LISSENSTAT MINOR (patent pending)-is replacing

many thousands of discarded and inefficient
rheostats. Provides LISSENSTAT conVV
3La
...
...
trol at a popular price ...

M"'.. ....

U N JV

7/6

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

LISSEN

-way switch

TWO OTHER LITTLE SWITCHES.

LISSEN Series -parallel switch
2/9
-

will pay you always to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements._

OM

3/9
Fig. 6.-Practical back -of -panel wiring diagram.
723

October

Wireless Weekly

high-pitched whistle is heard in

the telephones. Search for signals by rotating the variable
meantime
slowly,
condenser
making slight adjustments to the
grid leak in order to retain the
audible whistle of the quenching
oscillation.
If a small frame aerial is being
used, and no signals are received,
rotate the frame 90 degrees and
try again. At distances up to to
miles from one of the main
British broadcastingstations
quite goad signals should be
received upon a frame of the
dimensions specified.
When the receiver its subsequently connected up to the
regular outdoor aerial for trial,
preferably at a time when no
broadcasting is in progress, the
preliminary experience on the
frame aerial will be found extremely helpful in determining
the adjustments which will ento be
able the " whistle "
eliminated by raising the pitch of
the note until it disappears. This
must be done, as otherwise the
whistle will be received by
neighbouring stations. If necessary, loosen the reaction coupling
and readjust the variable gridleak.

1, 1924

OCTOBER

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

=ein
J

9"
Fig. 7.-The layout of the panel showing dimensions.

With some aerials it may be

found very difficult to make the
set function correctly with the
earth lead connected. A small
fixed condenser (0.0003 F) inserted in the earth lead will be
found to facilitate matters.
With a fairly large three-wire
aerial connected to terminal A2,

thus placing the aerial tuning

condenser in series, and the usual

earth connection, the writer had
no difficulty in obtaining very
clear speech, etc., of reasonable
strength in two pairs of telephone receivers from practically
all the British broadcasting staPetit
tions, also from the
Parisien " station, Madrid and
Hamburg.

ud Spea4rs
Defectors

Western Electric Economy Wireless Apparatus, which incorporates

the Wecovalve, has established itself the world over. The sets are
designed upon the best possible principles and components only of the
best quality are used. Rigorous tests and the most careful scrutiny
are given to each piece of apparatus before it leaves our factories, so
that in ordering Western Electric apparatus our clients can be certain
of getting the very best.
Western Electric Loud Speakers are recognised as World Standard,
there is nothing quite so good, and nothing that can give the same
wonderful quality of reproduction. The Loud Speaker illustrated on
the right of this page, when used with its associated Western Electric
Power Amplifier, gives sufficient power for a concert hall.
Ask your dealer for our booklet 528 and 529, he will be pleased to supply
them.
-

Western Electric Company Limited.

CONNAUGHT

HOUSE,

ALDWYCH,

W.C.2.

Central 7345 (9 lines).

Branches: Birmingham, heeds, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, Manchester.

Southampton, Liverpool and Dublin.

independent oscillator.
Our photograph shows Mr. R. W. S. March, of the Glasgow station, standing at the
724

IST, 1924

iv

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

OCTOBER IST, 1924

Get the ValVe in

the Purple Box!
-and

ensure perfect reception. Remember that

valve sets are only as
good as the valves used
in them.

MARCoNI,IALVES
OSRAM
(MADE AT THE

L.

are the valves sold in the

familiar purple box. They are
the valves which bear the
name " Marconi" the valves
made at the famous Osram
These two great
Works.
names-Marconi and Osramare your positive assurance
of rerfect performance.
Sold by wireless and electrical
dealers, stores, etc.

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

on right down the table, hence a

Handy B.A. Screw

Gauges

4 B.A. nut will pass over a

6 B.A. thread, 2 B.A. over
4 B.A., and so on.
The same

happy arrangement
the odd sizes.

AVERY useful B.A. screw

gauge can be made at
11
home with
very little
trouble. It consists simply of a
plate made from sheet brass
3/16 -in. thick and measuring
3 in. by I- in. The dimensions
can be reduced considerably if
desired, but it is not advisable to
do so, since if gauge plates are
made very small they are so
The
easily mislaid or lost.
plate is marked out as shown in
Fig. 1, tapping holes for the
even -numbered sizes being made
along the top row and for odd numbered sizes along the bottom
row. If you do not possess a
full set of B.A. taps the best
plan is to drill the holes tapping
size and to have them threaded
for you by the handyman at an
electrical shop. This job will be
quite an inexpensive one, and
the cost will be amply repaid by
the usefulness of the gauge
which enables you to discover in
a moment the size of any particular screw.
A nut gauge is an equally useful accessory for the wireless
bench. Fig. 2 shows how it can
be made from a 3 -in. length of
round brass rod 4 in. in diameter. If -a lathe- and a set -of
B.A. dies are available the constructor will have no difficulty in
making the gauge for himself.
Those who are without these.
appliances must have recourse
again to the handyman referred
to above. It is not possible to
make a single -nut gauge for
both odd and even sizes, since a

EXHIBITION

(Promoted by the National Association

of Radio Manufacturers.)

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

September 27th to October 8th

o.B.A.
%4

Va

Va"
3"

1.-The B.A. screw gauge

plate.
3 B.A. nut, for example, will
not pass over 4 B.A. thread.

Announcement of The M.O. Valve Co., Ltd:

It will pay you always to watch

WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

2.-The B.A. nut gauge.

Marking Out Panels

72'

Separate gauges should therefore be made forthe odd and

Reference to the
even sizes.
drilling table shows us that the
tapping size for 2 B.A. is the
clearance size for 4 B.A., and so

2d4.4.B.ABBA B BA
risr

BRASS ROO

Fig.

V2"

THE M.O. VALVE CO., LTD.

STAND No. 21

applies to
D. O. R.

ALL -BRITISH

WIRELESS

October

HERE are many different

opinions as to the best
method of marking out
ebonite panels. Some hold that
they should be marked lightly
with a scriber on the upper
surface, others that the under
surface should be dealt with.
Most writers condemn the use
of the lead pencil for marking
out purposes on the very sound
ground that if graphite is left
upon the surface of the ebonite
it may provide paths between
undesirable points for high -frequency currents, and so lead
either to an absolute refusal to
work on the part of the set when
finished, or to its bringing in
Again,
very weak signals.
should the polished surface of
panels be removed and a semimatt -finish be -given to them
before or after marking out?
Those who advocate that polishing should be taken in hand first
recommend that marking out
should be done on the underside
with the scriber, and this is
quite a satisfactory way of going
to work. There is much to be
said for and against each
method.
Having made up a very large
number of sets of different sizes,
and being engaged almost daily
in constructing small components, the writer has come to
the conclusion that the best
method is to use a lead pencil
for marking out (this sounds like
a terrible heresy !), to do this
part of the work first, and to
drill the panel before removing
the polished surface ; he prefers
also to mark the upper side of
the panel. The way in which a
-

725

piece of ebonite is dealt with is

:
It is first of all

as follows

squared -up. For this purpose

the ordinary small bench set square is often not big enough,
and a draughtman's T-square is
used instead when necessary.
The edges are -roughly trimmed,
and the panel is then marked
out with a sharp -pointed pencil.
The centres of all holes are next
centre-punched, a very fine
punch being used to ensure
accuracy. When especially fine
and accurate work is in hand
the centre -punch is discarded,
and in its place a most useful
and easily -made little tool is employed. It is made from a
jeweller's screwdriver, such as
can be purchased for about a
shilling from any good tool
shop. This, as it stands, is a
most handy little tool for fine
work. At the top of the handle,
which is about 3 inches in
length, is a revolving head. The
REvLV/roG

NEAD

SCREIWDR/VER

BLADE

TR/ANGULAR

Po/NT
The scriber.

fine screwdriver blade

is fixed
into the screw grip at the other
end. To use the tool one places
the first finger on the revolving
head, inserting the blade into the
nick of a screw. The handle is
then revolved with the thumb
and second finger. To convert
one of these screwdrivers into a
tool for accurate marking out,
cut off the flat part of the screwdriver blade and file it to a triangular point. In marking out,
the point is placed at the intersection of two fine lines which
indicates the position of the
centre of the hole to be drilled.
It- is held as before, the forefinger exercising a light downward pressure_ -As the handle
is turned with the thumb and
second finger the triangular

October

Wireless WeeKly
point cuts into the ebonite,
making a small perfectly circular
hollow without any " lip." This
method is, I believe, used by
instrument makers, and it certainly enables absolutely accurate marking out to be done.
When the centres have been
marked drilling is done. It
should be noted that it is very
difficult to get a large drill
exactly into the small pit made
by the centre punch or the tool
just described. It is recommended therefore that whenever
holes 4 inch or $ inch in diameter have to be made for the
spindles of rheostats and so on,.
a smaller drill should be run in
first for some distance, so that
it makes a depression into which
the big one can be centred without difficulty. Drilling having
been done, the glossy surface is
removed from both sides of the
panel, medium emery cloth being
used for the underside, whilst
the upper side is treated first
with used fine emery and is
finished off with a piece of the
finest obtainable glass paper
which has also seen previous
use. In this way all pencil
marks are removed, and there is
no fear of their causing short
circuits.
.

Better Days for Wireless

T is curious to notice the
sudden entrance of what we
may call autumn wireless conditions. In the spring -time there
is quite a gradual change as the
days lengthen out, as the ground
becomes more parched, and as
the trees become more and more
thickly covered with masses of
foliage. We find our range
slowly decreasing, and when we
try to tune in many stations
which during the winter we could
pick up readily, they become
harder and harder to find, whilst
the strength of those which we
do get suffers in many cases a
considerable diminution. By the
time that high summer is with us
most of us are reduced, so far at
any rate as really good broadcast
reception is concerned, to only
one or two of the nearest main

stations.
But the change back again
from summer conditions to the
better times of autumn and

winter seems to occur much more

nothing
is
There
rapidly.
gradual about the process. We
find quite suddenly when searching round one evening that an
old friend lost for several months
has come back again. Further
searching discloses the fact that
we can now pick up any other
stations without having to increase reaction coupling, and we
find that they are little short of
their proper. . strength. This
year the change back began
about August - 15, and; once
started, it went on with amazing
speed. There was one slight
setback abut August 2, but
from that time. onwards conditions grew swiftly better and
better. Before the end of the
month I found that there was
hardly a degree on the dial of
my A.T.C. which would not
bring in something between 300
Strangely
and 50o metres.
enough, selectivity improves,
too, as range extends. This is
due probably to the lowered
resistance of the earth connection
as the ground more and more
nearly approaches its winter
Anyhow,
degree of dampness.
I find that I can now separate
with ease stations so close together as Breslau and Glasgow.
Real autumn conditions are
with us now. Reception is firstrate, and atmospherics are
seldom bad enough to cause
`

1, 1924

much trouble, even on the higher

wavelengths. Now is the time
for any who have not so far
taken up wireless to do so without delay, for we have before us
the seven or eight best months
of the year from the wireless
man's point of view.
L.

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

oeeecceeeceeeeeceee

W. N.

Condenser Values
We are given to understand
that, through an oversight in the
advertisement of the Lighting
Supplies Co. (Finston Fixed Condensers), the capacity was shown
as o.oi F to o.005 F in our
This.
issue of September 24.
should have read o.00i F to
o.0005

F.

Set a
Professional Finish.
Give

Your

1rderprQFFlOr4.Io

Fe"

TH E process

not the actual singing

you are listening to.
Only a copy. With an
Ediswan Valve you
your headphones would probably not
several pretty drastic notice the difference.
transformations take That is one of the
place. The most advantages of a really
entrancing music is good valve.
nothing but a wave
Ediswan Valves are highly
length when it leaves sensitive
and operate with a
the transmitting station. complete absence of noise.
And that's all your aerial They are the outcome of 30
An years' experience.
cares about it.
aerial is only interested Ediswan Valves will bring the best
of
broadcasting is an
eventful one . . .
between the singer and

lise Radio Press Wireless Panel Transfers,

and your set will acquire
"that professional look"
at once. They can be
obtained from all dealers
and booksellers, price
6d., and they are as easy
to apply as a child's
transfer.

GERMAN ARMY WIRELESS

in oscillations.

It

rests

with the detector to

find what the waves
are saying and to interpret. But even then it's

t
First JalVe'
ever made,vtas

produced

'

irx

r e
isWarx
D626 a ora> or

Our photograph shows signallers of the German Army Corps

of Signals and their apparatus at the annual manoeuvres.
726

Fk

of your wireless set --get some

on the n'ay home and enjoy a better
out

programme from to -night onwards.

All dealers sell them.
THE EDISON SWAN ELECTRIC CO LTD.
QUEEN VICTORIA ST.. LONDON E.C4.

&,$,iW'
N
VALVES

o
n

en

It

will pay you always to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

OCTOBER IST,

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

Vi

I924

Wireless Weekly

October I, I924

Wavemeter Troubles
THE buzzer type of wave J=

nv.4.M.ueg);117W(4,

meter is, exceedingly popular among amateurs, and

justly so. It can be bought at
very reasonable prices, whilst
those who like to construct their
own apparatus can make wavemeters of this kind very easily.
In spite of its simplicity, a well made buzzer wavemeter gives
extraordinarily fine and accurate
readings for all wavelengths in a
band which it is desired to cover.
Most users of the buzzer wavemeter will have had experience
at one time or another of a rather
peculiar form of trouble,
The
buzzer is switched on, and gives
out its characteristic singing
note, but the instrument refuse s
absolutely to radiate. Even if it
is held within an inch of the
A.T.I. no sound at all will come
through in the receivers. The
first time that this happens one is
inclined to wonder whether there
is not something wrong with the
set itself.
But doubts on this
score can be set at rest by tuning
in a signal.. The fault lies not
in the receiving set but in the
wavemeter. It can be remedied
as a rule by making a very slight
adjustment to the tuning screw
What actually
of the buzzer.
happens when the buzzer refuses
to radiate is rather difficult to
say, but it seems likely that arcing is taking place at the contacts of the buzzer.
The best
method is to place the meter with
the buzzer running two or three
feet from the A.T.I., and to
make adjustments with a fine
screwdriver with the instrument
It sometimes
in this position.
requires a little patience to obtain
both the high-pitched note that is
so much to be desired and good
radiation in combination with it.
If the buzzer is absolutely out
of adjustment those who are not
used to it may find it rather a
difficult problem to tackle.
I
remember once with my first
buzzer wavemeter spending a
couple of heated hours without
being able to get more than the
most fleeting and ragged buzz
from it. I-Iere is the best way of
Switch on the
going to work.
buzzer then turn down the small
screw whose point makes contact
with the reed which serves as
.

Y-11r'l1ry.s=>n[
s(el.e'nUi-e32iTV
.f+Jl-\=z,__s

e.`

`-

;R1.stl.

The World's Standard Wireless Loud Speaker

Amplion Loud Speakers are world-famous for sensitivity, full volume,
clarity and wonderfully natural tone-qualities due to the incorporation of many exclusive features including a non -resonating
sound conduit with wood horn and an improved unit embodying
the " floating " diaphragm.

EXHIBITION.
ALL BRITISH RADIO

STANDS 45 & 46

HALL

ALBERTOct 8th
RO AL

ALFRED GRAHAM & COMPANY (E. A. GRAHAM)

St. Andrew Works, Crofton Park

It

..

..

LONDON, S.E.4

will pay you always to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

armature until the two are just

touching. Slacken off the tuning

screw which will be found at one

end of the buzzer. Now turn the
contact screw very carefully
down, tapping the wooden case
whilst you do so, until some kind
of note is obtainable.
Then
tighten up the tuning screw and
work one screw against the other
until you have got a note of the
highest possible pitch. It will
very likely be found, that
when a high.. note. is achieved the
buzzer will not start by itself
when it is switched on. In this
case slacken the contact screw
by a fraction of a turn, which
will usually set matters right. If
.

hear the buzz quite a long way

on either side of the real wavelength, and you then have to-,
trust to your ear to tell you the
point at which it is loudest: By
far the better method is to put
the wavemeter at such a distance
from the A.T.I. that its note is
just comfortably audible when
the set is sharply tuned to the
wavelength indicated. When this
is done very fine readings indeed
can be obtained, for there is no
difficulty --in detecting the point
at which- the buzz is most distinctly heard.

N. O. P.

Ancient and Modern

-

iIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII111111IIII!`

ABOUT

OURSELVES

In the advertisement pages of this

issue will be found a drawing of
remarkable power. It is the first
of a series of allegorical drawings
= prepared by -Barclays Advertising,
Limited, to typify and illustrate
= the work carried on by the Radio
Press, the publishing firm ,or rather,
the --band of keen radio engineers
who produce " Wireless Weekly,"
" Modern Wireless," and a large
number of non -periodical publications.
The drawings are prepared by
E
one of the leading artists in this
country and the beauty and force
of his work will be something to
look for each week.
The artist has a personal and
intimate -knowledge of the work of
the House of Radio Press and he
represents, in various ways, the
confidence which the wireless public
has in Radio Press publications.
" By wireless people for wireless
people "-is one of the slogans of
Bush House, where the new home of
the Radio Press is situated.
The Radio Press realise that their
success has depended upon the
support of the wireless public
which can rely upon what it reads.
Radio Press set designs have a
reputation which is a real reputation ; Radio Press readers know
that facilities are afforded for any
set described in a Radio Press
publication to be inspected, and
that suitable representatives can
see a demonstration. This House
goes farther and undertakes, for a
purely nominal fee, to report on
= and put right any set made in
accordance with its designs.
Every reader knows that -advertisers' apparatus is tested and that
the Radio Press will stand by him
if by any chance he should not be
thoroughly satisfied. In short, he
knows that neither in the text nor
the advertisement columns will he
be let down.

NE has begun to wonder a

little of late, says a Wireless Whly correspondent,
whether wireless 'valves are as

-12

.17-IIIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIIIIIIiIIIIiIIIIIIIiIllililllr

it does not the buzzer can always

be started, provided that the adjustment is approximately correct
by tapping the case of the wavemeter after switching on.

To obtain accurate readings

with the buzzer wavemeter,
always place it at some distance
If the
from the receiving set.
two are close together you will
727

good now as they were, say, two

In many respects,
years ago.
they are undoubtedly better, fore
owing .to improved- manufacturing processes it is now possible
so well matched
to turn them
that if a valve of a particular
make is burnt out we may be
quite sure that a new one fitted
in its place will perform in just
The vacuum,
the_ same way:
too, of modern valves is probably a good deal better than it
was in those that we used to use.
New methods of pumping and
the -use of the magnesium
" getter " have made it possible
to produce a vacuum which is
very hard and at the same time
very lasting. Three years ago I
purchased half -a-dozen valves of
a certain make, not on -e of which
burnt out until it had given well
over a thousand hours of good
That is an excellent
service.
record ; here is the sequel. In
May last I bought four of these
valves for use on a five -valve set,
the last valve being a small power valve. They were most
carefully used, the filament potential being kept as low as possible
and the anode voltage never exceeding 6o. One of them burnt
out within three weeks of its
installation and another. was
dead by the end of July. Valves
are certainly cheaper to buy now
than they were then, but they are
dearer in the long run if this- is
a fair example of their life.
-

.
Wireless Weekly
CallNISIa allaaIna BB
ia

A Low-Power
Radio

El

Transmitter

Part L

By K. ULLYETT

oocoo..>.0000000-000c{]
.

The Aerial System

The aerial system-consisting
of aerial, tuning inductance
and earth-though by far the
most important item in a trans-

mitting station is, strangely

enough, the most neglected portion of the set, in most cases.
For short-wave work a vertical
cage aerial is the ideal radiator,
but as many difficulties are encounter ed in the construction of
such a type, most amateurs have
to content themselves with the
usual inverted L or T type
aerial. This, needless to say,
should be as high and unscreened
as possible, but for short waves
the length should not greatly

/0 Ohms

Fig.

exceed 5o feet.

Insulation must be carefully

attended to, especially at the free
end, for there the highest potential exists.
The lead in should be short and
should come as directly as possible to the aerial series condenser.

Magna

a a a

a a

Aerial Tuning Inductance

The A.T.I. consists in the present instance of 36 turns of No.
16 bare copper wire wound on an
ebonite former 4 in. in diameter,
tappings being taken every three
turns to a strip containing 13
valve sockets.
All leads are soldered and well
spaced, in order to reduce losses
due to capacity effects.

IN the two portions of this

article it is intended to
describe the construction and
operation of a low -power radio
transmitter suitable for the amateur who is taking up the more
interesting and extensive side of
his hobby.
The circuit diagram is shown in
Fig. 1, and it will be noticed that
the set is designed for use with
Should,
an outdoor aerial.
however, the operator be the
owner of a " dummy aerial
licence, an auxiliary circuit consisting of resistance and capacity
may be shunted across the tuning
inductance as shown in Fig. 2.
a

This latter is generally found

necessary in order to reduce the
natural wavelength of the -system
to the licensed limits, and if used,
should have a capacity of about
o.00i F. Unless the very best
make is used losses will be introduced which seriously reduce efficiency, so that if it is found possible to work on zoo metres without it, it is decidedly better to
omit the series capacity.

oocc-e-e-c--e-e-e->-4-oc'-cc0000

a aa

a a a

2.-A " dummy aerial" system.

If it is not desired to use an

input higher than about 5 watts,
it is unnecessary to use copper
The
strip for the inductance.
turns of wire are spaced 4 in.
The aerial ammeter should be
carefully chosen. Until some few
years ago " hot wire expansion "
types of ammeters were exclusively used, mainly for their
cheapness. They are, however,
very unsatisfactory in operation;
expansion type instruments also
possess the very serious objection
that their high resistance makes
it difficult to obtain a true
reading.
As an alternative a thermocouple instrument, of which a
commercial type is now available,
may be used. The resistance of
the aerial ammeter must be low_.
It is safe to say that in 99 per
cent. of amateur stations, the

728

aia a
a a

a a a

V
TLl

rz

82

E
Fig. 1.-The circuit diag

e low -power

transmitter.

(2) The high-tension side, consisting of radio-frequency choke,

condenser, and plate voltage

counterpoise is the most efficient

earthing system possible.
In the second part of this
article the aerial system will be
discussed more fully and the
merits of the counterpoise pointed
out.
Six wires suspended about 4 ft.
from the ground in fan formation
directly under the antenna form
a very efficient earthing system.
The earth lead must, of course,
be very carefully insulated.
The ohmic resistance of the
whole antenna system must be
kept as low as possible if maximum radiation is to be obtained.
The Plate Circuit
The plate circuit may be
divided into two parts
(1) The oscillatory side, consisting of blocking condenser and
A.T.I.

supply.
The blocking condenser in the
oscillatory side should have a
value of about 0.002 F, but deviations from this value may be
made, as the condenser is only
intended to prevent a short-circuit
for the H.T. For this reason it
should be very well insulated and
tested to at least twice the voltage
it is desired to use for hightension.
Although the D.C. plate supply
may, have a fixed voltage, fluctuations may be expected in the
oscillatory circuit of considerably
more than this value.
The A.T.I., the second component in the oscillatory circuit,
has been described before, but it

:-

Vz
C2
01

IL2

0
=-E
Fig. 3.-Method of adding oscillator with choke control.

Walla

Wireless Weekly
a Mau a
Bala a

October I, 1924

October 1, 1924

at

a a

a a

a a

may be mentioned that, although

the anode tap on the A.T.I. is not
essential to efficient working, yet
it is a decided advantage where
efficiency,
of
measurements
aerial current, etc., are to be
made.
The high-tension side of the
plate circuit is usually the bte
noir of the amateur transmitter.
The choke L4 is designed to
prevent radio -frequency oscillations from leaking back into the
It may conanode supply.
veniently consist of 300 turns of
No. 24 d.s.c. copper wire wound
on an ebonite former 1 in. in
diameter. Tuned rejector chokes
are sometimes used, but are
tricky in operation. The choke
coil must be carefully insulated
Cry

mooe eez

.'

0
ei

An article which will

p.

make especial appeal

to the beginner in radio
transmission.
it; A

mmmmom0

from earth, and also within itself, as a considerable difference

of potential may occur between
the ends of the winding.
If the amateur has access to the
public supply mains, these may
be used' as a source of anode
voltage. If not, a high voltage
battery consisting of large dry
cells or small Leclanch cells is
the only cheap substitute.
Experiments in Morse transmission may be conducted in the
use of a T.V.T. unit worked
from the filament accumulator.
Considerable hum would most
likely be introduced, even if the
supply were rectified and welldesigned filter systems were used.
The condenser C5 (value about
2 F) somewhat smooths out the
supply, and is an aid to efficient
operation.

Malian

a
729

37 L e

S A m e

md

As it is placed directly across

the anode supply, its insulation
must be carefully attended to.
Lamps may be placed in series.
with this capacity to prevent
damage by a " short."
The Grid Circuit
The part of the transmitter,
C4, RI, C3, L2, although the
easiest in construction, will cause
the greatest difficulty in opera-

The grid coil L2 may consist of

50 turns of No. 20 d.s.c. wire
on a 3 -in, diameter former, and
the coupling between it and Li
may be varied by sliding (after
the principle of the loose -coupler)
o: by rotation, as in a variomter.
This latter method is conducive
to the best results.
The variable capacity C3 (maximum value 0.0005 F) is not
essential, but it greatly facilitates
control of oscillation.
The grid condenser and leak
(C4, RI) need careful alteration
'efore best results are obtained.
For this purpose C4 should be
variable (maximum 0.001 F),
and RI may consist of a variable
water resistance; the usual variable grid leaks used in receiving
circuits could not stand up to the
current, and variable wire-wound,
are
grid -leaks
non -inductive
rather costly.
A little careful experimenting
with values for C4 and RI will
greatly improve efficiency, and
generally the highest values give
Lest results.
Filament Circuit and Valve
The values for low-tension and
filament supplies depend on the
type of valve in use. For very

a a

a
a-

.234.

tion.

Fig. 4.-Grid control method of

modulation, using a microphone
transformer.

a a

a
a
a

a
s

a
a

fo

Wireless Weekly
low powers, a hard R valve with
6 yolts on the filament and 200

on the anode will yield surprising

results, but the life of the valve
is seriously shortened.

There are many suitable types

transmitting
of lower -power
valves on the market with .fourprong fittings, and there is little
to- choose between the diffe'rent
.

The Telephony Absorption

Circuit
The original transmitter Jrom
which these data are derived was
des fined solely for the purpose of
experimenting in values for components and measurements of
efficiency, aerial and anode current, etc., and so a telephony
modulating device was scarcely
necessary.
The simplest type of control,
i.e., aerial absorption control,
was fitted, but is used only on
rare occasions, most work being
done on a non -radiating aerial.
The microphone M is the
standard G.P.O. solid back type,
and the absorbing inductance
consists of 15. turns of- No: 22

October
d.c,,c. copper wire on a 3 -in. dia-

meter former, coupled loosely to

the end of the tuning' inductance

Lt..

If the amateur is more ambitiously inclined he may add the

modulating, unit shown in Fig. 3
or use the grid control system
as shown in Fig. 4

Plugs and Jacks

ONLY a few constructors
nowadays make much use
of plugs and jacks, though
these provide the most convenient
way of varying circuits, cutting
out valves at will, and so on.
Excellent jacks can be obtained
from those who deal in disposal
goods, and one firm has recently
put on the market a simple little
contrivance specially made for
wireless use. This consists of a
round base of about the same
diameter as a penny, provided
with two terminals afrd two
socket holes. When the plug is
not inserted the spring contacts
come firmly together and there

1,

I924

,
:
.,:,
. `.

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

t
` zrt.'
. \2i...i.a-

Many amateurs will wish to

carry out experiments and tests
in efficiency rather than to burn
out the ammeter with badly distorted telephony, and these members of the " ether -shaking
community will find the data
given in Part II of this article
especially interesting.

,,,e,e

`;.

yt

..

;:;:.a.

C,ti.\u

i e:i

eni.

\,\

t
\??:\;
-,.t.x-..,.:.,`
\`
\
;.
t.i;
:`
att\\;
suUiZtiWZ.IZaUw.i;u\\a\..iS\.. ,
.

straight through from

terminal to terminal. As the

plug is pushed home its points
force the contacts apart so that
current now passes through the
leads attached to it. Though its
uses are many I do not quite
agree with the makers who
recommend it as an automatic
earthing device for the aerial..
The idea is that when the plug is
pulled out the aerial earths itself
and there is then no need to
worry. This is all very well, but
when the plug is inserted the
contacts are only. -very short
distance apart, and there is an
undesirable capacity between
them which is likely to result in
a loss in signal strength and to
make the tuning rather flat.

,.:

FOR high -frequency amplification over 1,000 metres there

is nothing
to beat the resistance coupling method. It brings in distant
stations easily and clearly and requires absolutely no tuning
at all. The Peto-Scott Multi -wave Amplifier, introduced just over a
year ago, has been the most successful amplifier of its kind, and with
the opening of 5 X X at Chelmsford there is even a greater demand for it.
If your set has a stage of H.F. amplification just plug in the Multi -wave
Amplifier in place of the ordinary H.F. Transformer. Immediately
your Set (using the correct Aerial Inductance, of course) is available
for all Stations above 1,000 metres. Without further expense all such
stations as Chelmsford, Radiola, Eiffel Tower, Berlin, and all other
Continental Broadcasting Stations on the high -wave band come within
your reach.
The Multi -wave is made in two types. No. for use where one stage
of H.F. amplification, and No. 2 for use where two stages (or more
are used). In such cases, No. is always used after the last H.F. Valve
as a coupling between that valve and the Detector Valve.
Remember, every Multi -wave is fully guaranteed to give you perfect
satisfaction. It is a Peto -Scott exclusive design, produced entirely
in our own works and manufactured from the highest grade of ebonite.
In future, do not fuss with a number of transformers to cover a wide
band of wave lengths, but invest in a Multi -wave which is guaranteed
to function equally well over all wave -lengths between 1,000 metres
and 26,000 metres.

ForaNwove lenqths overllHlO

`9LT1 WAV

AMPLIFIER
Used in the "P.W."

24 -Valve

Set

The wonderful 24 -Valve Set just used in

an attempt to receive Mars by the

of

A COMMERCIAL TYPE VALVE STATION.

ti\zi?
?
\2,::<

is a path

Vii

ET Send for a copy of Peto .L Scott's large Catalogue of

Wireless Components and note

how much you will save by
dealing with one of the oldest
firms in the Radio Industry.
Price 3d., complete with unit
Folder, Unette pamphlet and

other literature.

POPULAR WIRELESS
Editorial Staff
This
used _Multi - wave amplifiers.
Receiver is now on view at Seifridg s
In " P.W. "
in Oxford Street, W.
issue of Sept. 6th, the Editor said, in
reference to the 24 -Valve' Set : " Preliminary experiments proved disappointing; but when we substituted resistance
Transformers for aperiodic
Coupled
Transformers and embodied one or two
new ideas of Mr. Dowding's, the Set
functioned excellently, and it was calculated that we obtained full efficiency from
16 H.F. Valves, which on the whole is a
very excellent average."

No.

8/6

1,

MX-M- "a great

No. 2

12/6

..

L.F.

Transformar

The sound test for a good L.F. Transformer is what the experts say. After all,
a technical man equipped with measuring
instnfrnents and a big experience in the
Radio field is better able to pass a judgment on a Transformer than anyone

To my intense surprise, the Pete Scott actually -gave a -greater- degree of

amplification than the standard Transformer, and that without any kind of dis-

else.
For instance, he would not be unduly
biassed by the small size of the Max Amp.
Read, therefore, what the scientificexpert
on the staff of " Amateur Wireless " said
in his candid report (issue dated October

it is small wonder that an immense numbr

of Max-Amps. are in daily use, giving
complete satisfaction to their owners.

27th, 1923)
" As the severest test of all, the Peto-Scott
and a large and very expensive Transformer,
which is used as a standard for gauging the
performances of others, were connected to a
four -pole two -wag switch. This enabled
either to be thrown into action in a moment,
so that their performances could be properly

The compactness of a modern valve transmitting station is well illustrated in the above photograph
showing a combined wireless telegraph and telephone station. Only the tuning and transmitting
controls are exposed. (Photo. Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd.)

730

little 'Transformer"

Head Offices,
Mail Order Dept.
and Showrooms:

compared.

tortion or harshness."

After such an unsolicited expert opinion

Remember every Max -Amp. is fully

guaranteed for one year. If at any time
during that period it fails to give the fullest
satisfaction, you may return it to us for
replacement with a new one or your money
will be refunded in full.
Its standard ratio is 5 to 1, but a Unidyne
type is sold with a ratio of 10 to 1. Both
are sold atthe same price in coloured sealed
cartons.

18/6

PETO -SCOTT Co., Ltd.

77 CITY ROAD

LONDON, E.C.Y.
It will pay you always

to watch

-62 High Holborn, W.C.I.

Branches: LONDON
WALTHAMSTOW-230, Wood Street.
CARDIFF-94Queen Street.
of England Place.
PLYLYMOUOUTHH-4

I3anli

LIVERPOOL -4, Manchester Street.

WIRELESS WEEKLY

Advertisements.

Gilbert Ad. 1489

Viii

WIRELESS WEEKLY

ADVERTISEMENTS

OCTOBER IST,

194

October

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

OG -0

.,

THAT NEW SET

This Map shows the
effective working areas

Before buying any components, get our

quotation for parts and cabinets for any
of the receivers described in " Wireless
Weekly " or " Modern Wireless."

of the Crystavox-the
only Loud Speaker in
the world capable of

operating direct from a

Crystal Receiver. If you
live within any of the
circles-and if your
Crystal Set will respond
to the simple test described below-you can
use a Crystavox Loud
Speaker.

best vernier adjuster, 2/6, post free.

be the

" RADIOHM " BUS BAR e th tinned,

square copper wiring rod, as used on many
" Wireless Weekly" sets, 2/- per dozen,
2 ft. lengths with tags, postage 3d.
" RADIOHM "

COPPER STRIP makes a

most efficient aerial, 3/- per roo ft., postage

5d.
FLUSH

PANEL

MOUNTING

COIL

SOCKETS and plugs, also valve sockets

8d. per set, post free.

SPARKS RADIO SUPPLIES,

43, Gt. Portland Street, London, W.1.

Telephone : I,angham 2463.

EL -BE .U7TILITIES

The "IViIKRA iJllt "

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SIMPLE S& CERTAIN

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,,.,:

12/6

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Telephone: MUSEUM 4192.

SPENCER'S STORES
4-5, Mason's Avenue,

Basinghall Street, London, E.C.2.

HOSE fortunately living within easy range of a

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Telephone

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}KEN ITE
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Highest Dielectric Strength,

6' x

6"

/-, post free.

VALVES
WITH NEW BULBS
AND FILAMENT.

Nothing more to buy-compare it with a Valve

Set with the constant replacement of valves,
accumulators to be recharged, and the uncertainty
as to whether it will break down at the critical
moment. But every Crystal Set won't work a
Crystavox-they differ considerably in sensitiveness and local conditions vary, too. Apply this
test : hold the phones I2 inches from the earsif signals can still be heard then the Crystavox can
be relied upon to fill the whole room with its
delightfully mellow tone.

Any size pro rata.

REPAIRED

cV / 6 POST FREE

--

BRITISH PHONES 17/6

WORTH

re
1

25/-.

ILT. BATTERY,
65 volt. - 10/4
Ebonite

-Sway
-

.7

COIL HOLDERS,
3 way
- 5/6.
- - 5/6.

Best finish.
_
Crystal Detectors, 1/43 A 2/,
Bargain List Free.
EONS WIRELESS, 7, Featherstone Braidings,
f

HOL BORN, W.C.2.

RADIO PRESS INFORMATION DEPT.

If you would know more about its capabilities ask

your dealer for a free copy of a new Crystavox
Folder, or if his supply is exhausted, we will send
you one direct.

S. O. BROWN Ltd. -Victoria Rd.,

N. Acton, W.3

It will pay you always to watch

2/6

WIRELESS WE EKLY.
Vol. 4. No. 22. Oct. 1, 1924.
(This coupon must be accompanied by
a postal order of 2/6 for each geestion
and a stamped addressed envelope.)

Gilbert Ad. 1513

WIRELI'ISS WEEKLY

QUERY
COUPON

Advertisements.

e e-

e-

aa-.?ru-. 2- m e

inefficiency of this mode of

coupling. In the D.E. 5 B. this
ratio is
high amplification
attained by the design and
arrangement of the electrodes, a
fine -meshed grid being used, and
this being mounted close to the
filament, so giving a close control of the electron stream. It
is a fairly large valve, and has a
large flattened box-like anode,
and a looped filament supported
at the centre of the loop, the
fine -mesh grid being also rigidly
held, the whole forming a stiff
and mechanical -looking structure.
The bulb is only partly obscured
by the metallic mirror -film which
has become customary in valves.
It is not noticeably microphonic
in use.

Characteristics
On determining the characteristics, it was noted that at the
rated filament voltage the filament required .35 amperes, the
nominal rating being .22 amperes
A fair emission was
5 volts.
recorded at 4.5 volts and .32
amperes; but the curves were
taken at the former rate.
Saturation was not reached with
120 volts H.T. with 14 volts or
more of positive grid -potential.
The anode voltage specified by

the makers, too to 120 volts, %vas

used in the test. It was noticed
that at both too and 120 volts
plate -potential the characteristic
gave a long straight portion to
the right of the zero -grid volts
line, but comparatively short and
tending to curve slightly on the
left of that line. Hence, at this
value of H.T. there is not a great
deal of room for grid -voltage
(i.e., signal -voltage) swing of

-12 -10

j
o

In view of the great interest being shown in these new valves, we publish below our test report,
together with some interesting characteristic curves.
OOdJ000+ c O e O O r'
ocoooooo'r'o

ASPECIMEN of the new

Marconi Osram D. E: 5 B.
valve, a dull -emitter valve
of the type which is best
operated in conjunction with a
six -volt accumulator, has been
submitted to an extensive test by
members of the " Radio Press "
staff.
This valve is more particularly
designed for use in low -frequency amplifiers of the resistance -capacity coupled type. For
this purpose, as there is no buildup of signal -voltage through the
use of a step-up transformer, a
high (theoretical) voltage amplification ratio is desirable in the
valve, in order to compensate in
some measure for the inherent

a--$.

Valve

5 B.

By A. D. COWPER, M.Sc., Staff Editor.

OUR SPECIAL LINES

" FYN ETUN E." Admitted by all to

<cc--C-c

With the value of H.T. and

anode resistance specified (loo to
120 volts and Ioo,000 ohms respectively), the valve was tried,
in comparison with a standard
R valve of fairly high amplification -ratio, and following another
R valve as rectifier ; in comparison, qualitatively from the point
of view of tone and fidelity and
quantitatively by actual measurement of the audio -signal voltages
/20 YVLTS

O +2 *4 *6 *8 -i0
GR/0 VOLTS
Characteristic curves of the D.E. 5 B. valve.

-8

-2

any magnitude, and any grid bias applied must be limited

In practical trial
accordingly.
this was confirmed, only some
1.4 to 3 volts grid -bias being
needed, and signs of rectification
becoming noticeable if really
strong signals were applied
through the medium of an
transformer
step-up
efficient
Evidently a substancoupling.
tially higher value of H.T.
supply should be available if the
valve is to be used to amplify
signals which are already of some

strength.

731

obtained across the phones-with

several L.F. transformers and a
A
coupling.
choke -capacity
marked increase of signal
strength was noted over the
standard R valve in all cases,
most noticeably in the case of
resistance - capacity coupling.
With a coupling condenser of
approximately .ot F capacity
and a grid -leak of .5 f) to the
L.T. minus, better signals resulted with a 7o,000 ohm anode
resistance in the place of the
Ioo,000 ohm anode resistance,
and reaction was easier to obtain.

Wireless WeeKly
Tone
The tone was pure and free
from distortion, though, of course,
the amplification could not compare with that obtained, together with excellent quality,
when a good L.F. transformer
was used. The deflection of the
microammeter recording the
signal strength obtained, with a
certain steady medium audio frequency signal applied directly
to the grid of an R valve and
amplified in one L.F. stage with
this valve, was actually three
times as great with the transformer coupling as with the resistance capacity under the conditions named, though the latter
was considerably higher than
explicitly
not
with valves
designed for this work.
Amplification Factor
With the high amplification
factor, which came out (at a
mean value between too and 120
volts H.T.) of approximately 13,
and the comparatively low A.C.
impedance in the region of
21,000 ohms, it was to be expected that the valve would oscillate with great ease when used
in high -frequency circuits. This
was confirmed when the valve
was tested as a detector in an
efficient single -valve receiver circuit. With 90 volts H.T. (which
appeared to be a favourable
value, giving none of the usual
signs of distress of an overloaded
detector valve), and with a small
series condenser, most excellent
reception was obtained, a No. 35
coil sufficing for reaction over the
usual B.B.C. wavelength range,
or a plate reaction variometer
when some distance off the point
of resonance. A plate current of
about 2 milliamperes was recorded ; under these circumstances 2L0 came in at moderate
loud -speaker strength on a by no
means ideal or high aerial at 35
miles on the single valve.
Oscillation
On account of the great ease
of oscillation and the appreciable
internal capacity (which is the
price of a high amplification ratio combined with a low impedance, the valve is not suitable
for H.F. amplification on the
shorter waves, though, of course,
for long waves, which approximate mare closely to L.F. conditions, it can be used.
For resistance -capacity amplifi-

October I, 1924
cation of signals which are not
of great intensity already, for
loud signals in a single -valve
receiver, and particularly for an

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

11{

efficient first -stage L.F. amplifier with transformer coupling,

this D.E. 5 B valve evidently has

great possibilities.

A Long - Felt Want

IHAVE always thought it
rather curious that so very

few ready-made sets are

fitted either with a fixed grid biasing battery for the note -mag-

nifying valves or with terminals

to which such a battery may be
The aim of makers
attached.
who turn out sets of this kind is
very largely to make them as
simple as passible, but it does
not seem to me that the inclusion
within the cabinet of a small battery which would last for six
months or more could add anything to the difficulties faced by
the absolute tyro, and it is quite
certain that a suitable grid -bias
This
does improve reception.
introduces another point. Why
does not some enterprising maker
of dry batteries turn out something really suitable for grid At present
biasing purposes?
we have nothing between the
flashlamp refill and the small
high-tension battery with a maxiWhat is
mum voltage of 36.
needed is something with a maximum voltage of about 15 tapped

at every 14, volts. The battery

could be quite a small thing, for
since the current taken from it is
almost infinitesimal, very small
cells will stand up well to the
work. One can, of course, place
two or three flashlamp refills in
a specially made case and take
tappings at every t 2 volts ; but
it is rather a nuisance to have to
do this, and now that the usefulness of the grid -biasing battery
is so generally realised, one feels
that there would be a very ready
sale for the suggested i 5 -volt
unit. It might even be better to
make, say, 9 -volt units, for there
are few valves which require a
much higher grid potential than
this with anode voltages up to
too. If this were done, two of
the tapped batteries could always
be wired in series when higher
I am
voltages were required.
quite sure that many more people
would make use of grid batteries
if only there was some simple
trouble -saving device of this kind
readily available.
M. U. P.

r=1

1111110NB1111110\e,

.-

I: i 6n Ey
i+r=7`
1
n

I\S

111

11

Iq

u111P11

IG,.

i ll

.,

..

mll

M7,d"I

ll I-LLiIIIIII
Illllllllllg!'Apluummnll,nliulllmlu

1u.1i,.

!iIIII11Ii IIl110

57. 58 . 59 -up/
THE Seconds tick by in the silent chart room

and down in the Southern Pacific the navigator

shapes his course by the unfailing accuracy of
his chronometer.
How would he fare if his shipowners had tried to
economise by installing cheap alarm clocks in place
of chronometers ?
And yet frequently enough we find instances of
people getting inferior results from their wireless
sets because they have attempted to economise on
condensers.
There is no economy in this really, because sooner
or later they have to take out the " just as
good " and substitute an article of sound
manufacture.
We do not say that all cheap condensers are
necessarily bad ; you may be lucky and get a good
one, but if you buy a Dubilier you bet on a
certainty-you get a good one every time.

Naturally if we are to maintain such a high standard

our products must be slightly more expensive than
those which carry no guarantee, but we arc
convinced that in the interests of true economy
you should specify Dubilier.

DUBILIER
CONDENSER CO (1921) LTD

Advt. of the Dubilier Condenser Co. (1921), Lid., Dacca Works,

Goldhag/ Road, London, W.12.

The utility and appreciation of wireless in hospitals is demonstrated

by the above photograph which shows patients listening -in.
732

E.P.S.

It

will pay you always to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

71,

`FIRELESS WEEKLY

ADVERTISEMENTS

OCTOBER IST, 1924

October

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

Bench Tools
M,ae orte

TWO, THREE & FOUR -VALVE

1449,1u.setd..Negad.

RECEIVING SETS

n.teaumAuted. sotins.

IF

0) JatveJ,
-'aM cc -ga.d, eo+t.btat,t.a.

.1ct,tvaJew

ct24,2ea4g. o

eb.. iwx,hee-

1-e,

ot

,ia?./co *fob

Leut

nunr

hrbize.

20 Lt.,

of

Are Simply Perfect and Perfectly Simple, and are unsurpassed for Selectivity,
Clearness of Reception and Power.
REVISED PRICES :

em.A.s.t:f.

COMPLETE SETS.

ert.1314VA,t. a-:. etI

'Kola

tatd.w.
il.on++.rt+4.

ito

""(NPI. L/
eGr2- m.ial.e
hil,q,t.o_elo'b N.::o we-Lee(I

tri

Write for Illustrated Catalogue.

A. J. STEVENS & Co. (1914) Ltd.,

.40

Ona.

-Pa

la.tttt,.ea,

,II

SC

WIRELESS BRANCH,

an.

Telephone

WOLVERHAMPTON.

Wireless Call Sign :

1550 (3 lines).

a.e2

.. 't

PANELS ONLY.

Two -Valve Set .. 17 : 10 : 0

Two -Valve Panel .. 12 i 0 : 0
Three-Valve Set .. 22 : 5 : 0
Three -Valve Panel .. 15 : 17 : 6
Four -Valve Set .. 27 : 5 : 0
Four -Valve Panel .. 20 : 5 : 0
Complete Sets consist of Panel, as illustrated, Valves, Head Phones, High and
Low Tension Batteries, Aerial Wire, Insulators, Lead-in -Tube, eta.
The LIST Price of the A.J.S. Sets is the LAST Price, as with them it is not
necessary to purchase numerous extras, the Specification embodying everything
ready for installation, and the prices include all Royalties.

aoiv.an.,r da1.vL tt,t,..x.ted.

Ya.Piec.

Telegrams

" Reception, Wolverhampton."

R.I.

tytP.o,aa,er 3f-iu,ttaiww

A DION
LOW

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

VALV ES

CONSUMPTION

eind ample enjoyment!

BUY

for all purposes.

ONLY

GOODS

USE

We introduced, and have adopted as our standard,

the flat type of fixed condenser which slips into
two clips. They are made of high-grade virgin
amber mica and tinfoil.
Connection is made
by their solid metal ends to two spring clips.
This type is a distinct advance in the design of
the fixed value condenser its utility and adaptability are at once obvious and appeal to all users.

ONLY

THOSE MARKED

Very high anode voltages can be applied for

loud-speaker work and
with excellent results.
Economical to buy.
Economicalto run.
Perfectly pure

tone.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIH

CONDENSERS

BRITISH

AND

Appropriately filling the gap between

" dull " and " bright ' emitters, Radion
Valves fill a long -felt need.
Take only .25 amp at 4 volts.
Anode 30-90.

Visit our Stand

at

WEMBLEY,
Palace of
Engineering

VALVE REPAIRS.

Each supplied with two clips.

PRICES : 0.001 its F to 0.0301 F 1/4 each
0.01 F to 0.002 F 2/. each

Avenue 13,
Bay 13.

(Most Makes)
Valets repaired by us are, guaranteed:-(1) Not to
consume more current. (2) To have the same amplific-iron. (3) To give the same radiation.
Ordinary types. Price (post extra)
No extra charge for n -w Glass or new Cap, or for both
if needed. Ask for particulars of other types.

....

uuw

6/6

Complete
Catalogue,
profusely

illustrated,
Poet Free

From your dealer or direct.

RADIONS LTD., BOLLINGTON, MACCLESFIELD.

1/'

VISIT STAND No. 75,

All-British Wireless Exhibition.

Lire-WIC

IN

CONJUNCTION W TH

LTD
B.HESKETH

LTD

Wireless Engineers,

RADIO CORNER, 179, Strand, London, W.C.2.

m

Barolay's 113.

It will pay you always

I were asked what was the

most useful mechanical contrivance that the wireless constructor can install in his workshop I should have no hesitation
in naming the bench drill. The
hand drill is a m_ Ost useful little
appliance, and even if you
possess a 'bench 'drill, it should
not be discarded, for there are
many pieces of work in difficult
corners which cati be chine by it
alone. But the hand drill has
To begin
certain drawbacks.
with, it is most difficult to make
sure that all the holes drilled are
perfectly vertical. Again, if yu
have to make large holes such as
those in. in diameter for the
bushes of condensers, selector
switches and so on, it is not at
all an easy matter to avoid
making them oval instead of
round, since there is naturally a
slight swaying movement of the
hand that holds the top of the
drill ; and drilling a hole of this
size, even through 4 in. ebonite,
is pretty hard work.
With a
bench drill the work becomes
very much easier.
The bench drill is by no means
Mine
an expensive appliance.
cost exactly 3 I2S. 6d., which
included an excellent vice and
three most useful centres. The
choice of the drill is not at all an
easy matter, for nearly every
type has some drawback from
the wireless constructor's point
of view. What he wants is a
machine which will take drills up
to e in. and which will allow
holes to be drilled at least 4 in.
from the edge of the material.
Now, there, are a great many
bench drills which will not take
a in. drill even though they
may be stated by the makers to
do so. The jaws of the chuck
will expand sufficiently wide to
grasp the drill, but in many cases
the distance between the table
and the drill when at its highest is
too small to allow the drill to be
inserted. Drills of this diameter
are all of one standard length,
and short ones can be obtained
for some curious reason only in
Make quite
complete sets.
sure, therefore, that the machine
which you select is capable of

to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

taking a fin. drill by seeing one

actually inserted. Be sure, too,
that the distance between the upright member and the centre of

the table is sufficient to allow

holes to be drilled at least 4 in.
from the edge of the material.
The next point to 'consider is
the question of the feed. There
are three kinds of feed lever,
automatic and hand.
In the
first of these there is a metal
bar fixed to the top of the frame

would really require at. least halfa dozen different speeds for the
automatic feed. There remains
the hand feed.
In machines
fitted with this movement the
spindle is pressed downwards by
means of a screw at whose head
is a wheel that the left hand
actuates. Though not nearly so
handy as the lever feed is, it is
probably the best type for the
amateur, since drills so fitted can
be regulated to a nicety.
The Drill Table.
The drill table should be of
good size, and it is desirable that
it should have a hole right
through its middle. It. should
also be provided with suitable
attachments for a drill vice.
.

Illustrating a typical bench drill, a useful-vice and centres.

and to the rod engaging with
The
the spindle of the drill.
right hand _. works the crank
handle and the left presses the
drill down by means of the lever.

For fine work this

is probably
the best of all feeds, since one
can regulate the pressure applied
Unfortunately,
to a nicety.
there are few machines with this
type of feed which will both take
a fin. drill and allow 'holes to be
made at a sufficient distance
from the edge of the work. In
machines of the automatic feed
each revolution of 'the crank
handle gives a partial turn to the
Two speeds are
feed screw.
generally provided, but as drills
- are designed as a- rule for metal
work, neither is very suitable for
Further, if
drilling ebonite.
various drills between 4 B.A.
tapping and in. are used, one

733

With a bench drill and a good

vice one can do quite a number
of jobs that are really not the
function of the drill at all. For
instance, if an end -milling tool
in, in diameter is purchased,
grooves can be cut in ebonite to
take bare wires.
Again, the
bench drill can be used quite
effectively for small turning jobs
if a pointed centre is provided.
Work is gripped in the drill
chuck, its lower end being punch marked and rested upon the point
of the centre. Then by placing
the tool in the vice one can
accomplish respectable turning.
Small round parts which are
slightly oversize can be run down
quite easily by placing them in
the drill chuck and using either
a file or a piece of emery paper.
W. H. R.

Wireless Weekly

October r, 1924

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

Xi

,
.a..............\

AN ANTI -FRICTION COIL_

HOLDER
SIR,-Those who use home-made
inductance coils will have found that
for the larger sizes -400 and upwards
-the ordinary coil -holders are no
use when it is required to have coils
movable in a vertical plane. The
majority of coil -holders depend on
friction (spring washer) to hold the
The
moving coil in position.
weight of the larger home-made
coils combined with the distance of
the centre of gravity of the coil
from the axis of the holder overcomes this friction when the coil
is a few degrees out of the vertical.
Geared movement even is not sufficient, unless so tightly coupled that
the adjustment is jerky.
The accompanying sketches and
photograph illustrate a home-made
holder in which the movement is
obtained by a Meccano worm and
24 tooth pinion, the pinion being
turned down until the width of the
teeth is t- in. only. This allows of
close gearing between the worm and
pinion and gives a very smooth and

..The worm is carried on a piece of

;the same brass rod as used for the

pinion shaft.
The worm shaft
works in two bearings. In the case
illustrated these consist of one
plain flat piece of 3-16 in. brass and
one angle piece of the same thickness. -These are each attached to
the side of the frame. by two cheese head No. 6 B.A. screws. The holes
for the screws in the bearings are
elongated to allow of the bearings
being moved in a vertical direction.
By this means the worm can be
adjusted to gear more or less
tightly with the pinion. The bearings must fit closely against the
ends of the worm, to prevent end
play. In the case illustrated, the
attachment was added after the
complete holder had been made for
friction drive, so packing pieces had
to be used between the bearings and
worm.
The worm shaft has a No. 2 B.A.
thread run on to the free end to
take an ordinary ebonite knob with
milled edge, and a locknut.-Yours
faithfully,
G. DE L. DUDLEY.

Radio -Farts,_ 5XX would appear To

he quite double the strength of the
As your correspondent
foreigner.

The Mullard Radio Valve Co

Ltd. have always endeavoured
to give the highest standard of
production accompanied by
a service that will enable all
wireless enthusiasts to obtain
perfect reception.
The enclosed safety disc will
save all valve users time and
money. These discs can
only be obtained from The
Mullard Radio Valve Co Ltd.

states, the modulation is perhaps not

so good as that of the other main
stations, but taking into consideration the large power being handled

'

\..

The coil -holder suggested by

Mr. Dudley, mounted upon a set.
great credit is due to the B.B.C.
and, incidently, Capt. P. P. Eckersley.

D. V. BRIGGS, A.M.I.Rad.E.

Pontypridd.

WBZ

SIR,-With reference to Messrs.

.

R. G. Smith's enquiry about

the American station WBD (?), Boston, I beg to enclose a letter received
D.

&

from

e
_g

the

Westinghouse

Electric

Co. in reply to a complaint made

m
-D

m
sic 7,1

Diagrammatical sketch of the coil-holder.

RECEIVING 5XX
critical (equivalent to micrometer)
movement of the coil, with no
SIR,-With reference to your
backlash. The illustrations are self- reader's letters regarding the new
explanatory, but for those who may station, 5XX. This station can be
wish for details the following is a received here (although situated bebrief description.
tween two ranges of Welsh mounThe shaft carrying the pinion tains) consistently at " good " loudpasses through the moving. coil - speaker
strength,
interpreting
holder and side pieces of the frame
good that music and speech can
and is of brass rod turned down at be heard with perfect clearness in
one end to fit the hole in the pinion the hall, even when the receiving
(or this sized rod may be used
room, door is closed.
The actual
throughout). To fix the shaft in the signal strength is approximately i5
holder a No. 8 B.A. screw is passed per cent. of that of our local staright through from front to back of tion, 5WA (12 miles distant).
the holder and the axis of the
The B.B.C. have, without a
shaft. Two grub screws were first doubt achieved their object, and to
used for this purpose, but they had myself the new station is an excelto be screwed up so tight to hold up
lent standby when the local station's
against the weight of the coils that programme is not to my liking.
the ebonite broke away.
Comparing signal strength with
734

regarding the announcement of their

call sign. I could only distinguish
" WBZee " after being pronounced
about six
times
(loud-speaker
strength).
WBZ is not very difficult to tunein when conditions are suitable, and
is equal in strength to WGY, New
York, on some occasions.
The station below WBZ's wave
may be KDKA on 326 metres, not
so strong as the above arid generally
a little distorted, or KGO on 312
metres. I have heard dance music
from KGO, but never from KDKA,
although they may hve transmitted
such.-Yours faithfully.
NORMAN HARVEY.

Thornton Heath.

DEAR MR. HARVEY,-It is with

pleasure that we enrol you as one
of the distant listeners to our radio
broadcast programmes, and we wish
to thank you for your letter of
April 14, commenting on the programme we broadcast on Saturday,
-

April 12.

WBZ is owned and operated by

the Westinghouse Electric and
Manufacturing Co. at Springfield,

ULLARD SAFETY DISC

for Mullard Master Valves
To prevent filament burn out
by H. 7. Battery short circuit.

THE

....... ... ... .,..a........,..i.....

T here is a

'd

-VALVE

Strip linen from back. Press

adhesive surface firmly to
the face of the Valve holder,
taking care that holes in disc
correspond with holes in
holder.
PATENT APPLIED

FOR.

........................:r

Gift for you at Stand 52

THE MULLARD SERVICE for wireless valve users has always endeavoured to ensure perfect broadcasting reception, not only by Master design and workmanship in their productions, but also in reliable
and useful information. This policy has been met with sincere appreciation by thousands of satisfied
wireless amateurs all over the world. Here is another token of the Mullard Service.
An envelope will be given to all visitors to Stand 52 at the Wireless Exhibition in which will be found a
Mullard SAFETY DISC. You will find out all about this disc when you receive the gift envelope.
Come early. Only a limited number of these patented safety discs are available for distribution, and they
can only be obtained from The Mullard Radio,Valve Co., Ltd.
Those who are unable to attend the Exhibition should apply to their Wireless Dealers, to whom a supply of
Mullard SAFETY DISCS will be given for distribution.
The Master achievement of 1924 is undoubtedly the production of Mullard H.F. and L.F. Master Valves.
In the field of general purpose bright filament valves they stand alone for giant strength, giant results and
giant life. You will be astounded by the tests they will undergo at the Wireless Exhibition, and you will
be delighted with the splendid results they will give you during a long life.
.

REMEMBER Stand 52
i volt ORA & D.F. ORA Valves are now reduced to 25/-

Mullard

MOLLARD WECO,

THE MASTER. VAL VE

The Mullard Radio Valve Co., Ltd. (W.W.), Nightingale Works, Nightingale Lane, Balboni, S.W.12.

British Empire Exhibition,

Palace of Engineering,

It will pay you always to watch

Avenue 14

WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

--

Bay 13

'di

WIRELESS WEEKLY

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

Wireless Weekly

October I, 1924
Mass., and we broadcast each
ing between the hours of 5
1o.3 p.m. Eastern standard
which is five hours slower
Greenwich mean time, on a
length of 337 metres, or 8go
cycles

frequency.

and
time,
than
wave
kilo-

We shall , be pleased to receive

your comments on any of our future
programmes which you may pick
up.-Yours very truly,

A. S. EISENMANN.

Radio Station WBZ.

A.C. MAINS FOR FILAMENT

HEATING

SIR,-I have just read with great

ete

Table Talker
Trade Mark

Original in the real beauty of its

performance, original in its ingenious
construction, original in its remarkable
price. The horn is so contrived that every
note registered is encompassed and emitted
with absolute purity--there is no discordant
The full -toned
echo from its walls.
is
consistent with
of
reproduction
accuracy
the mellow note which is the chief characteristic of the famous Brandes Superior
" Matched Tone" Radio Headphones.
The horn is matched to the unit so that
the air resistance produced will exactly
balance the mechanical power of the
diaphragm. It has a self-adjusting diaphragm, is twenty-one inches high, with a
l0 -inch bell and felt -covered base. Simple
lines and a neutral brown finish make it a
tasteful and effective addition to your set.

All Brandes products are

obtainable from any reputable
dealer and carry our official
money -back guarantee, enabling you to return them
within xo days if dissatisfied.

interest Mr. Fox's article in your

August- 13 issue on using the A.C.
mains for filament heating.
To my. mind, far too little use is

made of the mains, and in the many

places where the supply is direct and
of a useful voltage, viz., 230, or
thereabouts, the requisite filter can
be made up much cheaper than purchasing an H.T. r2o volt battery
suitable for running one or two
power valves. With unlimited plate
current at a high voltage and resistance capacity coupling a really fine
job can be made of the loud-speaking
end of the business. The current
cost is negligible.
Users of dull emitter valves are
usually cautioned (and rightly so)

42/-

'i

..

:k.ri`

1.

.0005 variable condenser.

S -.W.9.

A NOVEL LOADING COIL

enclose herewith circuit
diagram and sketch of a loading
coil and fixed condenser in the form
of a plug-in coil suitable to tune a
crystal set with variometer which
SIR,

With this set 2L0 came in, though

very faint, and in changing over to
my regular set I detached the earth,

-I
-

By reason of the exceedingly low current consumption of the B.T.H. B.5 valve, a
less than half the current taken by one "R"
as a de ector, H.F. or L.F. -amplifier, and better
than many valves designed for use in any one of these positions.

Filament Current ... ...

Filament Vol's ... ... ..
Anode Volts

...

...

0.06 amps.
3 es 'Is
... 21-80 volts

New Price 25/ -

Obtainable from all Electricians and Radio Dealers.

The British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd

Works: Coventry

7-able ?'alleer'

>
oar .,.

A READER'S EXPERIENCE
SIR,-No doubt you will -be
interested to know about a crystal
set I have recently assembled. It
has quite a usual circuit,- made up
with a basket coil, tuned by a

4 -valve set can be worked on

valve. It functions equally weal

Matched T ne"RadioHeadphones
'Then listen with
-.cT.:

As a result of increased demand and correspondingly greater production,

we are able to reduce the price of the B5 Valve from 301- to 25/-.
Needless to say, the characteristics which have made the B5 valve so
widely popular will be retained and, if possible, improved.

Tune with Brandes

Brandes

but instead of this cutting out the

transmission entirely, it made but
very little difference. I then found
that by attaching the earth wire to
the aerial terminal and dispensing
with the aerial altogether, the
strength was somewhat increased.
By connecting the aerial terminal to
a- gas -pipe in the same room as set,
and using this as substitution for
above earth, results were slightly
louder; -compared with normal
results from the- regular set, this
last -strength was little over half as
loud.
The foregoing tests were
carried out in a semi -basement
room. I then took the set to the
top floor, where I connected a gas
earth to aerial terminal as before,
with the result that the strength
was increased to at least that
obtained from the other set.
This is by no means a freak, for
it works any time, and as I have
never read of-a similar occurrence,
I thought perhaps you might like to
know.-Yours faithfully,
R. CYRIL J. CIIAPMAN.

not to exceed the voltages specified

by the makers ; but all the same, I
have run a " B4 " power valve for
14 months on 23o-volt mains, and
to -day it is as good as ever, and is
in use every evening.Many strange statements concerning wireless appear in the daily
Press, and one such in a recent
column struck me. It was to the
effect that the famous "-Neutrodyne " circuit can be used only with
bright valves. Some information on
this point might be welcome to a
great many readers of Wireless
Weekly who, like myself, have tried
this circuit and not made very much
of it. At present I am comforting
myself with the thought that the
three .o6 valves I tried were the
cause of failure.-Yours faithfully,
S. H. MILNE.
Edinburgh.
[Practically all the Neutrodyne
receivers in the U.S. use dull -emitter valves.-ED.]
-

even-

Offices: Cro

n House, Aldwych, London, W.0 2

Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff

Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Middlesborough,
Manchester, Newcastle, Swansea, Sheffield.
Brancher at

All British
Wire! ss Exhibition
Alb rt Hall.

:t#'t'

Stand 41.

222aA
735

Wireless Weekly
already covers wavelengths up to
boo metres to the Chelmsford
Station, 1,600 metres, which may
be of interest to your readers.
it consists of a combination of a
loading coil and fixed condenser
(which reduces the somewhat large
number of turns necessary in the
coil) which can be plugged in in
a moment, avoiding switches, etc.

October i, 1924
ebonite about II in. square is fitted
with the valve legs spaced as for a
valve, so that the " combination
can only be inserted one way into
the sockets corresponding on the
set.
Two legs, 1 and 2, pass

In fitting care should be taken to

fix n the correct order, as it will
be seen that I and 2 valve legs must
be nutted up before the condenser is
fixed, as it comes on top of the

WIRELESS WEEKLY

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

Xiii

The

rl f

K//IBOZ

. /%

IGRANIC

pate

Earthing
Switch

tee'

yyYlli('y"zp`t/e
o1LtZOtl1ZOCll.5G7el1layli

The countersunk screws

nuts.
securing condenser are sunk on the
-outside of the former, and the winding can pass over these, covering

tJf-ULId

CLllLiptitGJ2

will protect both your

home and set. All
metal parts are of

WHEN YOU SHOULD FIT

ample
proportions
and
are heavily
nickel - plated., The
terminals are of a
patented improved
type and carry the
spring switch contacts which ensure
perfect electrical
conductivity.
Mounted on solid
ebony base with three
fixing holes. Price 3/.

The
Z
75 ToPa'
^,oZIJ E'Am.""
`DppER

-3 III

VARIABLE GRID LEAK.

PIXEL, CONDENSER

The loading coil suggested by

A side view of the loading coil.

The plug-in " combination " is

made up of a cardboard former 6- in.
long and 3 in. diameter wound with
iso turns No. 24 enamelled wire in
two sections of 75 turns each.
For convenience the .0003 fixed
condenser may be placed inside, as I
have not found any ill-effects from
this arrangement. A small piece of

them up, thus economising in the

space occupied by the windings.
On referring to the theoretical
circuit diagram, it will be seen that
the action of inserting the " combination " adds a loading coil across
sockets i and 2 and the condenser
across 3 and 4, and it is only necessary to provide a short-circuiting
plug for insertion in I and 2, when

Mr. Forwood.

The circuit arrangement.

through the former and are nutted

on the inside, thus securing the
'base; 3 and 4` need only be secured
to the base itself.
Nos. i and 2 are the two ends of
the coil and 3 and 4 the condenser.

2/6
to .5 Megohms
50,000 to 100,000 Ohms 3/6
Other Resistances to suit
5

incapable of correct functioning

under all conditions.
The ability to vary the difference of
potential between the grid and the
filament controls to a vital degree
the electronic flow to the plate. Incorrect adjustment of the potential
may act as a " stone -wall " to a
great percentage of the electrons.
There is but one definite and positive
method of control-you should fit

any circuit.

Send P.C. for Descriptive Folder.

SEE THE TRADE RARE

ON EVERY GRID LEAK.

BEWARE OF IMITATIONS.

it-Watmel-

ALWAYS.

eteteciedioside

[IMPORTANT NOTICE

oAtfotta

PRACTICALLY
UNBREAKABLE

to

goods of our manufacture bear

this mark. It es your only guarantee.

WATMEL

Swansea.
would like to congratulate you on the wonderful valves which you manufacture. They are the
only distortionless and perfectly made Calves on the
market and they are all and more than you claim
I was testing my one valve set
for them...
between 1 and 2 o'clock in the momine, using a
MYERS valve, when I was surprised to hear
telephony which I discovered to be KDKA, viz.,
Pittsburgh. There is one more thing I wish to soy.
It is tht,-Good luck to MYERS valves, the only
1

perfect radio vacuum tube which does

all that its makers claim for it. H.W.M."

12/6
Universal,
Dry Battery, 21/Plate Voltage,

make a big
difference
tell

you what a difference attention

There may be no need to
to details makes in wireless, but we would bring to your notice ,
these small Igranic Devices which make that difference,
It is
because Igranic craftsmen-both designers and engineers-.
devote such care to details in producing Igranic Components,
that we say " you will build a better set " if you use Igranic
Devices.
Igranic Components include Honeycomb Coils,
Transformers, Vario -Couplers, Biplug Coilholders, Triplug Coil holders, Filament Rheostats, Battery Potentiometers, etc,
They are obtainable of all reputable dealers, and carry a six.
Write us for List Z.248.
months' guarantee.
:

ttADI

(IGIu'IIc)
ELECTRIC Co..Ltd.

WIRELESS CO.

.iz

VICE

149, Queen Victoria St., London.

Works

'Phone: CLERKENWELL 7990.

volts '6 amp.

2i volts '25 amp.

GLASGOW,

MANCHESTER,

Elstow Rd., BEDFORD.

Branches

BIRMINGHAM,

BRADFORD,

NEWCASTLE,

CARDIFF.

volts.

LONDON-The Dull Emitter Valve Co., 83, Pelham St., South Kensington, S.W.7
(Kensington 3331)
MANCHESTER-R. Davi' & Sons, Victoria Bolt. and Nut Works, Bilberry St.
LIVERPOOL-Apex Electrical Supply Co., 59, Old Hall Street, Liverpool.
GLASGOW-Milligan'sWireless Co., 60, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.
YORKSHIRE-H. Wadsworth Sellers, Standard Building., Leeds.
SOUTHERN COUNTIES-D.E.D.A., 4, Tennis Road, Hove.

Advertisement of Cunningham and Morrison,

Windsor House, Victoria Street, London, S.W.r

By virtue of the
hi g h e ectronic
emission of the
MYERS, it is possible to obtain perfect reception when
using only if volts
on the filament.

LOUD SPEAKERS
TO COILS

REPAIRSTo

REWOUND to any RESISTANCE

MADE EQUAL to NEW.
PRICE QUOTED ON RECEIPT OF INSTRUMENTS.
PROMPT DELIVERY.
Estabblished
26

736

Small devices which

2 volts -300

fits"

`'T1,G.]"

332a, Goswell Road, London, E.C.1.

A typical letter :
"

users of Variable Grid Leaks

The Watmel Wireless Co. wish to notify the trade

and public that their Variable Grid Leak Patent
Application No. 206098 was contested in the Comptroller's Court, and on Appeal ; in both instances
the Patent Grant was upheld and costs awarded.
It is the aim of this Company to protect traders', customers', and also its own interests by securing Patent
protection for the novelties in its specialities, as it is
these novelties, invented by experts and exhaustively
tested, which are the Hall Mark of all Watmel

Valves

This useful accessory

may be fitted to any
tuning device in order
to obtain fine vernier
adjustment. The
mechanism is simple
and robust and there is
nothing to get out of
order. It is designed to
fit f" spindles, but with
a liner will
spindles. Price complete
with liner and 18o
... 6/.
...
scale

but have fitted one since, as without it

the set was unworkable."
J. D. S.
While the ordinary fixed grid leak is
totally
inefficient
not
the constantly
varying strengths of energy which
is applied to the grid render it

The bugbears of H.F. amplification with its uncertainties and infrequent success most certainly
reflects no discredit upon the principle. Inefficient
apparatus plays its paralysing part too well.
The employment of the four -pin valve with
electrode leads bunched in the stem renders
doubtful service-but MYERS with inter -electrode capacity entirely removed make H.F.
work, detection and L.F. amplification reveal
acute sensitivity with purity and power.

THE VERNOB

Extract from a letter published in

Sept. issue of MODERN WIRELESS.
" I was unable to obtain a Watmel
Grid Leak when constructing this set,

Years.

The VARLEY MAGNET COMPANY

Phone: Woolwich888.

WOOLWICH, S.E.18.

It will pay you always

VERNIER
FRICTION PENCIL
Designed for

use with variable condensers, variometers and

similar apparatus to convert the plain instrument into
vernier type.
For fine adjustment the pencil is inserted in
the bush-so that the rubber ring engages with the bevelled
face of the dials-and rotated.
By sliding the clip attachment
towards the brass pin a pencil may be converted into an anti capacity adjuster. Price complete with clip, spare rubber ring
and 3 Bushes ' ...
... ...
-

to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY,

XIY

October

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

it is required to receive the short

wavelengths covered by the vario-

en
fou
VALVES

meter, the condenser being automatically removed.

When wiring up it is advisable to
connect Nos. f and 2 sockets only
temporarily until it is ascertained
which is correct to bring the turns
of the loading coil in the right direction relative to the variometer.
They can then be secured permanently, and the sockets being
arranged as for a valve, it will then
be impossible to fit the " combination " with the coil reversed.
I find this fitting brings in
Chelmsford very well indeed at
about 18 miles, its only fault being
its size, and I intend to make up a
basket coil on the same lines with
condenser and four legs.-Yours
faithfully,
STANLEY

M. FORWOOD.

Loughton.

"RANDOM TECHNICALITIES."
SIR,-As an enthusiastic gramophonist as well as a wireless devotee I am unable to refrain from
making a protest against the state-

10/-

ment

made

by

Mr.

W.

Percy

Harris in your paper under

the heading " Random Technicalities " to the effect that nothing
" can be worse for trade than to
have to demonstrate to likely custo-

itker (Clear
Here is the Trade Mark by
which Louden Valves are known.
l t was chosen because it represents the essential feature of
Louden Valves-Silver Clear
reproduction.

There are very good reasons

why the open spiral anode of
the Louden enables such clear
reception to be obtained, but
the best of good proofs is to
buy one to -day and fit it to
your set.
The plain Louden for
detecting and Low
Frequency Amplify ing.
The Blue Louden for
11.F. Amplification.
Filament Volts 4.8-5.
'Filament Amps o.4.
Anode Volts 4o -to.

OF

THE

LOUD

You may have become so accustomed to the " breathing "

noise of your set that you do
not notice it. When you fit
Louden Valves you will most

SPEAKER

'You hear the'Musician himself

as though actually singing
or playing in your room.

certainly notice its absence.

You will realise why we say
that Louden Valves are Silver
Clear.

Until the advent of the C.A.V. Wireless Loud

Speaker, those "listeners -in" who possessed a
critical musical ear were content to put up with
the inconvenience of headphones in order to
obtain purity of reproduction, the "loud speaker"
to such people being not good enough.

Manufactured
throughout
Great

in

Britain,

are
Loudens
Silver Clear and free
from " mush."
The current consumption is very low
and the life long,
All

ELESS

FELLOWS

REAL THING not an echo or

gramophone effect. With a

before.

120
E.P.S.s.

ADVT.

"

none of our leading companies will

rest satisfied with a recording until
it satisfies the very high standard of
excellence which they have set themselves, and unless the execution of
the particular item is as near perfection as is humanly possible.
I would, therefore, impress upon
Mr. Harris the fact-and it is undoubtedly a fact which he may prove
for himself by visiting any of the
leading companies-that the gramophone de luxe of the present day is
no longer a mechanical contrivance
to be sneered at but a real musical
instrument, whose reproduction can
at any time equal and often surpass
the best that can be obtained from
wireless. So far from real gramophone reproduction acting as a deterrent to prospective wireless customers, Mr. Harris may be interested to learn that many of my
gramophone friends have refused
to take up wireless solely because of
the inferiority of its reproduction as
compared with that which they
obtain from their own instruments.
So far as concerns the wireless
gramophone. concerts, I agree that
they do not show wireless reproduction at its best, but neither do they
by any means do justice to what we
gramophonists expect from our own
instruments, and I suggest that the
solution of the matter is that the
demonstrator at the B.B.C. studio is

From the moment you switch

on you will notice that your
reception is clearer than it was

JLLII
VA

THE

mers a receiver which can only produce as gramophones can," and

that " the potential customer will
obviously remark that it is no better
than a gramophone."
Mr. Harris' knowledge of wireless matters is, of course, undisputed, but I venture to suggest that
when he commences to criticise
gramophone reproduction he is
entering a realm largely unknown
to him, as, were it otherwise, I feel
confident that he would never have
given utterance to the statements
referred to above. The chief gramophone companies have, during the
past few years, made vast strides
towards perfection, and I am quite
prepared also to concede that given
equal artistic ability before the
microphone and the gramophone recorder, supplemented by careful
adjustment of the receiving set in
the one case and proper management
of a really good gramophone in
the other, there may be little to
choose between the results obtained
from either source. This state of
affairs is, however, rarely obtained.
Before the microphone the singer
delivers his song, and it has gone
forth to the world ; he may not have
been in good voice, he may have
made minor mistakes, but there is
no remedy. With the gramophone,
however, the position is entirely different, for one can rest assured that

MAGNETO

CO.,

It will pay you always to watch

LTD.,

PARK

ROYAL,

LONDON,

WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.,

N.W.ro.

112 (Office)

2,000 ohms. 5 Os. Od.

4,000 ohms. 5 10s. Od.

Write now for Illustrated Loud Speaker Folder from

WIRELESS EXHIBITION
ALBERT HALL
STAND No. 83

Stand

ohms. 4 15s. Od.

;..4.

*1(

,v

r.`
. LONDON .W.$
ACTON
J

H.W.

737

Wireless 'Weekly

October I, 1924

not getting the best out of the instrument or that the latter itself is
not up to present-day standard.
I hope you will pardon the length
of this letter, but I also hope that
it may perhaps lead Mr. Harris to
modify his opinion on this subject.
So far as concerns the turning away
of customers, my own experience
goes to show that this is not due to
any lack of quality in the transmissions but rather to the ignorance of
those responsible for wireless demonstrations in our stores.
With best wishes for the continued success of your two periodicals, both of which I have from
No. 1,-Believe me, yours faithfully,
EDWARD A. BROCKWAY.

Mr. Harris's reply :

I am still unrepentant.

With regard to gramophone matters, 'I am

not inexperienced, having visited
and supervised the preparation of
gramophone records in big recording studios. I also possess a good
modern gramophone, and have written technical articles on reproduction, so that I feel competent to pass
an

opinion.-P. W. H.

RADIO IN N.S.W.
SIR,-Doubtless you will be interested to hear that this Division
of the Wireless Institute of Australia has now incorporated with it

practically the whole of the clubs in

New South Wales, and is the
mouthpiece for all amateur wireless
matters (political and technical) for
Australia.
We now have our own club room,
and excellent facilities for displaywireless
literature. Yours
ing
faithfully,

methods. Reception circuits which

have attracted
a
considerable
amount of general attention, such as
your S.T.ioo, have been tried out
and critically examined for volume
and distortion.
Members of the
classes are familiar with the characteristics of the valves upon the
market. And, generally, in our
classes considerable time is devoted
to discussion and to practical testing
in the laboratory. Ample opportunity is given for discussion of upto-date circuits.-Yours faithfully,

PHIL RENSHAW,

Hon. Secretary.
Sidney,
Australia.

"DORKING AND DISTRICT

RADIO SOCIETY"
SIR,-I beg to inform you that
the above Society has just been

formed, and will hold its first meeting on October 6.

Major G. C. Garrick has been
elected President of the Society.
Readers interested are advised to
communicate with the Secretary of
the Society at High Street P.O.,
Dorking.-Yours faithfully,
A. J. CHILD.
Hon. Sec.
Dorking.

BATTERIES

84

FOR L.T. PURPOSES.

Nominal E.M.F.

640
948
884

1'5 volts
1.5

Dimensions overall
approximate.

2f dia.
3

4f

1.5

X
X

4f

X 6f
X 7
X 88

907
908
909
960
961

Commencing
E.M.F.
3

3
3
3
3

volts.

Additional
terminals at

4f &

-6

4f
4f

volts.

Weight

approximate.

Rate of Discharge
ampere.

Price

2 lbs. 3 ozs.

01 to 0'2

2s. 8d.

5 8

ins, high

DRY
Size
No.

12

approximate.

X 31
X 31
6-1 X 31
9I X 34
8

2f

12

9
0

BATTERIES.

Dimensions overall
13
13

0'3

02 to 0'5

each.

X 7e
X 71
X 7X 7e
X 6f

ins. high

Weight

Rate of Discharge

22 lbs.
22

02 to 02

approximate.

11

161
7

Price

ampere.

0'4 to 0.6
01 to 0.3
0'2 to 0'3
01. to

02

each.

7s. Od.

14
0

OBTAINABLE FROM ALL

LEADING

=
.,l[tii4tlUlitllilllt[ltiflilflHEli,tttlhl,

flutumn

Leases

costs you NOTHING

Standing at my window the other

evening watching a gusty wind whirling
the dead leaves round my sundial,
I was forced to admit that our short
summer was over. All too short it
seemed to me ; just a few bright
days and before we knew where we
were autumn had set in with winter
unpleasantly close-well, not altogether
unpleasantly. I rather look forward
to long winter evenings. It's a restful
change from being harried by the
children to go and play in the garden,
as they insist on my doing when it's
light till ten.
In the winter they seem perfectly
satisfied to sit and listen to the perfect
tunes of the Volutone giving them
Miss Nobody Special's latest bedtime
story or the first part of the evening
concert. The Volutone also is powerful
enough to enable them to talk without
disturbing the concert ; in fact, it's
proved itself a positive blessing, and
at a price well in keeping with the
Fellows' policy of
Quality Apparatus at Low Cost.

If you buy a Penton Low Consumption Valve now

15/..

it will cost you

Volatone.

Eut more than this amount will be given back to

you in twelve weeks by the saving in current !
Let us work it out.
Using 30 Amp -hour Accumulator and an " R "
Valve with average current consumption of .75 Amps,
one charge of the Accumulator lasts

Fellows

the cost of the charge is

Using Penton Low Consumption Valve .15 Amp
the charge will last

Fellows

4:10:0

1:17:6

33u hrs.
31
2/ee

166

2/..

And the cost is only

Every day you use your set, say

In twelve weeks using an ' R " Valve your
Accumulator requires charging ten times at cost of
But using Penton Low Consumption Valve your
Accumulator requires charging only twice in twelve
weeks at a cost of
Thus you clearly save the cost of eight chargesa saving of
For saving's sake buy

hrs.

20/..

4/a

16/.

PENTON

LOW CONSUMPTION

VALVES

Plate voltage 40.

Type H.E.4 for 6 -volt accumulators.
Filament current 15 amp. Filament volts 5.

PRICE

ELLOW

15/-

Postage 9d.

From all good dealers, or direct from

E.P.S.90.
S.E.18

Advt. of The Fellows Magneto Co., Ltd., Park Royal,

"Use the Valve that

DEALERS.

SIEMENS BROTHERS & CO., LTD., WOOLWICH, LONDON,

738

0
0

The rates of discharge mentioned in the tables are those at which the cells or batteries will give a normal output.
If these rates are exceeded, the output will be reduced very considerably.

Mr. E. Conomy says:

Principal.

S.E.1.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!IIIlillllllllllillllllllllllillllllillllill1111111111111111{III!Illillllli

DRY CELLS
No.

XV

J. W. BISPHAM,

TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN
WIRELESS
SIR,-I have read with great interest the article on the first page
of your issue of September 17, 1924,
and, although I am in general agreement with the statements made, I
cannot refrain from pointing out a
marked exception. In our courses
at the Borough Polytechnic, the
technical instruction in wireless is in
the hands of Mr. G. W. Sutton,
B.Sc., who is a well-known amateur
transmitter fully familiar with the
latest practice and engaged in test
work for the trade. Comparatively
little attention is given in our
courses to obsolete practice; much
more is heard of the valve method
of transmission than of spark,
arc, and high frequency alternator

?!IIIIiI!III!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlllll11111111111111111111111111111111

Size

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

PENTON ENGINEERING CO.,

15, Cromer St., London, W.C.1
Telephone

Museum 4681.

Telegrams: Erpentobal Kincross.

ondon, N.W.10

It will pay you always to watch

WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

XVI

WIRELESS WEEKLY

.t

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

i%)%

Conducted by A. D. COWPER, M.Sc., Staff Editor.

l
. \>`
,i<,

Marconi "Ideal" L.F. Transformers : High Ratio

SINCE the publication of our
report on the new Marconi
" Ideal " L.F. intervlve
transformer, low -ratio type, w-e
have been given an, opportunity
by the makers of putting -to a
thorough test the two high -ratio
types of the same series : the 4 to
These are uniI and the 6 to I.
form in appearance with the low
ratio (2.7 to I) instrument already
reported on, and have the same
substantial build and high finish;
as with the latter, they are completely enclosed. The makers
high -ratio
recommend
these
instruments for use after valves

n;

,._,_----,,,T-.,-,.,_,_,..-,,-------------..-----

9rea t "round-uff

NOT

only out in the Wild West,

but in every home where

Cossor Valves are being used, a

great " round up " is continually

taking place. Instead of cattle,
though, electrons are the victims.
In a valve, as doubtless you know,.
the filament, when heated, gives off
an electron .stream- which flies off to
the Grid and the Anode and causes
the Valve to function correctly. If
the filament is broken or the accumula-

tor (or dry battery) so exhausted

that it cannot provide the energy
sufficient to light the filament, then

practically no electrons are given

off and the Valve refuses to operate.
Obviously then, as the electron stream
is the critical factor in valve reception,
the greater the quantity usefully
employed the better the valve.

Apparatus
we have 1eed

i1

J-_

Wireless Weekly

October I, 1924

In the ordinary Valve the filament,

running through the centre of the
tubular Anode, is exposed at each end
and a proportionate amount of the
electron stream leaks away without
being put to any useful purpose.

But look at the Cossor-see how its

arched filament is almost concealed
No
by the hood -shaped Anode.
electrons can escape from here-it
is a really effective " round up "
of electrons every minute of the time
the Valve is in use.
When you buy your next Valves
therefore, see that it is a Cossor :
no other valve can give you such
a long life, such an immense volume
of pure tone, and such all -round reliability, and it is these sterling
qualities which have been responsible
for the immense demand for Cossor
Valves during the past few months.

PRICES.
L.F. use
P2, (With red top)
for H.F. use ..

12/6
12/6

GUARANTEED
WITH OUR

DULL EMITTERS.
WI. For Detector and
...
L.F. use

21/r

W2. (With red top)

for H.F. use ...

cj TrueMusiC

REPAIRED VALVES

21/x_

Ask to see the

Whenever your valves burn out or

filaments are damaged in any way

JUNIOR

them to us
Send
We repair them equal to new.
9 qf
''

'

Loud Speaker.
Before you decide on the Loudspeaker for your, Set, see, and
listen to a TrueMusiC Junior.
Its clear, pure tone is a

DON'T DELAY
.

,'

The actual valve you send us is repaired

and returned to you within 7 days. ::
PRICE

6/6

POSTAGE

3d.

revelation.
Reproduction of Broadcasting
is so faithful, because the metal
in the Hotn is not stretched or
twisted. It is made in one piece
deposited
of electrolytically
copper.

PRICE

6/6

(Bright Emitter Valves).

:MR

Drop us a Post Card for our Catalogue.

TrueMusiC Junior.
82

WE ARE ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE.

.A.C.COSSOR,L-E;d., HIGHBURY GRONTE, L0171)Q1\1,11.5.

-- Valves

It

will pay you always to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

instrument, followed by a small

power -valve with ample H.T. and
proper grid -bias in order to avoid
valve -distortion, the degree of
amplification actually attained
compared favourably with that
given by any first-class transformer the writer has measured;
whilst no noticeable transformer
distortion accompanied this great
build-up. With the 6 to i instrument the effect, though powerful,
was rather harsh and unpleasing.
Using these instruments as
they were particularly designed to
be used, i.e., in a second stage of
L. F. amplification and following
valves of low impedance, the performance was observed and coin

"Perfect Reception"

BRIGHT EMITTERS.

Pl. For Detector and

of comparatively low impedance,

such as L.S. valves, the primary.
windings being adjusted for these
conditions; though the 4 to I
ratio one can -be used, if desired,
after an R type of valve if the
maximum practicable build-up
(without appreciable distortion
due to inadequate primary imPractical
pedance) be required.
test in reception of broadcast
telephony, under optimum conditions as to H.T. value and grid
bias, with standard R valves and
with bright -emitter valves of the
L.S. type (small-power valves,
i.e.) confirmed these recommendations. With an R valve as
detector and with the 4 to i ratio

The

Price list for D.E. and Power Valves

:: on Application. ::

17

Telephone Manufacturing
Co., Ltd.,

Hollingsworth Works, West Dulwich,

London.

British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, Palace of

Engineering B E A.M.A. Heetion, Stand CI
Avenue 11, Bays 6 cod 7.

The North London Valve Repairing Co.,

224, Cazenove Road, Stoke Newington, N.16.

E.P.6,
194

Q.A.148

739

Wireless Weekly
pared with that of other instruments in a three -valve receiver
having a sensitive and selective
reaction-circuit with an R valve
as detector, followed by the lowratio Marconi transformer controlling an L.S. valve, a second
L.S. valve being coupled up by
the second - stage transformer
under test. A single 7o -foot
aerial, 20 feet high, in a fairly
good position on high ground
(though screened by trees) was
used, in Essex, about 35 miles
from both 2L0 and 5XX.
With the direct London transmission the reatest difficulty was
experienced in handling the relatively enormous audio -frequency
energy resulting, eve-n with over
200 volts on the plates of both
L.S. valves, and grid -bias of over
io volts apart from overloading
the loud -speaker it was impossible to get the last stage entirely
free from the distortion, which
results from overrunning the
The noise
valve- characteristic.
was, of course, overpowering at
close quarters. Since 5XX comes
in loudly at that point on a single
valve- without a tuning induct&

October I, 1924
ance, it was not practicable to try
the set on this transmission.
Every main B.B.C. station (including Aberdeen) came in at
good
loud -speaker
strength,
together with several relay stations.
The nearer ones were
uncomfortably loud in the immediate neighbourhood of the loudspeaker.
Turning to the Continental stations, a succession
were tuned in after dark on the
loud -speaker at good strength,
Breslau, for
example, being
audible at ioo yards (measured)
in the open with the loud -speaker
turned out of the window, the
German announcer being understandable at a distance of many
yards.
Petit Parisien was particularly noisy, as well as another
French-speaking station on just
over 460 metres.
Finally, after
Hamburg had finished -heterodyning him, Madrid came in excellently. On the longer waves
Eiffel and Knigswusterhausen
were read comfortably on the
loud -speaker, and on the short,
Brussels at excellent strength.
On the whole we preferred the
4 to i instrument in this position,

October

Wireless Weekly

1, 1924

Information Depaement

the tone being just noticeably

-better and the build-up but little
inferior. It is evident that, given
the proper equipment to handle
the great
signal
voltages
attained with these instruments,
really efficient audio-frequency
transform-er
amplification by
coupling, without noticeable distortion, is within reach.
Polished Ebonite
From Messrs. Peter Curtis,
Ltd., comes a sample of
polished ebonite in which there
is not the usual treacherous surface which may prove partly
Actual trial conconducting.
firmed the claim that this ebonite
panel can be used without further
preserving
the
preparation,
polished surface throughout the
constructional work-which, of
course, necessitates considerable
care in protecting it from accidental damage-and giving a
finished panel of good appearance and excellent insulation resistance. A further polish can
be obtained if desired, by buffing
after all constructional operations
are completed.

SUPPLIED BY RADIO PRESS SERVICE DEPT., LTD.

stamped down. (3) If sufficient space is available,

two (or more) long lengths of bare copper wire,
not necessarily new, may be buried some 6 or 8
inches beneath the surface of the ground, underneath and in line with the aerial wires. The two
wires should be brought together where they
emerge from the ground (as near to the leading in point as possible) and may be twisted together.
to form the earth lead.

S. G. W. (ROMFORD) asks In the absence

of a convenient main water pipe, what alternative earth connection can be used ?
(1) An old galvanised iron bath or bucket, perforated with holes, should be buried a foot or two
beneath the surface of the soil, underneath the
aerial and as close to the " leading -in " point as
possible. A stout copper wire should be soldered
to the upper edge of the bath or bucket, which
should be almost filled with cinders or preferably
broken coke. Three or four bucketfuls of water
should then be poured in and the earth shovelled
back. (2) A corrugated, galvanised iron sheet
(as large as is available) should have a stout
copper wire soldered to one corner, the plate
being buried on its edge until the upper edge is
6 or 8 inches below the surface of the ground.
The hole in which it is placed should be about
half filled with cinders or broken coke, water
should be poured in and the earth replaced and

VISIT THE SHOW

BY POST

J. K. (BELFAST) asks What is a Lightning

Arrester ?
As applied to wireless, a lightning arrester is
essentially a minute gap between the foot of the
down -lead and the earth -lead. The theory is that
high-tension currents such as those due to light-

ning discharges, or even the " return currents "

from earth due to a nearby cloud inducing a
charge in an aerial, will jump across the small
gap rather than traverse the highly inductive

The Best of Everything

The Colvernis presented as

a really convenient, sound

and neat unit, suitable for

easily attaching to existing
sets, (one hole fixing) and
should he included in all sets
n course of construction.

used in the construction of " POWQUIP Transformers.

All material is subjected to most careful inspection, test and
analysis before being issued to the Works.
WIRE.
Best high conductivity, electrolytic copper only
is used. The enamel insulation has to pass an
acid, heat, rubbing and elongation test of the
most severe nature.
BOBBINS.
These are vulcanised from PURE WHITE
RUBBER only. We have no use for fibre,
or the usual form of compositions, many of which
are most detrimental on audio frequencies.
CORE.
Thin gauge soft Stalloy iron, insulated by a
special process to ensure silent working and
High Efficiency.
INSULATION. The Primary winding is insulated from the
Secondary with a special grade of impregnated
silk having a puncturing capacity of 5,000 volts.
MACHINE
The best of their kind obtainable, all screws
PARTS.
being cut threads and not cheap rolled threads,
which are liable to strip.
TEST.
Eight distinct electrical and magnetic tests during
2,200 volt Flash Test upon
construction.
completion, then Aerial Test for speech, music,
and signal.
SHROUDED TYPE 18/- each.
OPEN TYPE 14/6 each.
is

If you are unable to call in person and see our

display at the Wireless Exhibition, drop a postcard to our office at Letchworth and we will
send you literature concerning all our exhibits.
We look forward to renewing acquaintances
and making many new friends at the Show.
Shall we see you ?

COLVERN
TUNING
CONDENSER

Fully Efficient,
Strong as a Motor Wheel-

Bowyer -Lowe Tested

Components & Panels
STAND 26

"Tangent" Tuning Coils

Guaranteed not to buckle or crush.
Damping reduced to Minimum.
Low distributed capacity.
Electrical Efficiency second to none.
Standard Plega-will fit your Set.

All - British Wireless Exhibition,

ROYAL ALBERT HALL,
September 27th to October 8th.

STOCKED SIZES.
ColiN. IMin. W/LIMax W/Ll Price
250
390
25
4/3
520
-4/3
35
330
430
840
4/3
50
1070
75
660
4/6
1430
100
840
5/..
150
1100
2030
6/.
1610
2720
200
7/.
2009
3520
7/6
250
2400
4250
300
8/400
3300
6450
9/4500
8750
500
10/ I

Ask your

Panels of
BOWYER-I,OWE
Tested Grade "A" Ebonite
are guaranteed entirely free
from metallic surface. We
supply them engraved for any

Dealer-or write us

GENT & CO., Ltd.

Manufacturing

Radio Press Set (except OMNITOP PANEL) at rid. per sq.

inch, I -inch thick, polished one
side and edges,

Electrical

Engineers,

FARADAY WORKS,

740

0-

by. giving comslete control of the set, with greater

selectivity and pure reception entirely free from the

extraneous noises which
follow
the
inaccurate
tuning of large capacity
condensers.

Whilst the maximum capacity

of the Colvern
is 0.000014 it is
ample for final
tuning of any

cirucit, and it
is

sufficient in

many cases to use the Colvern

only,. on reaction. As a Vernier
for

We arc showing at the N.A.R.M.

Exhibition, Altert H5 1, Sept.
27th -Oct. 8th-STAND 64.

London : 25, Victoria St., S.W.I.

Newcastle -on -Tyne: Tangent House, Blackett St.

Bowyer -"Lowe Co. Ltd. Letchworth.

The use of the vernier for final tuning is strongly

advised. Its use demonstrates utmost tuning efficiency

final

tuning

of

circuits, it is ideal.

JL2 Ca

LEICESTER.

CONDENSERS
FOR
SELECTIVITY

H.F.

If your local dealer does not stock the Co!oern Tuning Condenser

WER EUIPMEN'
LIMITED
cOMPANY

:: kindly send his name

end address hen ordering. ::

COLLINSONS PRECISION SCREW .CO., LTD.,

Macdonald Road, Walthamstow, LONDON, E.17.

Telephone : Walthamstow 532.

KINGSBURY WORKS, THE HYDE, HENDON, N.W.9.

741

Wireless Weekly

October I, 1924

K. R. (LIVERPOOL) states that he intends

to devote himself to Transatlantic reception
during the coming winter, and asks What is
the best time for attempting long range
reception ?
When the area between the transmitting and
receiving stations has been in darkness for as

attempt to attach two receivers to the same aerial. The aerial may be
broken in the centre, if desired, by insulators so
as to form, two separate oscillatory systems, and
a " lead in " may then be taken from each end.
(2) With reference to the circuit you mention, it
does not greatly matter whether the filament resistance is in the negative- lead or the positive
lead, but the former arrangement is best adopted
as a standard.
(1) You should not

long as possible. This usually means, of course,

that a short time before sunrise is the most
promi ing hour.

J. C. (LEEDS) asks whether the small

dimensions of an Aerial can be compensated
by making the down lead and earth connection in the form of a spiral ?

F. T. Mc.D. (QUEEN VICTORIA ST.).

is about to instal a receiver in his house which
looks on to an Electric Railway, and his
aerial will be upon about the same level as
the overhead electric wires, and within 100
yards of the same. He asks whether he is
likely to experience much interference:

We have heard of quite good results being

obtained upon valve receiving apparatus used in
conjunction with a portable spiral aerial with the
ordinary straight type of .down -lead. The aerial
in question consisted of about loo feet of No. 16
S.W.G. phosphor -bronze wire, wound in the form
of a spiral about 18 inches in diameter, and was
primarily intended for portable work out of doors
or for indoor use where an orthodox outdoor
aerial could not be erected. In all cases the earth
connection should be of stout copper wire and
should be as short as possible.

You should make every effort to erect your aerial

at right angles to the power line, otherwise we
are afraid you are very likely to get a considerable amount of interference if you are using a,
valve ' set, particularly if you use much low -frequency 'amplification.
-

Result of

THE NEW

RADIO

DEXTRAUDION

COIL HOLDERS &

COMPONENTS

"

DULL
MAXIMUM
CONSUMPTION
'1 AMP. AT 1 VOLT.

CAM VERNIER

Full particulars, with characteristic curves, together

with 40 PAGE RADIO LIST, sent post free on receipt
of 4d. in stamps and mention of this advertisement.

Postage 4d.
PROV. PROT'D.
PANEL''

ECONOMIC
ELECTRIC LTD.
FOR SURFAM
WIRING

BASKET COIL HOLDER

1/6 postage

2d.

What is the particular advantage of the "Matched Tone" feature ? How

can we claim a distinct superiority amongst so many good headphones?
Well, the ordinary method of matching the two receivers by ear
obviously has its disadvantages, the sense of hearing not being
sufficiently developed for detecting dissim larity in the various tone
degrees. Brandes receivers are matched by specially constructed
apparatus which has been installed at our Works after long years of
experiment. When tested by ear, it is found that sound in one receiver
cannot be matched with another by a margin of eighty degrees. By
our apparatus we are able to match the corresponding note in each
Ask your Dealer for Brandes.
to within five degrees.

WATT!

THE QUALITY OF THE

RECEPTION ENTIRELY SURPASSES
ANYTHING HITHERTO
OBTAINED WITH ANY OTHER VALVE.

without switch 9/ -

WIRING

What is "Matched Tone"?

EMITTER

reaction
reverse
switch ... 12/6

LEGLESS
VALVE
HOLDERS

Head Office: 10, FITZROY

Showrooms:
SQUARE, LONDON, W.I. I 303,EUSTONRD.N.W.1

25/-

British Manufacture
(B.B.C. stamped)

Manufactured
at Slough, Bucks.

VALVE RENEWALS
We repair by our patent process (for which we have
NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY'S Report
of efficiency)

Is fixed by a single screw in

centre, the holder itself acts as
a jig for drilling the holes for
panel wiring.
Por surface
wiring clamp the wires under
the heads of screws.
Has
safety insulated plate socket.
(Prov. Protd.)
PRICE 1/6 each, postage 2d.

ALL STANDARD TYPES OF VALVES AT

AND

6/6

CARRIAGE PAID

Atwleastval

EQUALves.

EFFICIENCY to

GUARANTEE

All Brandes products are

obtainable from any reputable dealer and carry

our official money -back
guarantee, enabling you
to return them within Io
days if dissatisfied.

To RETURN IN THREE DAYS

OR REFUND YOUR MONEY WITHOUT QUIBBLE.

your dealer has not got them we send post free if you
mention his name and address. LIST POST FREE.

GORWELL ENGINEERING CO., LTD.,

12a,.PENTONVILLE ROAD, LONDON, N.1.

LIBERAL TRADE TERMS.
'Phone : North 3051.

etched Tne
TRADE

MARK

Radio Headphones._

THE ECLAT MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.

Spencer Works, Wimbledon, London, S.W.

742

16

years' experience

2 coil holder with

FOR

XVii

G. F. A (HORNSEY) asks the following

questions :-(1) Whether it would lessen
the efficiency of the aerial if a " lead in " was
taken from each end as shown in his sketch.
(2) With reference to a circuit in " MODERN
WIRELESS," whether it makes any difference if the rheostat is connected in the
negative filament lead of the positive filament
lead.

winding of the receiving set, which is connected

to opposite sides of the gap. The received
currents, on the other hand, are too feeble to jump
the gap and must of necessity traverse the
receiving apparatus.

if)alit

OCTOBER IST, 1924

ADVERTISEMENTS

WIRELESS WEEKLY

It

will pay you always to watch WIRELESS WEEKLY Advertisements.

XXii

WIRELESS WEEKLY

ADVERTISEMENTS

OCTOBER

IST,

I924

WIRELESS WEEKLY

ADVERTISEMENTS

OCTOBER

IST, 1924

keep six honest serving men

(They taught me all I knew),
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who."
1{IPLIN6.

" I

AND Radio Press can offer you, too, some honest

serving men who will do their best to teach you
some of the principles of Radio. The Library
shown below contains some of the most entertaining
and instructive Wireless Books ever published.
Whilst it is perfectly true to say that some progress
can be made without the aid of books, yet a great deal
of wasted labour may be avoided by making use of the
experience of such well-known authorities as John

Scott -Taggart, F.Inst. P., A.M.I.E.E., Percy W. Harris,

G. P. Kendall, B.Sc., and the others whose names are
so familiar to regular readers of Radio Press publications.
If you are thinking of building a new Set this Autumn,
you cannot do better than invest in one of the many
I
2

4
5

6
7
8

CONFIDENCE!

train rushing at dead of night over the great high bridge slung over a roaring torrent. An error
a fault in the bridge design, and hundreds of passengers will be dashed to pieces.
Their publications constitute the bridge over which the Radio Press
carried half a million readers to wireless
success. They have the absolute confidence of the wireless public, and a have
full appreciation of their responsibility is the
secret of the success of this great enterprise.
A

Wireless for All

By John Scott -Taggart, F.Inst.P.,
A .M.I.E.E.
Simplified Wireless
By John Scott-Taggart, F.Inst.P.,
A.M.I.E.E.
How to Make Your Own Broadcast
Receiver
By John Scott -Taggart, F.Inst.P.,

A.M.I.E.E.
How to Erect Your Wireless Aerial...
By B. Mittelf, A.M.I.E.E.

The Construction of Wireless Receiving Apparatus

,.
By P. D. Tyers.
The Construction of Crystal Receivers
By Alan L. M. Douglas.
How to Make a " Unit " Wireless
Receiver
...
...
By E. Redpath.
Pictorial Wireless Circuits ...
By Oswald J. Rankin,

9d.

constructional Books or Envelopes available in this series.

You will find that every step is explained so clearly
that Set building becomes absurdly simple.
On the other hand, you may not be getting the results
you should-perhaps you are ignorant of the elementary
principles of broadcast reception-then one or two
books on the valve will provide you with much useful
information, and set you on the road to proficiency.
Examine these Books at your Wireless Dealer's or
Bookseller's and commence your Wireless Library now
-you will find it a most profitable investment. All
Radio Press Books can be supplied direct (postage 2d.
per volume or 3d. per envelope extra).

Wireless Valves Simply Explained...

By John Scott -Taggart, F.Inst.P.,

2/6

Radio Valves and How to Use Them

By John Scott -Taggart, F.Inst.P.,

2/6

2/6

1/6

Wireless Questions Answered ...

By G. P. Kendall & E. Redpath.
14 02 Tested Wireless Sets
...
By Percy W. Harris.
25 More Practical Valve Circuits
..
By John Scott -Taggart, F.Inst.P.,

2/6

16
17

I/1/6

A.M.I.E.E.
so Practical Wireless Valve Circuits
.. 2/6
By John Scott -Taggart, F.Inst.P.,
A.M.I.E.E.
12

r/6

I/6

13 5oo

Radio Press Envelopes.

2
3

2/6
4

3/6

RADIO PRESS Ltd.

The

Largest

Wireless

.M.I.E.E.

How to Build a 4-Valve Receiver

2/6
By Percy W. Harris.
How to Build the " Simplicity "
3 -Valve Set By G. P. Kendall, B.Sc. 2/6
How to Build the All -Concert de Luxe
Receiver By Percy W. Harris. ... 2/6

Simplex Wiring Charts.

A.M.I.E.E.

Home -Built Wireless Components

2/6
Wireless Sets for Home Constructors 2/6
By E. Redpath.
18 Tuning Coils and How to Wind Them r/6
By G. P. Kendall, B.Sc.

of judgment on the part of the driver,

How to Build an S.T.roo Receiver ... I/6

By John Scott -Taggart, F.Inst.P.,
A

A.M.I.E.E.

I/-

Radio Press Panel Cards.

How to Make the W.I. Receiver ...

By Herbert K. Simpson.

2
3

For
For
For

2
3

-Valve Set
-Valve Set
Set

4 -Valve

...
...
...

...

...

Radio Press Wireless Panel

Transfers

Publishers

in

the

...

...

...

...

r/r/r/_

6d.

World.
Gilbert Ad.

xj4;,