Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

TRF BROADCAST RADIO RECEIVER

Date Range From

1920

Date Range To

1930

Materials

WOOD, STEEL, GLASS

No. Pieces

4

Description

1. RADIO: 65CM (L) X 22CM (W) X 22.5 CM (H) WOODEN BOX WITH BLACK BAKELITE FACE. BOTTOM OF BOX HAS BEVELED EDGE EXTENDING 2.1 CM FROM FRAME ON 3 SIDES. 10 STANDARD SCREWS HOLD BAKELITE FACE IN PLACE AROUND ITS EDGES. BAKELITE PANEL HAS 3 CLUSTERS OF 7 HOLES EACH IN UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER. IN BOTTOM RIGHTHAND CORNER ARE THREE BAKELITE KNOBS 3.5CM (D) WITH TRIANGULAR DIAL ARROWS MADE OF STEEL. BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND KNOB IS CYLINDRICAL BAKELITE KNOB WITH BRASS FACE. BRASS FACE HAS RAISED LETTERING WHICH READS "HOWARD RADIO CO PAT. PENDG." AND "9 SO. CLINTON ST. CHICAGO, U.S.A.". TO LOWER RIGHT OF 2ND AND 3RD KNOBS ARE HOLES WITH METALLIC LINING FOR CORD JACKS. IN UPPER LEFT OF PANEL ARE TWO FREQUENCY KNOBS 7.5CM(D) WITH WHITE NUMBERING AND SCALE DIRECTLY BELOW. BETWEEN THEM IS CIRCULAR PATTERN OF STEEL ELECTRODES AND KNOB WITH LONG STEEL ARM WHICH TOUCHES ELCTRODES AS IT IS TURNED. ALONG LEFT SIDE IN BOTTOM CORNER ARE FOUR SCREW TABS FOR CONNECTING WIRE TO AMPLIFIER. TO THEIR RIGHT IS A SINGLE SMALL BAKELITE KNOB WITH SMALL TRIANGULAR DIAL ARM. AT BACK WALL OF RADIO THERE IS A 30.4CM X 19.4CM OPENING WITH WOODEN DOOR ON TWO BRASS HINGES. DOOR HAS SINGLE STEEL KNOB FOR OPENING IT. INSIDE ARE FIVE VACUUM TUBES AND VARIOUS ELECTRONIC MATERIALS. BACK WOOD PANEL IS CRACKED ON OPPOSITE END FROM DOOR. 2. AMPLIFIER: 22.7CM (L) X 13.8CM (W) X 13.5 CM WOODEN BOX WITH BLACK BAKELITE FRONT PANEL. TOP AND BOTTOM CORNERS OF WOOD BOX ARE HELD IN A RIGHT ANGLE DOVETAIL JOINT. BACK AND BOTTOM OF BOX HAVE FOUR WOODEN FEET 1.5CM (D), ONE IN EACH CORNER. BOTTOM HAS "R105-B" STAMPED INTO IT. TOP OF BOX HAS 8.7CM X 7.7CM HOLE CUT INTO IT WITH A WOODEN DOOR ON TWO STEEL HINGES. HALF-CIRCLE GROOVE HAS BEEN CUT INTO FRONT EDGE OF DOOR HOLE TO MAKE OPENING EASIER. INSIDE OF BOX IS ONE GLASS VACUUM TUBE AND VARIOUS ELECTRONIC MATERIALS. CLEAR PLASTIC STICKER IS ON INSIDE OF DOOR AND READS "(?)NRY R. ANDERS(?) 2226 18 AVE. S LETHBRIDGE ALBERTA CANADA T1K 1C8". BAKELITE FACE HAS 6 STANDARD SCREWS IN IT. IN TOP LEFT CORNER ARE TWO SCREW KNOBS FOR WIRING WITH 1 BETWEEN THEM. ON TOP RIGHT ARE TWO IDENTICAL KNOBS WITH "0" BETWEEN THEM. AT LEFT MIDDLE ARE THREE MORE KNOBS OF SAME TYPE. BETWEEN FIRST TWO IS "+120" AND BETWEEN SECOND TWO IS "+6" AND AFTER THIRD KNOB IS "-". AT BOTTOM CENTER IS STEEL PLATE 5.7CM X 2.3CM HELD WITH TWO STANDARD SCREWS. IT HAS SINGLE STEEL KNOB AND "PULL OUT" ETCHED INTO IT. BENEATH PLATE READS "NORTHERN ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED PATENTED 1919, 1921". BOX HAS A FEW SCRATCHES IN FINISH. 3. SPEAKER: BLACK STEEL ROUND SPEAKER BASE. CLEAR PLASTIC LABEL ON BOTTOM WITH DONOR'S NAME AND ADDRESS. TOP OF BASE IS BELL-SHAPED AND PAINTED BLACK. HAS 138CM BROWN CLOTH WIRE WITH DOUBLE ELECTRODE END. TOP OF BELL HAS HOLE 1.8CM AND SCREW KNOB ON SIDE FOR FIXING SPEAKER IN PLACE. GOLD DECAL EMBOSSED ON SIDE READING "ORIGINAL NATHANIAL BALDWIN NOT ORIGINAL WITHOUT THIS SIGNATURE TORONTO CANADA REG U.S. PAT. OFF.". BLACK PAINT CRACKING SLIGHTLY. 4. HORN: BLACK BAKELITE HORN. FITS UPRIGHT INTO SPEAKER BASE TO PROJECT SOUND. BRASS FIXTURE AT LIP OF HORN. EMBOSSED ON OUTER PARAMETER OF HORN IS "PATENT APPLIED FOR BY THE MILLER RUBBER CO. AKRON, OHIO, U.S.A.". CLEAR STICKER WITH DONOR'S NAME AND ADDRESS FIXED TO NECK OF HORN.

Subjects

TELECOMMUNICATION T&E

Historical Association

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

History

SEE P19930075001-GA. THIS RECEIVER WAS PUT TOGETHER IN THE EARLY 1920'S. PARTS WERE OBTAINED AND ASSEMBLED BY OWNERS, PRODUCING VARIOUS LAYOUTS AND FORMS. THE PARTS WERE QUITE OFTEN SOLD AS A KIT BY SOME ENTREPRENEUR LIKE W.W. GRANT WHO OWNED A RADIO STATION AND NEEDED LISTENERS. FOR MORE INFO ON RECEIVER AND W.W. GRANT SEE PERMANENT ARTIFACT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P19930075002

Acquisition Date

1993-12

Collection

Museum

Less detail