January 9, 2016 - London Vintage Radio Club

http://lvrc.homestead.com/
Webmaster: Dave Noon
= Next Meeting - January 9, 2016 =
Steve Valeriote, LVRC, December 2015
Book Review
A Radiophone in Every Home
William Stephenson and the
General Radio Company Limited, 1922-1928
Ian L. Sanders and Lorne Clark
Just when I thought there were no
more interesting radios to collect,
there was Kijiji again to bail me out
and fulfill my need. The object of
my interest was a British made radio
from General Radio (not associated
with the American company of the
same name) called the Hearthside.
It is a 1923 large table top battery
set consists of GRC 16 two valve
receiver and GRC 13 two valve
amp, both of which were available
separately and more commonly
found so. But wait! Wasn’t this
supposed to be a book review
article?
January, 2016
Vol. 28 No. 1
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Book Review:
A Radiophone in Every
Home
Page 2
By Steve Valeriote, LVRC, December
2015
Executive Officers
Page 4
January Meeting’
Contest
Page 6
Sale/Trade/Wanted
Page 6
Collecting &
RestoringVintage
Communication
Receivers
by
Bill McHugh
VE3CSK/VE3NH
Bear with me while I indulge my
collecting habit.
Fig. 1. General Radio ‘Hearthside’ doors open
An internet search for this set only
revealed an ad on the radiomuseum
website and of course that made it
even more desirable to me. This led to
some research on the General Radio
company itself and the discovery of
the book in question here. I bought
the book from an ebay website
circuit diagrams are
also presented, two
of which relate to the
‘Hearthside’.
Fig. 2. Doors closed.
Fig. 3. Amrex DE3 valve (4 found in the set)
operated by one of the authors and he
signed it for me on request. Now on to
the book itself:
If you are going to write a book on
anything that will include pictures, then
you absolutely must make these pictures
colourful and beautiful, unlike a certain
prime minister’s latest hockey book that
has such cheesy pictures; but I digress.
‘A Radiophone in Every Home’ is a
book of the former type. The product
is wonderfully adorned with colour pics
of radios, people and ads relating to
the company. These augment the very
interesting content of the book. A few
The Loudspeaker
You are probably
under the impression
that
Reginald
Fessenden and Ted
Rogers Sr. are the
only
Canadians
prominent in the
history of early radio
(aside: if you do
not recognize either
of these two, then
turn in your LVRC
membership
card
immediately). This
book will educate
the reader
about
the achievements of
another Canadian by
the name of William Fig. 4. Radiophone in Every Home
Stephenson; a name
which you might recognize for interesting from a historical point
his war-related achievements of view regarding the company
which are highlighted in the and Stephenson. It is also a very
book. His was a fascinating good reference for General Radio
life and career which included of London products for those
the General Radio Company who collect British sets.
Also,
of London and related work in the product is so attractive that it
radio the television. A great will serve as an excellent coffee
Canadian was he to be sure.
table book for the non-collector to
browse. It was also very interesting
Here are some ‘specs’ of the to me to note that there was only
book:
a copy of an ad available to the
authors for my ‘Hearthside’ set and
• first published 2012 Lodden no photo available. This set is not
Valley Press
even included in Jonathan Hill’s
• 136 pp, hardcover with dust outstanding ‘Radio Radio’ book of
jacket
British sets.
• website:
www.
castleridgepress.com
Back to the restoration of my GRC
• contact: Castle Ridge Press, Hearthside. The inlaid mahogany
PO box 307, Morgan Hill, CA cabinet was polished up with some
95038, castleridgepress@ Howard Restorafinish. The unusual
gmail.com
tubes (valves in British jargon) all
had bad filaments, save for one, so
I found this book very I substituted some common British
3
LONDON VINTAGE RADIO CLUB
Dedicated to the collection, preservation,
and restoration of antique radios and related
items.
Meetings are held at the 427 Wing premises,
2155 Crumlin Road in London Ontario.
Doors open at 12:00 p.m. for Silent Auction
setup. The meeting commences at 1:00
p.m..
President
The Executives & Former Presidents
Speakers & Special Events
battery radio tubes that I had in the
archives. The hook-up was easy
to figure out based on the labeled
connections on the back. Using
one of those kit power supplies,
the radio came back to life and
the local 1460 station was heard
on the internal horn speaker with
just an indoor antenna.
Better
and louder reception was attained
on headphones. It would be nice
to find a set of General Radio
Company of London phones for
this set. In the meantime, I use some
Canadian Brandes phones, which
have a connection to GRC. Buy the
book and learn about it.
My official rating for this book:
George Found
(519) 576-2570
Kim Stephenson (905) 339-2485
Flea Markets
Peter Raidt
(519) 482-5742
Larry Asp
(519) 829-2431
larry.asp@sympatico.ca
Contests & Displays
(226) 444-3875
Russ Campbell
Treasurer & Membership
Dave Noon
(519) 453-2292
19 Honeysuckle Cr, London,
Ontario, Canada N5Y 4P3
va3dn@execulink.com
Membership Fee: $15.00
Loudspeaker Editor
Nathan Luo
(519) 471-6229
lvrceditor@yahoo.com
Past Presidents
Kathleen Smith
2000-2001
Andy Nolf
1997-2000
Lloyd Swackhammer 1994-1997
Dave Noon
1991-1994
Don Hatch
1989-1991
Glen Lee
1988-1989
Dave Morris
1987-1988
The Loudspeaker is published prior to
regular club meetings: Jan, March, May,
June, Sept, and Nov.
The “Loudspeaker Newsletter” and the
London Vintage Radio Logo’s are property
of the LVRC.
4
The Loudspeaker
January Meeting’s
Contest
The Most
Elaborate
Vintage
HiFi
Receiver
Vivian
Answer at the bottom of the page
The Loudspeaker
You are a very knobby radio
Answer:
5
SALE/TRADE/WANTED
IMPORTANT! All member’s ads are to be emailed to lvrceditor@yahoo.com or snail mailed to The Loudspeaker, 34
Bromleigh Avenue, London, Ontario, Canada, N6G 1T9. Email is the preferred option and typed or well printed notes
otherwise. All ads should reach The Loudspeaker no later than one month preceding the meeting.
WANTED
“Radio Trade Builder” magazine
from August of 1948. Good condition
please. Contact Howard at (705) 3550353 or belfountain50@yahoo.com.
Seeburg jukebox amplifere HFA1-46.
Call me at 519-264-1893 or email me
at dutch_tulip@mac.com Thanks,
Henk Noordermeer.
Fleming Bell complete radio or parts.
John DeWit at vintageradiojohn@
live.ca or 519-473-5451
RCA Tube Manual from the 1940’s to
1950’s. Must be in good to excellent
condition, spiral or book binding.
Also, Addison model 64, whole or
parts. Please reply to (705) 355-0353
or belfountain50@yahoo.com. Thanx,
Howard.
Westinghouse 1605. Call Pete Raidt for $30.00 or B.O. Please reply to
at (519) 482-5742.
Howard @ belfountain50@yahoo.
com or (705) 355-0353.
Kennedy console or table model
radio . Can be ro ugh n eedi ng 1% Precision tolerance 500V silver
work or restored if price is right. mica capacitors and 1% Precision
Pho ne Th e Olde Tyme Radio 630V tubular axial PSA polystyrene
Centre (www.Oldtymeradio.ca). film capacitors. Also for sale are 1000
garyandnellieclayton@tnt21.com or Volt silver mica capacitors available in
(519) 357-4304.
many different pF sizes. All capacitors
for new production. Dave Cantelon,
Old ham radio equipment, morse 416-502-9128 or justradios@yahoo.
keys etc. Phone Larry Asp 519-421- com or visit WebSite: www.justradios.
1584, or larry.asp@sympatico.ca. com
For the Gallery of Early Canadian
Flight at Wiarton Airport...Original
speaker cabinet, with or without
speaker for RCA AR-88 receiver,
also need an original manual for
same receiver. Still looking for a
Marconi T-1154 transmitter, with
interconnecting cables, if available.
Brian VE3FOK at earlycanflight@
gbtel.ca or 519-534-4090
Marconi 84 and 85 chassis. Please
text me at 226-567-0033 Thanks. Rich
Gulinski
Buying collections of tubes, paper
and art deco radios. Contact Andre
RCA speaker 104 (console with amp) at 905-333-4557
for my radiola 25. Steve Valeriote
steve.valeriote@rogers.com or 519- 6 inch 78 records. Please call Russ
at 226-243-6020 or leave email to
836-4154.
rcamp48@rogers.com or bring them
Ham Radio Equipment: Transceivers, to the next meeting. Thanks.
keys, antennas. Estates. 905-806A complete chassis for a Majestic
3502. Text details Charlie.
model 6M632. A 6R632 or a 6D632
G.E. C400, Westinghouse 501, will work as well. Speaker not
Addison, Crosley and other plastic required. Contact David Spencer,
and art deco radios, new&used tubes, davidspen@rogers.com, 519 471tube audio equipment, Dynaco/ 4578
Dynakit stereo tube preamp, Philco
Predicta pedestal TV. Parts wanted
FOR SALE
for Neutrowound, Atwater Kent
breadboard, RCA 15U, Westinghouse 4 knobs and dial pointer from an
801 Columnaire, Sparton 811, RCA console, model #9W91. All
6
Rogers radios including models 120,
220 and 420. They are reasonably
priced with good tubes. Call Brian at
1-905-827-0958.
Variety of old ham tube equipment.
Quite an assortment of ham magazines,
1970-1990s. Battery radios from
1920s, no horns but complete. Variety
of transmitting tubes: 807, 866, 832,
815 etc. Portable Bakelite and wooden
TVs early 1950’s. Double Keyboard
as is. Lowely Glgah 1950s. 55 tubes
in total. Beautiful condition. $400
with bench. Phone The Olde Tyme
Radio Centre (www.Oldtymeradio.
ca). Hwy #4, Belgrave, Ontario N0G
1E0. Contact Gary & Nellie Clayton
at (519) 357-4304 or oldetymeradio@
tnt21.com.
Large assortment of portable, table
model and floor model radios for
restoration or parts. Priced to sell.
Also a few 1950’s TVs. Call Pete
Raidt at (519) 482-5742.
The Loudspeaker