[AT] Way OT Crystal sets

[Bob Brooks]

George, Cecil;

I made one as a kid as well, I think I was 8 or 9.  But living 20 miles 
north of NYC, there were lots of strong radio stations and it worked 
pretty well.

Right after that I got into CB radios, but never did make the transition 
into Ham Radio.  We didn't have an active Ham radio club locally at that 
time, that was close enough.

Bob


George Willer wrote:

>Cecil,
>
>We were able to make them work... just barely.  It took a lot of trial and
>error to find a spot with the cat's whisker on the galena crystal that would
>"detect".  The spots weren't even as reliable as my internet connection, and
>would die the same way... with no warning and for no apparent reason.
>
>George Willer
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Cecil E Monson" <cmonson at hvc.rr.com>
>To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2004 6:56 AM
>Subject: Re: [AT] Way OT Crystal sets
>
>
>  
>
>>>The crystal sets of long ago were lots of fun for youngsters. Mine had a
>>>crystal in a chunk of lead and used a cats whisker piece of wire mounted
>>>      
>>>
>on
>  
>
>>>a small shaft with a ball pivot so that it could be moved around on the
>>>crystal to find the best spot for reception. The ear phones were the old
>>>type that could be taken apart to reveal a small metal disc and the two
>>>      
>>>
>wire
>  
>
>>>wound pole pieces. A good antenna and ground rod were required for good
>>>reception. The later units (kits) used a diode --1N34-- I believe for
>>>      
>>>
>the
>  
>
>>>detector. All the strong local stations could be picked up.
>>>
>>>H. L. Staples
>>>McLoud, Oklahoma
>>>USA
>>>      
>>>
>>Geez, H.L., I didn't think you were old enough to remember crystal
>>sets?  ;-)   I bought one around 1940 and never could get it to work where
>>we lived in Minnesota. We were 25 miles from the nearest radio station and
>>the signal was too weak to pick up anything. All I got was a little noise.
>>I remember the black headphones with the spring headband. My bedroom  was
>>upstairs and I ran a wire out to a tree in the back yard but even then it
>>never worked for me. Finally had to give up on it.
>>
>>Cecil
>>-- 
>>The nicest thing about telling the truth is you never have to wonder
>>what you said.
>>
>>Cecil E Monson
>>Lucille Hand-Monson
>>Mountainville, New York   Just a little east of the North Pole
>>
>>Allis Chalmers tractors and equipment
>>
>>Free advice
>>
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>>
>>    
>>
>
>
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>