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G4EBT > OLDSET 19.07.08 01:11l 142 Lines 5674 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 4B8472G4EBT
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Subj: NZ "Hikers' Two" vintage RX
Path: IZ3LSV<IK2XDE<DB0RES<DB0GOS<ON0AR<GB7FCR
Sent: 080718/2307Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:10023 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:4B8472G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : OLDSET@WW
Anyone who finds old radio stuff boring, please delete.
I mentioned some time back that a well known person in vintage radio
circles in the UK is Peter Lankshear, a New Zealander. He's written
extensively in the British Vintage Wireless Bulletin, in the now defunct
Eddystone User Group Newsletter "The Lighthouse", in Radio Bygones, and in
Practical Electronics, a UK mag, which now has close links with the Oz mag
"Silicon Chip".
Peter was born in 1928.
His father actively encouraged his interest in things electrical and radio
and by the time he was 11, he knew that his life's work would be in this
field.
Around that time he built his first radio, a single-valve tetrode model
"Hiker's One", using a 49 valve. According to Peter, he's had a
soldering iron in his hand ever since.
An article by Peter on the Hiker One and the 49 valve appeared in the 2007
winter bulletin of the BVWS. There's also an interesting article about him
published in Silicon Chip in 2004 which shows Peter with his wide-ranging
collection.
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_102188/article.html
There's a fascinating article to be found at the link below, in which
Peter recounts the war years and the scarcity it caused for radio parts.
He also relates the value of currency back then as compared to today.
He says that many consider that the "Baby Boomer" generation has been very
privileged, but life for their parents, the "Depression Kids", provided
far fewer material benefits.
They grew up in a country still recovering from the privations of the
Depression, and then in 1939 War with all its problems was declared.
One outcome was that there were few luxuries and people had to be self
reliant. It was a case of "do it yourself" or do without. This was
especially true of the growing interest in radio.
Other than the cinema, there wasn't much other entertainment and radio
filled the place today occupied by television. Receivers were, however,
expensive.
According to Peter's rough calculations of 1939 prices converted to
decimal, and based on a loaf of bread, (2.5cents), postage of a letter
(0.8cents) and a week's newspapers (10cents), money was worth about 50
times what it is now.
A typical wage was $10 a week.
A small Collier and Beale basic 5 valve Ensign mantel receiver cost $35
or in modern money, $1,750! No wonder that kitset building was popular.
Home-brewers will concur with Peter's view that home building had another
attraction - the satisfaction derived from creating a working radio
provided continuing pleasure and utility, as well as a saving in cost.
Anyone who shares my interest in vintage valve designs, such as the
Hikers' one and two valve designs can read Peter's article here:
http://www.oldradios.co.nz/hikers/plhikers.htm
Inspired by Peter's article, it led me to another link to the Hikers' Two,
which I've given below. There's a reproduction version of this set by John
Bauman, KB7NRN, Oregon, USA, which I'm collecting the parts together to
make.
I've managed to obtain the two 1Q5GT valves (JAN (Joint Army and Navy) new
old stock from 1940) and have acquired the coil formers and sockets. I've
tried internet (e-bay etc) to find a small intervalve transformer required
for the set, but have drawn a blank.
John Bauman suggests using a small mains transformer with a suitable
ratio, but I'm not keen on that idea - mains transformers are designed for
50hz.
If by any chance anyone bothers to look at the article at the link below,
and knows of a suitable source for such a transformer, or perhaps has one
languishing in a junk box, I'd be most grateful. I'm not on the scrounge -
happy to pay for it and for the P&P.
They do turn up at vintage radio fairs in the UK, but there isn't a fair
for some months. I'm also after a tuning dial as per John Bauman's design.
Again, they turn up at vintage fairs, and there must be thousands of these
languishing in spares boxes.
If you're interested in the Hiker Two design, take a look here, and if you
can help point me in the right direction for the transformer and dial,
that would be a real bonus:
http://www.oldradios.co.nz/hikers/kb7nrn/index.htm
The winner of the 2006 NZ Vintage Radio Society's "Hikers' Two
construction competition can be found here:
http://www.oldradios.co.nz/hikers/powell/index.htm
You'll find lots of other interesting links on vintage stuff, and
technical notes on the oldradios website, and there are two really neat
Hikers' Two's by Bill Meacham, Puerto Rico, USA at this link:
http://www.oldradios.co.nz/hikers/sparkbench/index.htm
If nothing else, take a look at the amazing shack of the webmaster of
oldradios.co.nz Greg Cooney, (which includes Indian motorbikes!) here:
http://www.oldradios.co.nz/my/shack/index.htm
Born Gore, Southland, NZ, November 1962 Greg - who is a licensed ZL ham,
was educated to University Entrance level in Christchurch. He was
introduced to radios, as many were, myself included, by way of a crystal
set for his 12th birthday.
By the time he left home had progressed to restoring several dozen
domestic valve mantle sets. He was also an avid shortwave DXer from the
late 70's to mid 80's.
He was trained in electronics in the military now runs his own company -
"Indefatigable Audio" refurbishing and repairing valve audio amplifiers,
pre-amps etc.
Catch Dave Brubek "taking five" on Greg's audio page here:
http://www.valveaudio.co.nz/index.html
Hope that's of interest to someone.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 00:06 on 2008-Jul-19
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