Category Archives: Radios and Tubes

Antique Radio in “Firefly” Episode 2

Posted on February 7, 2011 by jwk

I was watching Firefly the other day, and noticed something interesting. Firefly is set in the year 2517 centered around a small smuggling ship named Serenity manned by a crew of mercenaries, former freedom fighters, a pair of escaped convicts, … Continue reading →

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Found: His Master’s Voice (HMV) 444 Radio

Posted on February 3, 2011 by jwk

I’ve added a new radio to my collection, and I think I have a new favorite. This 1934 His Master’s Voice model 444 is a small 5-tube console with Medium-Wave (MW, also known as AM Broadcast) and Long-Wave bands in … Continue reading →

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Refurbishing a Capacitance Tester

Posted on January 20, 2011 by jwk

Parts Express sent me an advertisement for a $45 capacitance meter today. This actually a pretty good deal, and it’s a useful thing to have around if you’re doing electronics work. I’d probably have bought one myself, if I didn’t … Continue reading →

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Cost Engineering in the 1930s

Posted on January 15, 2011 by jwk

It looks like cost engineering was already happening back in the 1930s: In the foreground, the destroyed original power transformer from the 1939 Zenith 7-S-363 radio; the rear, an equivalently rated replacement built in October 2010 by Edcor Transformer. In order … Continue reading →

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Repairing a Vintage Radio (Coronado 907)

Posted on January 13, 2011 by jwk

This is my first project, a 1940 Coronado model 907. This was originally a “high end low end” receiver: it only receives the AM broadcast band, but has three tone settings and mechanical push-button presets. It also uses 7 tubes … Continue reading →

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