Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

Hi, looking for any info, date, schematic for REFLEX RADIO COMPANY Crystal radio set
reg. no. 331

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

Hi, Welcome to the forum. According to Tickling the Crystal by Ian Sanders it was made in 1924/5. Their address was 198 Lower Clapton Rd London E5. Is it the one or two knob version? A similar circuit for the two knob version can be found on this site under "websites" Early radio articles / stuff post 2 by David G4EBT.
Any chance of a photo?


John.

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

hi , not the 2 knob (see photo)

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

Is it either of these two? Taken from Tickling the Crystal by Ian Sanders.


John.

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

OOps, only just seen your picture, I presume it was withheld, being only your second posting. Have you the case for it? It was made in 1924. Makes use of a Variometer (one coil inside another) for the tuning. There would have been a Condenser (Capacitor) inside the case and would need high impedance Headphones and a high aerial plus an earth to receive a signal.


John.

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

Similar to right picture, but no glass. See attached photo.

Yes i have original case in good condition. Need to check diode and rewind coil then get her receiving

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

Looks like a Red Diamond Permanent detector. Invented 1922, in common use by 1924 so may well have been sold together. These replaced the Cats Whisker. The Post Office number will be of interest because I think the one in my picture had no number.


John.

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

any chance of a picture of the internals as i think this one has been infiltrated by a ham fisted cretin

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

Sorry, that photos were out of the set of books mentioned. If you can photograph what you have from a few different angles so we can clearly see the wires we may be able to work out what you need. They are usually very simple as already stated, just the Variometer and a simple hand made capacitor under the Ebonite panel with the detector above and possibly two posts to attach a LW coil. Under the panel should be wired with Tinned Copper wire ~18 SWG. The Variometer may be wound with DCC wire (double cotton covered wire)


John.

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

on closer inspection you can see that someone has bypassed the red diamond detector and badly tried to solder in a germanium diode .
I have taken the red diamond detector apart and the Crystal that should be attached to the plunger is NOT !

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

Looks like the windings on the left of the coil are ok. I suggest you remove the whole Variometer from the panel to make repair of the right coil easy.
Once the variometer is removed wrap double sided tape around to hold the wire while you wind the wire onto the former, direction of the winding is important but it looks like the wire has not moved much so should be easy. Once the wire is in place try to make the end secure in the same way as the left side. I also suggest that for now you leave the permanent detector crystal open circuit and rely on the diode assuming that is ok.


John.

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

thanks , i have a spare diode just in case .
although i want to try and get the detector sorted and keep things as original as possible.

Re: Reflex Radio Co. Crystal set
 

You may be able to rewind coil without removing the variometer but will be very awkward. Just don't run out of room for the last winding on the outer edge of the former. I am sure you will eventually get it back working with original parts.


John.