Remarkable Find: 1941 Popular Science Portable Radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

batterymaker1 · 9th Nov 2007, 6:42 pm

I knew what this set was the minute I saw the chassis.

This is a scratchbuilt five-tube superhet straight from the pages of Popular Science Magazine. It was completed on April 3, 1941 by A.A. Homan-- that's what is written on the inside of the rear cover. It uses five of the then-new miniature battery tubes.

The set's construction is very faithful to the example in the article (right down to the top-mounted power switch, but there are a couple of differences: Homan used an old-style magnetic speaker instead of a standard PM speaker. Plus, he didn't install a friction dial.

The cabinet is built solidly--metal braces are used to hold the wood pieces together. My only beef is that he or she didn't install a brace on the far end of the chassis--it's only held inside the cabinet by the tuning and volume control knobs. Probably felt the batteries would support it once they were installed.

I aim to restore this set and build prewar Eveready 482 and 746 batteries for it. Can't wait to see how it performs.

Examples like this have to be as scarce as hen's teeth....

Bill

batterymaker1 · 9th Nov 2007, 6:43 pm

Here's the original article:

Robert Darwent · 9th Nov 2007, 8:10 pm

Hello Bill

That certainly is a 'remarkable find', extremely well done on obtaining it!

It looks absolutely super, and constructed to a very high standard. It could easily be mistaken for a commercially produced set. Was it built from a kit of parts, or did the builder actually gather the components seperately from various sources? Also do you intend to try and create a dial, like the one shown in the article, when you restore it?

Please don't forget to write it up for Success Stories when you get it working, I will be really interested in reading about it!

batterymaker1 · 9th Nov 2007, 8:16 pm

I'm gonna leave the design as-is, but it will get a re-capping.

9th Nov 2007, 6:42 pm	#1
batterymaker1 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Posts: 674	Remarkable Find: 1941 Popular Science Portable Radio I knew what this set was the minute I saw the chassis. This is a scratchbuilt five-tube superhet straight from the pages of Popular Science Magazine. It was completed on April 3, 1941 by A.A. Homan-- that's what is written on the inside of the rear cover. It uses five of the then-new miniature battery tubes. The set's construction is very faithful to the example in the article (right down to the top-mounted power switch, but there are a couple of differences: Homan used an old-style magnetic speaker instead of a standard PM speaker. Plus, he didn't install a friction dial. The cabinet is built solidly--metal braces are used to hold the wood pieces together. My only beef is that he or she didn't install a brace on the far end of the chassis--it's only held inside the cabinet by the tuning and volume control knobs. Probably felt the batteries would support it once they were installed. I aim to restore this set and build prewar Eveready 482 and 746 batteries for it. Can't wait to see how it performs. Examples like this have to be as scarce as hen's teeth.... Bill Attached Thumbnails __________________ Just playing with high voltage....

9th Nov 2007, 6:43 pm	#2
batterymaker1 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Posts: 674	Re: Remarkable Find: 1941 Popular Science Portable Radio Here's the original article: Attached Thumbnails __________________ Just playing with high voltage....

9th Nov 2007, 8:10 pm	#3
Robert Darwent Heptode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK Posts: 990	Re: Remarkable Find: 1941 Popular Science Portable Radio Hello Bill That certainly is a 'remarkable find', extremely well done on obtaining it! It looks absolutely super, and constructed to a very high standard. It could easily be mistaken for a commercially produced set. Was it built from a kit of parts, or did the builder actually gather the components seperately from various sources? Also do you intend to try and create a dial, like the one shown in the article, when you restore it? Please don't forget to write it up for Success Stories when you get it working, I will be really interested in reading about it! __________________ Robert G0UHF www.wavesintheair.co.uk

9th Nov 2007, 8:16 pm	#4
batterymaker1 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Posts: 674	Re: Remarkable Find: 1941 Popular Science Portable Radio I'm gonna leave the design as-is, but it will get a re-capping. __________________ Just playing with high voltage....