Crystal set: Lemco Equipment Co. (San Francisco), Model 340: 1922 This little unit, built into a small wooden box of the type used to file 3" x 5" cards, is radio at its simplest: The only variable element is the tuning inductor, which has two sets of taps -- one for the antenna to ground tuning circuit, and the second to match the crystal detector and headphone output. However, with a good antenna (and not too many stations within 50 mles), it gave quite satisfactory reception. As no batteries were required for operation, the simple and inexpensive crystal radio was a good choice for the beginning radiophile. The pictured unit was made and labeled for San Francisco's White House Department Store. Crystal radios are still being built today--you can sign up for a MOAH workshop and build your own.
RCA Radiola Model 17: 1927 Seven tube, tuned radio frequency, AC operated receiver. The original price was $130.00. This radio was built by subcontractor R. Prescott & Sons, Keesville, NY, before RCA acquired its own manufacturing facilities. The radio uses the first isolated (uni-potential) cathode tubes, allowing tube operation from AC line power without introducing hum in the reproduced sound. A three-gang variable capacitor allows simultaneous tuning of three RF stages. The tuning knob is the center knob of the three shown on the front panel.
The Zenith 1938 Model 9-S-262 "Shutter Dial"
This nine-tube console model provided excellent performance and featured a motorized tuning dial that changed dial readings to match the radio band selected. It also included a CRT-like tuning indicator that displayed a green arc that expanded as tuning for a station approached optimum. The grill cloth was available in the geometric pattern shown or a swirl pattern. Zenith sold the radio for under $100; it was their most popular 1938 model.
Scott multiband receiver The elegantly chrome-plated Scott 30-tube radio pulled in broadcast band and short wave signals. The company billed itself as the "Stradivarius of Radio."
Console radios Family members gathered around the console radio, a familiar scene in living rooms across the country in the '30s and '40s. While listening to their favorite programs, people could let their imaginations provide the pictures.
A nearby display is a recording studio, with actors ready to read their lines and the sound-effects man to supply the opening and closing of doors, rain on the roof, or whatever the script called for. Adjacent displays contain microphones and other artifacts such as transcription recordings, records made and sent to stations across the country before the era of networks.
The shop recalls the radio and TV repair shops found scattered around most American communities at mid-century. Note the tube tester, signal generator, oscilloscope, multipurpose test meter and other instruments. Do we still use tubes? The exhibit includes old-time radios, some going back to the early days of broadcasting.
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