A couple of weeks ago, I decided to design and build a three valve radio in the style of the 1930s. After a lot of thinking, experimenting, building it rough and finally re-building it neat, it was completed earlier today, and works a treat. The three valves are each between 80 and 90 years old! A lot of the components are modern ones made up to look like vintage types. Most of the circuit was done in shiny brass strips or brass rod, and a French-polished baseboard.

Was glad to complete it , as I was beginning to get a bit fed up of it!

Bob

I have purchased items from Birketts byt mail order in the past. Would love to visit the shop, butv aftere a lifetime of travel, very rarely leave the city of Preston these days. Long ago, nearly every town in the UK had similar shops, but anything of a practical nature is in decline these days!

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 07/06/2016 07:48:36

Hi Len,

Thanks for the interesting reply. I was always playing around with them when I was at school. The local radio repair shop would give me old radio sets for nothing, and eventually, I made one that worked, using parts salvaged from them. This one uses battery valves, and although they do light up (as all valves do) they are not very bright, and in darkness only a faint glow from the filaments may be seen. I followed a 31-year-career in marine radio, and still get the urge to design and build one from time to time, but only using valves – never did like transistors.
Bob

That appears to be a transistor set, but the strip wiring is a similar principle to what I used. My first radio kit was a one valve set on an aluminium chassis. But after that, I soon started making my own from bits & pieces obtained from old sets obtained from jumble sales or the local radio repair shop.

Bob