Reply With QuoteAs a wild guess, an aerial of some kind.
Best wishes,
Bob
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
As a wild guess, an aerial of some kind.
Best wishes,
Bob
Ask Walt Disney.
^ Definitely a Hidden Mickey!
Before making any suggestions, do you actually know what it is already Eddie?
I'd hate to be drawn in, get caught up in the excitement of conjecture and never have my curiosity satisfied.
so eddie you have found E Ts communication center, a great find you lucky man.
The latest Bremont, seen at BaselWorld?
A particularly difficult game of "Buzzer"?
You philistines......it's art
Oh yes, I know what it is.Originally Posted by strutjack
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
A table tennis training machine - one of the rarer doubles models?
In that case I'm in.
Do the words variable and induction feature at all?
Is it for sending / receiving morse code signals?
The wee switch on the left looks about right....
Last edited by stoneyloon; 6th May 2013 at 14:23. Reason: forgot about receiving....
Variable for sure but induced rather than induction.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Is it a spark gap receiver?
Is it the new forum server?
Would it normally have a power source attached? Radio direction finder of some kind? the German military used to locate the French resistance radio's with them.
Cat repeller.
"Bite my shiny metal ass."
- Bender Bending Rodríguez
Some variation of a wimshurst machine?
It doesn't need a power supply.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
A very sophisticated cat's whisker radio receiver?
dunk
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
No it isn't but it's his design.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
A crystal radio with the usual long length of fine copper wiring to capture the radio signal. Also known as foxhole receivers or clandestine receivers, they can't be detected by the usual means, and usually receive in the AM frequency group although you can build one to virtually any frequency by varying the length of the wires and the sensitivity of the crystal used as the diode. Uses no external electricity, just the energy gathered by the copper wiring from the radio signal...the diode is used to turn the amplitude energy into pulse energy which then can be heard via an earphone.
I "found" it earlier today in the box it's been stored in for the last 25 years. Easy to build and there are many plans on the Internet, everyone should build one at least once in their life.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
I had one over 50 years ago built by my brother in law. They were advertised in boys' comics eg The Eagle. After seeing the picture my interest could be revived ... thanks for posting.
dunk
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
Slightly ot but as a young child I had what I remember as a Ladybird book? on how to build a crystal radio,many trips were made to a shop in Walthamstow to pick up the bits and pieces required, I still remember (this thread has brought it back) the feeling of immense disappointment when I tried it for the first time and it didn't work,perhaps I should have another try.
Although it seems a primitive device today, you can understand people thinking it was some sort of magic at the time. No power, no trailing wires and you just need to attach earphones (that's what we used to call them ;-) ).
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
You two are new at this game, aren't you?
So, why are there two mickey mouse ears, is one not enough?
Next thing i know you all will be talking about long wire, Yagi and night propagation..
Fas est ab hoste doceri
Different length wires on each ear? So that you turn the knob in the middle for tuning?
I recognised this as soon as I saw it but got beaten to the answer, fascinating stuff.
If anyone has been inspired to build a crystal set as a result of this post, please post details.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Something the dustman should have collected perhaps.
I did use a G5RV until strong winds took it, I now have only a dual-bander for 2m and 70cm. I have constructed Yagis in the past.Next thing i know you all will be talking about long wire, Yagi and night propagation..
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
the original Steampunk
and i thought it was a flux capacitor!
lol
I have one of those too ;-).
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Hi (EDDIE)
Eddie
Yes I know what it is. I built it about 30 years ago. Its a cats whisker (Crystal set). Its tuned to the MW. You will need a long wire about 40 ft and an earth. You also need a pair head phones of 2000 ohms. ( ebay about £15) I made it for my then Daughter in law Father. looks good even after all the years. It will still work, no batteries needed.
If you need more info just drop me a line.
Peter G4MRU
Good to see you here Peter, not in Deepcar now?
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Hi Eddie.
Yes I thought it must be you. I do like your web site, very neat. Also very glad you are still doing well. Yes we moved out. sold up got the cash and got a council bungalow here in Skellow. I've got a shack ( a real one hi) with long wire into the trees. Eddie, so hows it been for you over the years and its been some. I'm still into radio. I've got an interest in WW2 spy radio's. Quite a collection. Must say, I got quite a surprise to see that crystal radio. Just found it be chance. A sad story over it. lost love and all that ( my son that is).
Pete Margaret
Ha yes its all coming back to me now. I made that for you Eddie. I did make another one and gave it to ex Daughter in laws Father. Its a poor mans wireless. The switch as you say on the left side is the crystal cats whisker. You must understand in its day radio was science. All new. However it could only be pursued by the rich. To get over the cost of a tuning capacitor you could affect the inductance of the coil by squeezing together or pulling apart, even as in this case passing one half in front of the other. So that's how it tunes. The crystal set was used at the same time as the "valve" wireless. It was cheap so we lesser mortals could tune in. Mainly shipping !.
Pete G4MRU
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