My mother who grew up on a ranch in Abilene, Texas told me about a Windcharger installed on top of their barn generated power for their radio and some electric lighting back in the 1930's.
@@Radio1920s The fence worked really good as an antenna. I built the radio out of parts not a kit. I spent my entire life working at the highest levels of technology and still had a hobby of old radios. I was a specialist with one of the biggest tech companies in the world. I retired years ago and still care for my antique radios.
@@RottenAnimal Same here as far as our jobs, I was into computerized manufacturing and one day I bought a restored cathedral radio and thought, "I can do that", and that's how I got started collecting radios.
You did a great job of explaining the transition from crystal sets to battery powered radios!...few are able to concisely and clearly articulate the key developments!!...it did leave me wondering about the trials and tribulations of early batteries as a power source… in researching early radio, I’ve never run across accounts of the headaches that they likely caused …in your opinion…were battery issues a big problem or a mere nuisance?...were sets often in need of repair resulting from battery issues such as incorrect wiring connections or were these sets fairly resilient?
The early radios were fairly difficult to damage by incorrect wiring. The invention of dry cell batteries made power hook-ups fairly easy. Many people would order a radio and have the company deliver it and set it up for them. Replacing batteries was not cheap and I'm sure people were very happy in the late 1920's when electric radios were introduced to the public. Many people only had electric lights in their home and no outlets. Manufacturers sold radios with a plug end that screwed into a light socket.
Atwater Kent can be thanked for something else but didn't receive the recognition. Kettering created the points ignition system for cars but couldn't make it work. He didn't understand inductance. So he got his buddy Atwater to help. Atwater added the condenser, capacitor. Now it worked. So I believe the system should be called the Kettering Kent system. Not just Kettering.
@Radio1920s Many thanks. I knew Kettering couldn't get it to work. And I knew Atwater was in the auto electrical before radio. What I find most interesting is that here in Australia, Kettering is given full credit for everything. And Atwater is completely ignored and not even a quick mention of his achievements. When I pointed this out to lecturers, i was told I know nothing.
Not a mention of the great inventor Nikola Tesla who was well ahead in AC transmission, the power that runs all modern electrical systems and what made radio transmissions possible
If you read the title it says - "From Crystal to Battery Radios". Radio transmission has nothing to do with AC. Later radios were powered by AC, but they contain rectifiers that convert the power to DC to run the radio.
I've always thought that it must have been quite expensive to run these radios off the old carbon batteries. They could not have lasted very long. For farmers and country people it must have been something they used quite sparingly
BE CAREFUL WHEN BUYING THE 6VOLT LANTERN BATTERY DURACELL FROM CANADIAN TIER AS FAR AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED I CUT ONE OPEN AFTER NOTICING LOW LIFE 4 DCELLS ON CARDBOARD INSIDE
Thanks for the warning Bill. I stopped buying Duracell years ago because they were always leaking. I only use Eveready Energizer or Ray-O-Vac batteries nowadays.
My mother who grew up on a ranch in Abilene, Texas told me about a Windcharger installed on top of their barn generated power for their radio and some electric lighting back in the 1930's.
Yes, they were very popular on farms and ranches.
Thank you very much I really enjoy your videos thank you very much Joe
Glad to hear that Joe. You're very welcome!
You put a lot of work in these videos; it is appreciated. Love the AK 5.
Thank you RVP. Its a labor of love, I enjoy producing the videos.
I'm 67 and when I was about 7 or 8 I built a crystal radio. I use a metal fence for the antenna.
How well did the fence work as an antenna?
@@Radio1920s The fence worked really good as an antenna. I built the radio out of parts not a kit. I spent my entire life working at the highest levels of technology and still had a hobby of old radios. I was a specialist with one of the biggest tech companies in the world. I retired years ago and still care for my antique radios.
@@RottenAnimal Same here as far as our jobs, I was into computerized manufacturing and one day I bought a restored cathedral radio and thought, "I can do that", and that's how I got started collecting radios.
I collect antique radios from cat whisker crystal radios to atwater kent radios from the 1920's.
I do the same Carl. You can stop by and see my collection at roaringtwentiesantiqueradiomuseum.com
Very informative and fascinating to me. I'm not a collector or electrician but you make things crystal clear even for me!
I thank you once again for your kind words, freightgod.
Really enjoyed this video, thank you!
Glad you liked it, thanks for the positive reinforcement!
You did a great job of explaining the transition from crystal sets to battery powered radios!...few are able to concisely and clearly articulate the key developments!!...it did leave me wondering about the trials and tribulations of early batteries as a power source… in researching early radio, I’ve never run across accounts of the headaches that they likely caused …in your opinion…were battery issues a big problem or a mere nuisance?...were sets often in need of repair resulting from battery issues such as incorrect wiring connections or were these sets fairly resilient?
The early radios were fairly difficult to damage by incorrect wiring. The invention of dry cell batteries made power hook-ups fairly easy. Many people would order a radio and have the company deliver it and set it up for them. Replacing batteries was not cheap and I'm sure people were very happy in the late 1920's when electric radios were introduced to the public. Many people only had electric lights in their home and no outlets. Manufacturers sold radios with a plug end that screwed into a light socket.
Atwater Kent can be thanked for something else but didn't receive the recognition.
Kettering created the points ignition system for cars but couldn't make it work. He didn't understand inductance. So he got his buddy Atwater to help. Atwater added the condenser, capacitor.
Now it worked. So I believe the system should be called the Kettering Kent system. Not just Kettering.
Atwater Kent invented the cap and rotor ignition system on his own and was recognized for his invention by the Franklin Institute in 1914.
@Radio1920s Many thanks. I knew Kettering couldn't get it to work.
And I knew Atwater was in the auto electrical before radio.
What I find most interesting is that here in Australia, Kettering is given full credit for everything. And Atwater is completely ignored and not even a quick mention of his achievements.
When I pointed this out to lecturers, i was told I know nothing.
Does anyone know what band are playing the opening tune, Pennies from Heaven.
Eddy Duchin and his Orchestra, 1936.
@@Radio1920s Thank you - much appreciated.
Not a mention of the great inventor Nikola Tesla who was well ahead in AC transmission, the power that runs all modern electrical systems and what made radio transmissions possible
If you read the title it says - "From Crystal to Battery Radios". Radio transmission has nothing to do with AC. Later radios were powered by AC, but they contain rectifiers that convert the power to DC to run the radio.
@@Radio1920sOk
I've always thought that it must have been quite expensive to run these radios off the old carbon batteries. They could not have lasted very long. For farmers and country people it must have been something they used quite sparingly
Farmers would use lead-acid batteries and recharge them with their tractor.
BE CAREFUL WHEN BUYING THE 6VOLT LANTERN BATTERY DURACELL FROM CANADIAN TIER AS FAR AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED I CUT ONE OPEN AFTER NOTICING LOW LIFE 4 DCELLS ON CARDBOARD INSIDE
Thanks for the warning Bill. I stopped buying Duracell years ago because they were always leaking. I only use Eveready Energizer or Ray-O-Vac batteries nowadays.