Radio today (Apr-Dec 1939)

• For all-round use, especially for rush jobs that cannot wait for an AEROVOX exact-duplicate replacement, your logical choice is the PBS line of electrolytics. Here's why: • Cardboard-case units of utmost compactness consistent with full rated capacity and working voltage, and economical life. • Provided with Adjustimount metal flanges to fit any mounting-hole spacing, or for fiat, upright, or stacked mounting. • Single, dual and triple sections. • In 25, 50, 100, 250, 450 and 600 v. D.C. working. Standard capacities. • More for your money. More value for your customers. More good will for your future. Ask Your Jobber trolytics. Have them on hand as "firstaid" units. Ask for latest catalog — or write us direct. EKQVM CORPORATION NEW BEDFORD, MASS. Buy antenna first, radio afterwards * My friends are continually asking me what make and type of radio they should buy, since with an engineering background and years of practical radio experience they feel I should know what's best. Almost invariably, states Eadio Today's Service Editor, Vinton K. Ulrich, I have startled them by saying that they should be more concerned with what kind of an antenna to buy and install. In fact I go so far as to advise buying a good antenna (plus installation) and spending the balance for a receiver of any reliable make. Experience in crowded cities has time and time again shown that a noise reducing aerial is the most important part of a radio set up — it is far more essential than a high-priced receiver. Even the $250 sets perform badly in a noisy building unless a noise-reducing antenna is employed. And it must be properly installed to be effective. Figuring say $7.50 list for the aerial and $7.50 for the installation— and a good job is worth at least that much — means that the customer will have to pay $15 for his signal collector. My preference in a noisy location is a $35 midget with a $15 antenna in preference to a $50 to $100 set with just a wire thrown out the window — after all, isn't clear, noiseless reception important for real enjoyment? SUBURBAN REQUIREMENTS In suburban areas where noise isn't usually an acute problem, an ordinary outside wire about 50 to 100 feet long with suitable lead-in and properly soldered connections is usually satisfactory. Since signal strengths are usually rather high, a short wire is all that is needed. And contrary to talk in some quarters, an ordinary wire will work okay on short-waves if the noise level is low. Remote sections — some 40 or more miles from the nearest station need more pick-up than locations near the stations. Usual solution is to use an antenna some 100-200 feet long of the ordinary wire. If short-waves are used frequently, a doublet type antenna will give peak efficiency on these wavelengths as well as keeping the lead-in from picking up noises in the house. With just a little experience any serviceman can determine how simple an antenna will work okay in his neighborhood. By concentrating on that type of antenna the customer will be well pleased since he is getting optimum reception at the least cost. (Continued on page 61) Examine any one of our products INTERXALLY as well as externally. . . . Ask your jobber to open one for you. . . Note the craftsmanship and the infinite care in construction and wiring . . . PRECISION Series 900 "Laboratory Electronometer" Tests all tubes, including the new LOKTAL and SINGLE EXDED types. A MODERN "push-button" operated dynamic mutual ductance tube tester. . . . Combined with s multi-range A.C. and D.C. volt-ohm-decibel-mil liameter . . . plus a ten ampere range for com plete point to point set analysis . . . include: ballast test facilities. ... A complete laboratory i compact form. Size only 12x12x6. CAQ QR Net price ELECTRONOMETER Series 510 Uiikible An efficient modern tube analyzer capable of testing all tvpes. including the new LOKTAL and SINGLE ENDED tubes . . . incorporates ballast test facilities. Usual PRECISION Standard of Accuracy and ability to accommodate FUTURE tube releases. Portable hardwod case. Size 12x12x6. ^ ^ |29.9S All "PRECISION" testers include telephone cabling, wire wound shunts and matched metallized multipliers of 1% accuracy . . . INDIVIDUALLY calibrated and checked against laboratory standards to maintain CLOSE ACCURACY. Catalog describing 12 models ~™ upon request. PR TESTEQUIPME wsMnnxnm PRECISION APPARATUS CO. S21 East New York Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Export Department 438 Broadway, New York City, U.S.A. Cable Address: Morhanex APRIL, 7939 59