Radio Broadcast (May 1928-Apr 1929)

RADIO BROADCAST ADVERTISER 179 Letters From Readers iiimii.icijhi uinrinnn: ..nine Direct Selling on the Air THE president of the Iowa Radio Listeners' League, Francis St. Austell, described in Radio Broadcast for May, direct radio selling which assails the ears of listeners out Iowa way. The letter below, from a reader in Burlington, Iowa, is interesting as the opinion of a listener located in the center of things. To the Editor; Permit me to say that I read Radio Broadcast regularly, and have, in fact, almost since it was established. I have many clippings from it and among my most valued, is a complete file of "Laboratory Sheets," which I have accumulated from my own copies of R. B. I am heartily in sympathy with your editorial policy. I read, with much interest, Mr. St. Austell's article. Being out here in the heart of the "direct selling" area, I may speak accurately. That was a "warm" session in Des Moines, too. I am not interested in direct selling, either for or against. I am only interested in merchandising as everyone interested in the social structure should be. But I have no direct connection with it. First, I have never heard any outstanding values offered over the radio. True, I do not consistently listen to those stations, but I do occasionally drift into them when the better stations are off the air. But I am impressed with their statements about the merchandise, when goods of equal or superior quality may be bought at retail in our own city at corresponding prices. But I am impressed with the carelessness with which the truth is handled. I believe a half truth often more misleading than an entire falsehood. For instance, during the time when the increased postal pay and rate bill was pending, I heard Mr. Field address his radio audience asking them to write their senators and representatives urging them to vote against the bill, telling them it would surely mean greatly increased parcel post rates. The increase was actually two cents per parcel, I believe, and regardless of the merits of the bill, I do not believe it was parcel post rates, but rather the increased cost of circular mailings that worried Mr. Field. I took occasion to write Mr. Field once criticizing his broadcast on some occasion and received in reply — a seed catalogue. And I have received them regularly since then! Mr. Baker of ktnt makes statements which are possible of several interpretations. So does Mr. Henderson, kwkh, not a seller. I once wrote Mr. Henderson questioning some statement. His reply was to the effect that he regretted that I did not agree with him — that less than six in a thousand letters received by him were uncomplimentary. No answer to my criticism at all. Maybe the people who would write uncomplimentary letters just don't write. I've played with wireless since along about 1912. And short waves since amateurs were forced on them. And I've listened to Baker harp on Monday nights about opening up short-wave channels to broadcasting. He is squawking now about the short wave he is on. Why not open up, say 50 meters, and ask him to take it! Obviously, short-waves are all right — for someone else. I Tead your articles on this subject with much interest. Direct selling, no doubt, does offer undue advantage. Seems to me the solution would be organization of legitimate business men. But I would like to see the Radio Commission out of politics, unhampered, with equal authority to enforce their dicta and a censorship authority of some sort that would make station owners and announcers adhere rigidly to facts. Why should it be possible to say over a radio anything that could not be printed in a newspaper or magazine? Yet they can say anything they choose and get away with it. Anyone with a reasonably good receiver ;an choose his own programs. Of course, there a e << lot of people in, for instance, Muscatine, who must listen to Baker's ravings, or nothing. He is located in the heart of the city, with almost enough power to blanket the average five-tube set any place in the city. It appears to me that the real solution would be to close up about 1 50 or 200 of the last ones licensed. Of course, a few good ones would have to go. But what other equitable arrangement could be made rather than closing the last ones licensed? Probably wjaz ought to be closed because they were perhaps more nearly entirely responsible for the present condition than any other one thing. But I'm surely with you. And may it all get out of politics, yet, before it is entirely doomed to oblivion. Smith Trump, Burlington, Iowa. "Fading" Due to Street Cars M R. A. H. Klingbeil of Ashtabula, writes as follows: Ohio, To the Editor; Commenting on your April issue. In "Strays" from the Lab. the mentioned street car effect in a receiver has been noticeable for a long time at my home. While I have never checked the action for data, I have noticed that some stations faded completely while street cars were passing the house for perhaps 50 or 75 feet either side or a total distance of about 200 feet maximum, and on other occasions, the street car effect was to "increase" the volume temporarily of the station tuned-in. My antenna is approximately 125 feet straight in from pole in rear, at approximate trolley wire height, also street car feeder wires, power wires, arc lamp circuit, on same poles in front of my residence. Antenna is at right angles to street wires. There are no stations within 50 miles of my location and the ones fading or increased by street car action have been farther away than that and with receiver adjusted to low volume. House supply wires lead-in to same room where the set is, and interior wires parallel the antenna for 15 feet, four feet apart. Until two weeks ago I used a waterpipe ground, later a drilled well ground, and last two weeks a chemical B power unit requiring no receiver ground, and effects seem to be the same, but not on all stations at any of the time past or present. One of the first receivers I owned was a Fada 160 and at that time a suburban electric line operated a 1 a.m. car into Ashtabula from a distant point; no other cars operated at this hour. I usually could hear the "motor whine" for some minutes before the car arrived when I was listening to a weak station. The Popular R. B. "Lab" Circuit D EADERS have written in great numbers 1* reporting their results with the R. B. "Lab" circuit. This was described first in our June 1926 and in November, and December 1926 and January and February, 1927. The receiver was redesigned with more modern parts, and in our April, 1928, issue Keith Henney described mea-arements on the set, showing how it was designed and the results achieved. Among the many letters which came in the following is of interest. To the Editor; I built the Lab circuit from your schematic diagram in the April 1 928 issue and am immensely pleased with it. I live in a fearful radio locality: West 76th street, New York; no antennas permitted on the apartment building, and direct house current, so you may imagine what I am up against. For my antenna, I drop a wire out of the window and get splendid local reception. Joseph C. Eggart, New York City. Jenkins & Adair Condenser Transmitter For Broadcasting, Phonograph Recording, and Power Speaker Systems H^HIS transmitter is a small condenser which _J varies its capacity at voice frequency, and is coupled direct into a single stage of amplification, contained in the cast aluminum case. The output, reduced to 200 ohms, couples to the usual input amplifier. The complete transmitter may be mounted on the regulation microphone stand. It operates on 180 v. B and 6 or 12 v. A battery. This transmitter contains no carbon, and is entirely free from background noise. Its yearly upkeep is practically nothing. It is extremely rugged, and will withstand hard usage. Price, complete with 20 ft. shielded cable, $225.00 F.O.B. Chicago. J. E. JENKINS & S. E. ADAIR, Engineers 1500 N. Dearborn Parkway, Chicago, TJ. S. A. Send for our bulletins on Broadcasting Equipment Read Radio Broadcast every month. You can't afford to miss an issue. Order your copy from your Newsdealer or Radio Store. If you wish to subscribe direct send £4.00 for one year or £6.00 for two years. DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & COMPANY, Inc. Garden City, N. Y. ROBERT S. RRUSE Consultant and Technical Writer 103 Meadowbrook Road, West Hartford, Conn. Telephone Hartford 45327 A EROVOX Filter Condenser Blocks and Resistors are Built Better. They will ENDURE! The Aerovox Research Worker is a free monthly publication that will keep you abreast of the latest developments in Radio. A postcard will put your name on the mailing list. EROWL "Built Better" 78 Washington St., Brooklyn, N. Y.