Radio Broadcast (May 1929-Apr 1930)

+A6 + A4 + A2 -A -B 4-22^B +45B + 67B a g g q >iii 4 90B + 135B + 180B -*y2c -9c -22^C -45C 14 9 I — =-i l e a i a 1 1 a a a i a i I i 1 1 1 1 BlE N CIH 1 1 : i L _ ■ tags with fine stout twine are useful in labeling the incoming sets. After placing the major equipment in the shop, the arrangement of instruments and tools on the bench is the next consideration. The hand tools most frequently used should be placed in a definite location, as shown in Fig. 1. The old adage, "Have a place for everything and everything in its place," will save much friction and loss of time. The bench beneath a radio set which is being serviced must, of course, be clean and free from tools. We have seen some servicemen actually working with a radio set placed on top of a pile of tools and debris on the work bench. Both radio set and tools suffer from such treatment. All testing meters should be placed in a definite location, and supplied with long test leads. In some servicing shops the meters are mounted on a wooden or bakelite panel. However, as the leads must reach any set on any part of the bench, and be in such a position as to be easily read while putting the test leads to different parts of the set under test, this may not be found as convenient in practice as might be supposed. It is often found desirable to install a single-throw switch, or a locking push-button, in the lead from each meter, this will prevent accidents to the meters from picking up the wrong leads, if the switch is kept open except when the meter is in use. The location of the tube rack, or racks, is a matter of personal preference in the individual shop. Safety from dropping objects and jolts is a point to consider in planning this. Fig. 4 shows battery terminals as wired to the work bench in the Capitol Radio Service Shop. Fahnestock clips are located at the rear of the bench and permanently wired to the batteries under the bench. They could also be wired to a power unit in the same location. These clips are located between and in front of the meters, as pictured in Fig. 1. It will be noticed that the — B post is separate and requires a separate wire. This is intentional, as some of the batteryoperated sets are designed for — B and — A together while others require connecting — B and +A together. This row of connections makes available the voltages required for all sets of battery type and also for connection in series with any meter for continuity tests. Choosing Servicemen WITH comparatively simple and inexpensive equipment, a capable serviceman can accomplish more than can a poor man with all the apparatus on the market laid before him. The servicemen who do outside work are representatives of the shop employing them, and customers are generally inclined to judge the shop and its proprietor Fig. 4 — Diagram showing the arrangement of battery clips on the work bench pictured in Fig. 3. As indicated all potentials are provided by batteries, thus assuring best results. by the class of servicemen employed. An efficient serviceman must be sufficiently well educated ih radio to understand technical instructions and drawings, and to be able to converse with customers on technical points, explaining the theory intelligently and giving concise advice to customers as to the operation of their apparatus. He must be backed by radio, mechanical and electrical experience. In many cases the serviceman is called upon to refer to the lighting circuits in a house or to make simple connections to them. "Radio tinkerers," who have "just picked it up," and who not infrequently advertise themselves as "radio engineers," should not be eligible to employ Fig. 5 under — Making a continuity test on a radio receiver ideal conditions with plenty of daylight and the proper test equipment. ment in a first-class radio servicing shop. The fact that many such people have been permitted to work on the public's radio sets has done considerable harm to the business by creating a feeling of suspicion and distrust on the part of many set owners. Efficient and honest dealing with the customer is invariably the surest road to real success. It is well known that many servicemen have, in times past, made a practice of condemning various parts of a set, the favorite parts being audiofrequency transformers, and of selling new ones for replacement, when the parts condemned were not really damaged. Such practices must sooner or later come back on people who are guilty of them, or who permit their employees to be guilty of them. There are a few pioneer schools in broadcast radio servicing and the prospective employer will profit by selecting his servicemen from the graduates of such training classes, or from men who have been practical commercial radio-telegraph operators. There are many ex-seafaring operators available, who have kept up with the times in broadcast receiving apparatus and who, for various reasons, wish to remain ashore and find work where their experience in radio will count. The outside radio serviceman must have a good personality and a neat appearance. If he is gifted with diplomacy, he can often keep customers and make friends, when conditions might otherwise lose their business. If the volume of business requires, two servicemen are employed, one for shop and bench work and one for outside calls, with the understanding that if necessary either one will help the other. The larger shops, of course, employ many more servicemen than this. Naturally, good men, coming up to the requirements given, cannot be hired for a pittance. If they are really well-trained and experienced men who can prove that they know their business, they are well worth a reasonably high salary. The proprietor of the small radio shop will find that he will make more sales and have a better paying business if his servicemen are able to add continually to his list of pleased customers. Articles which have been published in recent issues of Radio Broadcast should be of great assistance to the dealer who is faced with the problem of engaging men for his service staff. In particular, the article, " An Examination for Radio Servicemen" by J. F. B. Meacham, on page 405 of April, 1929, Radio Broadcast will be found of value. This article includes the examination for radio servicemen which has been used with success for a number of years by one of the largest service organizations in New York City. This examination has been designed to determine the general radio knowledge of the applicant as well as his ability to service radio receivers and it has been found that the man who can pass an examination of its scope is usually quite efficient in the field as a serviceman. The examination is divided so that fifty credits are given the questions on servicing and fifty credits for general information. The subjects considered in the various sections of the examination are fundamentals, tubes, batteries, power units, diagrams, and servicing. [The second of this series of articles will deal with the technical problems encountered by the serviceman and the most effective methods for handling them, with diagrams and descriptions of testing apparatus. Editor.} • may, 1929 page 12 •