Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1942)

ir Pepsi-Cola is made only by Pepsi-Cola Company, Long Island City, N. Y. Bottled locally by Authorized Bottlers from coast to coast. ^ HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RADIO By Joel Tall yOU may not be able to get another * radio set very soon, so the next best thing is to make sure that the one you have now gives you the best possible service and stays in good running order for the duration. And since the supply of spare parts is also dwindling, due to the requirements of the war industries, it's vitally necessary to treat that precious set of yours gently and thus avoid the necessity of calling in a repairman who may not be able to fix the ailing receiver because he hasn't got the particular part it needs. In radio, as in everything else, the expenditure of a little common sense results in the saving of dollars, time and trouble. So here are a few simple rules which, if followed, will make any radio set sound better and last longer. 1. As a general rule, keep radios out of extremes of temperature. Don't put them in front of open windows in freezing weather, or near hot radiators, or where the sun will beat down on them in summer. 2. Don't let your radio stand idle for long periods of time, particularly in moist weather. If you go away on your vacation, be sure to store your set in a dry place or arrange for it to be used occasionally. 3. Be very careful never to yank, pull, kick or bump out the base plug while cleaning the room. Take the plug out gently with a firm, even pressure. This is necessary because power plugs are easily injured, and are composed almost entirely of materials necessary to war industry. 4. Don't try to dust or clean the inside of the radio. It's a job for a good service man. And keep the radio's open back away from open windows. 5. Don't let the youngsters play with the radio's switch. Sudden turnings off and on send power through the tubes in surges, thus injuring them. 6. Any radio will work better if it is connected to an outside aerial, erected as high in the open as conditions warrant. 7. There is no magic formula for eliminating noise from your radio reception. It cannot be done by attaching gadgets to the radio. Noise eliminators on electrical appliances, like your vacuum cleaner or electric razor, are about eighty per cent effective but are not being manufactured any longer. Perhaps it would be best to have your electrician call once a year to look for loose fuses, wires, receptacles and fixtures. 8. Are you sure you know how to tune your radio properly? Strange as it seems, many people use their sets for years without ever learning this fundamental point. Read the instructions you got when you purchased the machine, or have an experienced service man show you how to tune your particular set. 9. Don't wait until your set has laboriously gasped its last breath before calling your radio man. Here are some of the indications of imminent failure — excessive humming, screeching, garbling of voice transmission, or fading. To have the radio overhauled before it goes dead will cost you less in the long run than to wait until it has gone silent. 10. If your set is a phonograph-radio combination, never let the tone-arm drop on a record, the turntable, or anywhere else. Most modern tonearms contain crystals which are very delicate and can be ruined with one husky slam. If your machine reproduces only high notes it is possible that the crystal is cracked and should be replaced. 11. Above all, while it is a very good idea to use your radio frequently and regularly, don't leave it playing for hours at a time when you're not really listening to it. Those tubes won't last forever.