Radio today (Sept 1935-Dec 1936)

of the bass register relative to the treble is increased, on low volume adjustments) is practically universal, and has been refined in method and performance. Chassis layouts better In the department of mechanical features of the year, we find no radical innovations in cabinets, minor variations in design and decoration forming the differences from last year. But there is considerable improvement in details of chassis structure. It is noteworthy that parts such as trimmer condensers, electrolytic condensers, i-f transformers, upon whose quality continued satisfactory service depends, have been refined and improved in the new sets. Several manufacturers have introduced special features of construction aimed at simplifying the layout and wiring of the chassis, which are effective and generally excellent. Keceivers have increased greatly in circuit complexity and number of parts during the past few years, and mechanical design has not kept pace in accommodating the added parts efficiently and reliably. It was often said of last year's sets that they resembled birds' nests in under-chassis appearance. This year apparently marks the beginning of efforts to improve in this respect of workmanlike layout. At least two manufacturers have eliminated scores of short wires and soldered connections by designing parts with terminals which fasten together directly. Improvements in this direction produce more efficient manufacture and greater reliability in service. New dials A number of special features have appeared. One manufacturer has a new form of dial which is particularly beautiful in appearance, especially when the set is turned on, and effective in use. Another type of dial has a scale which is straight and marked like a ruler, and the pointer travels horizontally back and forth. The graduations are printed on a cylindrical form which rotates through an angle as the wave band is changed. Since only one scale is exposed at a time, tuning is made exceptionally easy. Another has a new tuning indicator tube of the cathode-ray type, instead of the previously used tuning meter or shadow meter. When the receiver is in operation the exposed surface of the tube is lumin ous with a green light. A dark sector extending downward from the center narrows as the station is tuned in, and when it is narrowest, the receiver is perfectly tuned for best reproduction. The indicator thus resembles an eye. "Volume range expander' One manufacturer has announced a circuit innovation of considerable importance. This is the "volume range expander." Broadcast station operation and phonograph recording require some compression of volume range, that is, reducing loud sounds and increasing weak ones in order to overcome certain practical difficulties of transmission and recording. The original relative values of loudness can be restored at the receiver by circuits which make loud sounds louder and weak sounds weaker. Such a circuit is the "volume range expander"' placed on the market for the first time this year. It is available in high priced instruments only, but should have influence in raising the standards and ideals of high quality sound reproduction. TUBES TODAY Metal-tube production behind * Delays in production, and higher initial costs of the new metal tubes, are two issues around which rages the present internal controversy in the tube field. Revolutionary manufacturing processes were required for the new metal tubes; this has made refinements in factory methods difficult to plan at outset. With terrific pressure on the plant, the resulting "brute force" methods have meant high unit pro duction costs, factory men admit. ("More than a dollar a tube" runs one rumor.) Demand for the metal tubes still exceeds the supply and will continue so probably the rest of the season. By next season, however, the slack should be caught up. Shrinkage has been high on the metal tubes, some claims being made that 50 to 75 per cent of the tubes produced had to be discarded. There were many new fundamental problems faced in going to metal envelopes, but these are now being licked, fac ito 130 \C.KJ no UJ o |(JU Cons s oles 0. <~jO J OO 70 Totrc il ^ UJ o << Busir 11 -** less UJ ' 60 \ oO tO Table Models -*>>v» " 30 20 Coir ipacrs S \o 1929 1?30 19^1 1?32 1933 1W 1935 Average price of all types of sets on the upgrade September, 1935 13