«Battery» radios.


During the 20's years, making a radio receiver was already a known technic, but the problem was to supply the tubes. It was very difficult to rectify and smooth the alternating mains current. So, this radios were supplied by some batteries; one for the plate high-voltage, one for the tube heaters. Sometimes a dry cell was used for some biasing voltages. That's why these radios build in the 20's are often called «Battery Receivers» by today's collectors.

All of this wasn't really easy to use, with the batteries, the radio, the loudspeaker, the antenna and all the wires to connect everything together! More, when the batteries were discharged, the user had to go to a car garage to charge it. Later comes the chargers, adding one supplemental appliance to the receiver set! In this years, listening the radio was a famous adventure!

We can find industrial models or hand-made by amateurs, without brand. At this era, the radio sets were very expensive and a lot of people, enthusiasts by this new technology, started to build themself their own radio. This unbranded radios are often well-made, sometimes no... later modified, also... But they stay still interesting, even if not really researched by today's collectors. On the other hand, industrial models from very great brands are highly researched today.


batteries artisanal


Unknown, probably build by amateur in the 20's

Typical look, wood and bakelite, «vernier» knobs. The small knobs are the heater current adjustment. Headphone or high-impedance loudspeaker output.


Ondolina


SBR Ondolina radio, 1926

In 1924, the SBR company start to build a regenerative radio, the Ondolina model. This is one of the first industrial belgian radio receiver. This model has been built until 1928, with small look changes.

Clic on the small picture to reach the Ondolina specific page.



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