How a 1927-1931 radio will behave today in use?

[ARC Tech-109]

Agreed. Once everyone found their groove and the technology stabilized the "art" of the receiver really took off. Features and fidelity were the selling points, multiple IF amplifier stages sharpened the selectivity and push-pull amplifiers gave you the punch in the ornate and well crafted wooden cabinets. Both my United Motor R1160 and Philco 48-1264 AM/FM use a pair of 6F6's to drive the field coil speaker with 10 watts of power.

[Titan1a]

Strangely enough, you can build an IC type TRF radio with AVC running on low DC power quickly, easily and cheaply. 5 transistors that could be used as an IF stage on a superhet. All you need is an IC amplifier to produce a very nice '20's style radio. The IC only has three leads!

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by Titan1a

Strangely enough, you can build an IC type TRF radio with AVC running on low DC power quickly, easily and cheaply. 5 transistors that could be used as an IF stage on a superhet. All you need is an IC amplifier to produce a very nice '20's style radio. The IC only has three leads!

To be an IC the package must contain more than 2 transistors, and also some internal resistors and other components. Otherwise you're glorifying a transistor into something it isn't.

[old_coot88]

Who all remembers the Raytheon CK-718 transistor (predecessor to the venerable CK-722)? Or their CK-768 (first hobby grade RF transistor)?

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by Titan1a

Strangely enough, you can build an IC type TRF radio with AVC running on low DC power quickly, easily and cheaply. 5 transistors that could be used as an IF stage on a superhet. All you need is an IC amplifier to produce a very nice '20's style radio. The IC only has three leads!

Could you post a schematic or link, please?

jr

[ARC Tech-109]

Old Coot88: I do remember those along with the GE and Western Electric metal cans with the pinched seals, my Elmer had a large drawer cabinet full of these. He also had a pile of the early 8-pin round IC's that were mounted to an experimenters "wafer" board with solder pads, they were in the cabinet with the new in box Cunningham globe tubes from the 1920's. Place was a museum!

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

Who all remembers the Raytheon CK-718 transistor (predecessor to the venerable CK-722)? Or their CK-768 (first hobby grade RF transistor)?

Was that in a blue package, with leads inline and shaped like a livestock trough?

[old_coot88]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

Was that in a blue package, with leads inline and shaped like a livestock trough?

If you mean the '768, yes.

[Titan1a]

The IC has all of the five transistors and most of the support parts. Yeah, THREE LEADS! Radio can fit into a package of gum! Less than $7.