Quote:
Originally Posted by dieseljeep
Way back, when I first started working on radios, the battery-only radios seemed to be around, free or very inexpensive. The electronic magazines had circuits for the "B" battery eliminator, but nothing for the "A" supply. Flashlite cells were inexpensive, so I built the "B" supplies and used the radio that way.
I always wondered why someone would buy a radio that cost that much to operate, when for a few bucks more, you could buy a radio that you could use year round. "B" batteries were always expensive.
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I think safety was a concern... as a kid with a battery only tube radio, I was allowed to use it in the bathroom, with no fear of electrocution.
Design wise, elimination of the built in power supply, complex switching for the filament circuit, and space for cord storage allowed for a more compact design, which might have been a selling point.
The "B" batteries lasted pretty well compared to the much cheaper flashlight cells used for the "A" supply. IIRC, the 67 1/2 Volt battery was nearly 3 bucks in the 50s... nice birthday or xmas gift for a little kid.
jr