The classic little '25 Crosley "PUP" - Videokarma.org TV - Video

decojoe67 · #1 08-03-2016, 08:56 PM

As soon as I saw this set I had to have it in the collection. It has a good brass-based and tipped Cunningham C-12 tube in it, but I am using a more efficient O1A to play it. It plays very well with a 6V lantern battery, and a series of 9V's, along with my Trimm headphones. A ground is absolutely necessary.
This is probably the first compact tube radio, preceding the trend that would be so popular in the '30's. It is actually condensed model 50 tabletop. The public loved these, but many were discarded. They are fairly scarce today. Photo below.

Titan1a · #2 08-03-2016, 11:06 PM

Righteous!

old_coot88 · #3 08-04-2016, 12:31 AM

That's cute as a bug.

How much of the BC band does it cover?

decojoe67 · #4 08-04-2016, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_coot88

That's cute as a bug.

How much of the BC band does it cover?

This one is the first one I've seen in person and it really is a cute set. I've only used it with my transmitter so far, but on YT vids it seems to be quite sensitive. It uses a cost-saving "book capacitor" that's hinged. Notice it at the top of the photo. It works well! Not simply a cheap novelty or child's radio.

Titan1a · #5 08-04-2016, 11:49 PM

I believe it only covered upto 1400 which was the upper limit until the '30's.

decojoe67 · #6 08-05-2016, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan1a

I believe it only covered upto 1400 which was the upper limit until the '30's.

Interesting. I haven't had a chance to search around for stations with it. As with all my sets I use my transmitter to have a wide selection of programming.

Tubejunke · #7 08-06-2016, 01:50 AM

I just saw one on praybay like last week. I've never heard of or seen one and had no idea that people liked much of anything except BIG in the 30s. I almost bid on it, but I have always steered clear of battery operated stuff. It was so unique looking to me I almost went for it anyway. Maybe you got it...

decojoe67 · #8 08-06-2016, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tubejunke

I just saw one on praybay like last week. I've never heard of or seen one and had no idea that people liked much of anything except BIG in the 30s. I almost bid on it, but I have always steered clear of battery operated stuff. It was so unique looking to me I almost went for it anyway. Maybe you got it...

This one I got was local from a collector friend. I actually started in the hobby as a kid around 1980 and only until just a few years ago, gave a '20's battery sets a second look. I must say, although I'll always love the deco sets of the '30's, I'm hooked with these early sets from radios infancy. It's all about radio history and early ingenuity with these that makes them so interesting. If you're like me and like your sets working, it's a more expensive area of the hobby though. With a battery eliminator or, as in the case with this Crosley, a few batteries, you can easily enjoy using these sets. They operate amazingly well and have a very unique sound with the primitive horn/cone speakers. If you get one, enjoy using it and start researching about this era in radio, you'll soon have two, three, and so on!

Electronic M · #9 08-06-2016, 11:59 AM

With a bit of engineering knowledge and some cheap parts you can make your own battery eliminator...

decojoe67 · #10 08-06-2016, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electronic M

With a bit of engineering knowledge and some cheap parts you can make your own battery eliminator...

So I heard. When your not electronically adept, as I am, these simple projects can be quite challenging though. It's actually kind of fun to put a small set like the PUP on a table and hook it up to the batteries. The bare-bones simplicity of it, yet realizing the efforts of so many geniuses to get radio to that point, make it a marvel to experience to this day.

dieseljeep · #11 08-06-2016, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electronic M

With a bit of engineering knowledge and some cheap parts you can make your own battery eliminator...

Way back in the day, when I first started in the radio repair or experimental times, I built a B supply using a selenium rectifier and a couple of 40mfd electrolytic caps and a couple of resistors. The "A " supply was still using flashlite batteries, as an "A " supply was more costly to build, because the high current and the amount of filtering needed. Flashlite cells were still inexpensive, compared to the B batteries needed.

sean · #12 08-08-2016, 08:33 AM

I picked up one of these at a yard sale my kids' babysitter was having last year. They had no idea what it was and had it marked $5. It was missing the knob and wiper for the filament rheostat and came with a dud X99 tube. I was able to replace the missing parts, cleaned it up, and put a '01A in it and get it going.

I too never really had an interest in 1920s sets until I got a Crosley 4-29 a few years ago. These early battery sets don't take a whole lot of work to get going again. Mostly just cleaning. There aren't really any wax paper capacitors that need replacing. There is the occasional audio transformer that requires surgery or replacement.

The Pup has the distinction of being the first radio to sell for under $10. These things sure are fun to play with. Did you notice the micrometer like operation of the tuning knob?

Sandy G · #13 08-08-2016, 03:50 PM

They teamed these up w/papier mache toy pups in bigger stores. The hot set up is a functioning Pup, & its companion toy pup..I'd like to have one, someday.. Not many of the toys have survived..

decojoe67 · #14 08-08-2016, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean

I picked up one of these at a yard sale my kids' babysitter was having last year. They had no idea what it was and had it marked $5. It was missing the knob and wiper for the filament rheostat and came with a dud X99 tube. I was able to replace the missing parts, cleaned it up, and put a '01A in it and get it going.

I too never really had an interest in 1920s sets until I got a Crosley 4-29 a few years ago. These early battery sets don't take a whole lot of work to get going again. Mostly just cleaning. There aren't really any wax paper capacitors that need replacing. There is the occasional audio transformer that requires surgery or replacement.

The Pup has the distinction of being the first radio to sell for under $10. These things sure are fun to play with. Did you notice the micrometer like operation of the tuning knob?

That was a great find for $5 Sean! I actually paid $250 for mine as they are fairly rare. Yes, I really find that tuner with the book-capacitor very interesting and it works well! I enjoy my '30's radios and '40's-'50's TV's, but these early radios fascinate me!
.......and Sandy, yes the "Bonzo" advertising dog that was created for this little radio became very popular. I would like to find the original advertising dog with the Crosley name on it to put next to the radio, but I suspect they are pricey - if you can even find one!

decojoe67 · #15 08-19-2016, 03:02 PM

UPDATE:
With the aid of a small modern amp hidden below I am able to listen to the "PUP" on a 1922 British S.G. Brown mini horn speaker. It's only 12" tall! A Western-Electric driver has replaced the original one without modifications. The sound is about that of some early 4-tube compact sets, not at all impressive, but it's listenable!