New-York tribune., 1922-04-02

me art OF poCtieSTlnE mas lnFaueQ
the field of radio and is rapidly becom-
ing an illicitly organized bat never
theless lucrative business. In fact it is
just as profitable as the other form OF
bootlegging without exelting the same
element OF personal risk upon the boot
logger or bootleggee
Strangely enough bootlegging in ra-
dlo has resolved itself into two main
divisions comprising the professional
and amateur bootlegger, and in this
Is following the development of radio
itself. 1T is fostered by the shortage
of material of all kinds, which has
prevailed in the radio market for the
last six months.
The professional radio bootleqger
operates in practically the same man
rer as his confrere in The liquor I'm
dustry,' but he deals solely in the
marketing Of Illicit vacuum tubes
the regular tubes Of course being very
difficult to obtain at the present time.
Every one who has radio set knows
that the vacuum tube. which is the
heart Of the radio receiver, is controlled
by basic patents and can only be
manufactured under certain conditions
by very few concerns. 1nis fact
coupled with the extraordinary growth
OF public interest in radio phone re
ceptior has caused shortage that will
exist for few weeks longer before the
legitimate manufacturers are able to
catch up IN production with the mum
Der of orders they have on hand.
taxing ADVANTAGE of this Sii,,1tIoO
Illicit factories have sprung into exist
ence Somewhere in New Jersey" for
the manufacture Of forbidden tubes,
and these factories have DEVELOPED q
considerable force OF bootleg. sales
men.
Bootieggers Know Markets
The manner in which the latter op-
crate is very interesting Probably no
one else in the radio business has such
close and intimate knowledge OF the
condition Of the market and just which
stores have supplies on hand, when the
supplies come IN and when they are ex-
hausted.
with this important knowledge in
their possession the bootleggers take
up their position outside store known
to have no tubes in stock and then wait
for likely looking customer. AS soon
as the latter has been spotted the boot
logger follows the victim into the store
and confirms his Judgment by hearing
the aforementioned victim ask for
! vacuum tube.
liable look of disappointment creeps
over the face Of the would-be pur-
chaser The latter, according to his
temperament. may enter into a lengthy
argument with the salesman, and # he
does it only increases his resentment
and disappointment and makes him a
more easily obtained victim for the
bootlegger.
AS the disappointed customer leaves
the store the bootlegger follows and
outside taps him on the shoulder and
eXelaims:
Say, Billie; do you want to buy
vacuum tube ?"
Sure is the reply, "do you know
where l can get one?'
"You bet" says the bootlegger 81
got some tubes that were made in Ger
many. They've got the American tube
beat g mile. Nothing to it. Would
you like to see one9"
I Victim Readily Purchases Tube
The victim falls Immediately and the
bOotlegger then takes him into a nearby
, doorway, looks cautiously around and
! then pulls package out of his pocket
rom tniS ne taxes one OF the bootleg
tubes. 1t is q fnelookng affair. 1t
! has circular plate which surrounds
a straight hlament and the grid is made
, Of thick copper wire close to the inside
| of the plate
OF course these tubes will operate
all right, but they are not nearly as
! good or sensitive as the legitimate
variety. The unsuspecting victim does
| not know this. of course; but he looks
| the tube over with the air of con-
noisseur, and finally blurts out:
! How much
Five bucks replies the bootlegger
But they're worth twice that I'm
selling 'em cheap because l want to
get rid of EN-"
"Got any more?" inquiries the
! victim.
Sure. How many do you want ~
And so it goes. The bootieggers are
reaping a rich harvest while the op-
portunity lasts.
The other form of radio bootleg
eing concerns telephone receivers. 1t
is very serious one, indeed, because
it involves the theft OF the telephones
out of coin booths and from private
apartment house systems. Most of the
thieves in this case arc amateur boot
leggers, who steal for their own use,