Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-25

dernistic vogue.
at prevails after q close survey of the
dio sets and accessories now on display
at Madison Square Garden The show
( the progress In the radio industry.
Differ But Little.
In outward appearance, however, the
1880 sets differ but little from the 1929
receiver. The cabinets are q little
more ornate, perhaps, and there is a
tendency toward maSSiveneSS In ex-
pensive models, but close comparison
is necessary to determine the difference
between last years and the 1880 models.
In order to create slight change
several manufacturers have adopted
colored tapestry coverings for the sound
:hamber= Of the console models. The
most striking feature OF the new cabi-
nets is the absolute lack of mechanical
appearance. No longer do radio re-
ceivers bear the stamp of machinery
they have passed into the realm of art
and music. In fact. there Is one set
on display which resembles an eXpen-
sive walnut living-room table.
Tubes Improved.
Like the automobile It's the mechan-
ism under the hood that counts in the
radio set. The improvements and re-
finements that have been made in the
new sets are found chiefly in the tubes
and the speaker. Most of the models
are employing the alternating current
screen grid tube-a four element tube
that was developed during the Summer
mainly because of the greater SENSITIVE
ity than provided by the three element
tube.
The real merit of the screen grid tube.
however, lies in its ability to bring in
distant stations on short antenna.
Improvements that have been made
in the speaker also are noteworthy. The
obnoxious base tone has been eliminated
almost completely from the popular
dynamic speakers. No longer does this
speaker cut out the harmonics and con-
sonants Of speech and give of a bar
rel-like sound The very latest in
speakers, however. is a condenser re-
producer which works on the principle
of electric static repulSion and attrac-
ton. It is. in effect. an evolution of
the dynamic type speaker. 1t gives
reception without hum, distortion or
mechanical sound of any kind. One Of
the newest wrinkles in radio receivers
Is a remote control tuner and silencer,
which is the very essence Of comfort
and convenience in radio reception.
ture are on exhibit at the show and
they are in the high-price class.
New Control Apparatus.
The remote control apparatus con-
sists Of switch box, which resembles a
toggle switch in appearance, and con-
tains a battery of eight buttons. These
switches are located in various parts of
the house and connected by wire to the
receiving set. The set. therefore, can
be turned on or of from any point in
the home.
A multiple condenser, connected to
an illuminated dial, is practically
standard in all the 1880 sets Sockets
also have disappeared and the tube
prongs make contacts with sleeves or
springs that are riveted on. Block
condenSers, transformers and resistance
units are neatly boxed in cans that
clothe them in luminosity. All wiring is
done under the metal base. Connec-
tons are short and the amount of wire
reduced to a minimum. Shielding is
virtually universal. Tuning units are
thus disguised, although screen grid
tube cans are hiding even the tubes
! from direct gaze power. Power packs
and amplifiers. with the built-in speak
er. which seems to be the common en-
cheering practice, show sturdiness of
construction without bulk or clumsi-
ness. It is, Of course, necessary for
these parts to be free from vibrations
and able to sustain the weight of con-
densers and transformers.
No Boost in Prices.
Despite the refinements and improve
ments, there is no increase in the price
Of 1880 models. In fact, some of the
sets have been reduced in price. and
those on which reductions have not been
made the radio buyer will get decidedly
more for his money than he did in the
1929 receivers.
Prices on the 1880 models range from
500 to $500. OF course there are sew
eral models selling for less than 500
and some which cost more than $500
In the latter class is, for example, the
set featuring the remote control tuner
The higher prices on these models is
due primarily to the added mechanism.
the chief unit being a small motor
which automatically tunes the set. 1t
is snugly located under the cabinet.
Although advance notices gave the
impression that television would be the
sensation of the radio show, there is an
| unheralded instrument on display,
which is attracting just as much atten-
ton as the demonstrations in television.
IL IL sIdilsc lOOklHB UeVlCe, lnaI Will
make its appearance on the market
within the next few weeks.
The manufacturer calls it a tremelin
New Device Explained.
The tremelin is a musical instrument,
and not radio set, although it employs
a radio principle in it's operation. It's
mechanism consists of the regenerative
circuit long ago discarded by radio en-
glneerS because Of its squealing procliv-
tiles. Outside of the cabinet in which
the tubes and mechanism are located is
an elbow-shaped nickle rod, which pro-
duces musical notes when approached
by the human hand. BY varying the
distance of the hands from the rod a
tune can be played.
The notes are produced by what is
commonly known as body capacity. Ra-
dio fans Of several years ago, are famil-
la with howls produced by the old re-
generative sets, when the hands neared
the dials Now the regenerative hook
up is staging a comeback not to pro-
duce the blood-curdling squeals, but to
make soothing music.
Thus, the radio engineers, like the
meat packers, are utilizing the squeal Of
the pig"