When was the first crystal radio set made?
Crystal radios or cat’s whisker sets were widely used in the early 1920s as broadcast receivers. Although these early crystal sets or cat’s whisker radios employed no amplification, a reasonable signal could be gained by using an external wire antenna.
What was the cost of a crystal set?
When valves cost a week’s wages and had to be powered by large dry batteries and lead/acid accumulators, the construction of simple receivers of this kind could be justified. With high performance transistors now costing only a few pence or cents, crystal sets are now regarded as ‘nostalgic pieces”.
What are the parts of a crystal radio set?
The earliest models of these devices utilized a fine wire just touching the surface of the gem, a setup known as a cats-whisker detector, a title from which some of these early radios took their names. What are the parts of a crystal radio set?
Can You Make your own crystal radio set?
Many people made their own radios at home. Other sets were manufactured commercially, and the finish on these was often, but most certainly not always better. One popular approach to enclosing the crystal sets was to use a wooden box with a cover.
Why is a crystal radio called a crystal set?
A crystal radio, or crystal set as it is sometimes called, is a radio that only uses the power of the radio waves picked up by the antenna to generate the sound heard in the head phones. The reason it is called a crystal set is because they use a mineral crystal as a diode for the detector in the circuit.
When valves cost a week’s wages and had to be powered by large dry batteries and lead/acid accumulators, the construction of simple receivers of this kind could be justified. With high performance transistors now costing only a few pence or cents, crystal sets are now regarded as ‘nostalgic pieces”.
Can you make an old fashioned crystal radio?
I have, for some unknown reason, always been interested in ancient technology, mainly electronics and mechanical things and I have always wanted to make a true old fashioned style crystal radio.
How to identify the manufacturer of antique crystal?
Alternatively, visit your public library to find books and reference guides that contain photos of antique crystal stems. Identify the manufacturer of antique stemware by checking for a marker, which is typically on the bottom of the stem. Most antique crystal has an etching, symbol or sticker made by the company that manufactured it.