"Chicago" Home Brew Radio

[Ed Kraushar]

I call this home brew that I picked up at a radio club auction "Chicago Home Brew" as the person who constructed it put his name and address in pencil on the wood chassis.

The case was originally finished in shellac and had faded in some areas. After cleaning the case I sprayed a few coats of toned shellac to brighten it up then waxed it with 0000 steel wool and wax. (Photos 1 & 2)

For a home brew overall construction was quite good and high quality parts were used. It appeared that originally the radio had two Acme interstage transformers but one must have failed and it was replaced at a later time by the rusty black interstage. He also used a Silver Marshall 221 output transformer, the large one at the edge of the board. (Photo 3, chassis before restoration)

The original Acme interstage on the board (foreground) was now open also so it was rebuilt using a Hammond 124C coil on the old steel. I did not have another Acme around so I thought I would get creative and experiment a little. While the Acme was apart I experimented with using it as a form to make molds to diecast a replica of the frame. Usable parts were made and old transformer steel was cut down to duplicate the Acme steel and another Hammond 124C coil was put on it. The back coil is the replica. (Photo 4, restored chassis)

Download chb2.jpg. (Caution: This file may not be virus scanned.)

Download chb4.jpg. (Caution: This file may not be virus scanned.)

Download chb3.jpg. (Caution: This file may not be virus scanned.)

[Gerry O’Hara]

Another very nice radio Ed. I love the cabinet – very fancy for a home brew. I especially like the way the corners flare out – reminds me of a penguin for some reason. The inards look very typical of mid-twenties constructon, but the coil configuration would suggest non-neutrodyne design?

[Ed Kraushar]

I believe the radio is a TRF. It does use unusual coils though.

The cabinet is purchased I believe, I have seen similar ones offered in 20’s radio magazines.

Ed.

Download coils.jpg. (Caution: This file may not be virus scanned.)

[Gerry O’Hara]

I agree – they are unusual coils – from the photos they look like they have been cross-wound in a figure-of-eight. I cannot see any neutralising capacitors in the close-up so it is likley not a Neutrodyne design (which is also a TRF, but with capacitive neutralisation to enhance stability with the triodes used).

Gerry

[Author]

Posts