Well it's tax time again. SO it;s nice to think about something "Federal" that isn't connected to your 1040.
This is a 1923 Federal 59. A 4 tube TRF receiver with a LOT of knobs.and they all actually do something. It uses 4 early brass-based tubes, three 201 As and a 200. I have never gotten a 200 detector to make much difference in my other battery radios, but it works great in this one. Pulling 1 amp, the 200 glows like a light bulb and can be seen through the sight hole in the front panel. You can very the RF gain of the input to the detector and adjust the filament voltage to each stage independently. There are also coupling adjustments. This is also the first radio that I can say sounds better with the early tubes.
The 4 stages are switchable in and out to the output, either phones or a high impedance speaker. I did not even try head phones. The radio produces an audible level through the speaker using just the detector adding additional gain as you switch on the next two stages. The first stage (RF) is coupled to the detector through an RF transformer. Then each of the next two stages are coupled by interstage transformers. Fortunately all of these were intact.
The cabinet finish is original with some touch up being done to the lid. There should be a set of operating instructions on the underside of the lid, but they are missing. I would appreciate anyone that could send a scan of this document.
This is a 1923 Federal 59. A 4 tube TRF receiver with a LOT of knobs.and they all actually do something. It uses 4 early brass-based tubes, three 201 As and a 200. I have never gotten a 200 detector to make much difference in my other battery radios, but it works great in this one. Pulling 1 amp, the 200 glows like a light bulb and can be seen through the sight hole in the front panel. You can very the RF gain of the input to the detector and adjust the filament voltage to each stage independently. There are also coupling adjustments. This is also the first radio that I can say sounds better with the early tubes.
The 4 stages are switchable in and out to the output, either phones or a high impedance speaker. I did not even try head phones. The radio produces an audible level through the speaker using just the detector adding additional gain as you switch on the next two stages. The first stage (RF) is coupled to the detector through an RF transformer. Then each of the next two stages are coupled by interstage transformers. Fortunately all of these were intact.
The cabinet finish is original with some touch up being done to the lid. There should be a set of operating instructions on the underside of the lid, but they are missing. I would appreciate anyone that could send a scan of this document.
FEEL THE GLOW!! Or at least take a look at that detector!
Russ
RSS Feed