The Radio Exhibition
WHEN one considers the comparatively short space of time during which broadcasting has fulfilled the role of national entertainer, it is rather amazing to see with what acclaim each succeeding show is greeted_ by the Press and the public.
The Radio Show itself is in grave danger of becoming a public amusement. Theatre entertainments, decorations and a super-abundance of flood-lighting are rather out of keeping with a serious exposition of the year's achievements in radio engineering. Presumably the great god " gate money " must be placated and exhibition organizers judged by the crowds that they succeed in attracting past the turnstiles. • The show itself can make no claim to be " brighter and better than ever." With a few exceptions there is a paucity in ideas which rather conveys a notion that 1934 is not a vintage year for radio. Prices are lower all round—but that was overdue. The cabinet work, with the exception of Ekco, is rather disappointing. Walnut is the prevailing wood. It may be fashionable, but the sight of a good piece of mahogany now and again would be a relief. Surely everybody's taste is not fixed permanently on walnut.
The variety of receivers is beyond belief, from a truly midget portable set, which would slip comfortably into a lady's handbag, to a massive all-wave-automatic radio-gramo- phone, capable, so the makers claim, of bringing in broadcast entertainment from all parts of the world. The makers of this colossus are British Radiophone, Ltd. The average non- technical listener who goes to the show with the idea of choosing a set for his personal pleasure no doubt prefers those stands displaying a range of models among which he is likely to tied what he wants. People like Pye and Marconi are past- masters at presentation of this kind. Their stands are more or less focal points, for each can be relied on to have something really up to date and genuinely attractive. The Marconi models are particularly interesting, ranging from a receiver under £8 to a magnificent automatic radiogramophone re- quiring a cheque for 48 gns.
All-electric receivers predominate, but there is ample opportunity for the household not yet blessed with electricity to discover amongst the very attractive battery receivers one which will give adequate satisfaction.
Some attention is being given to the problem of the two types of mains current. Up to the present users of D.C. current have been rather neglected by manufacturers. It is satisfactory to observe a change of heart in this direction in the production of receivers suitable for both A.C. and D.C. current. Doubtless theiiidvancement of the change over to A.C., which is being speeded up throughout the country, is to be thanked for this development in radio design.
The most noteworthy example of this dual type of receiver is found on the Halcyon Stand who claim to have the only A.C./D.C. Automatic Radiogramophone in the exhibition. It is moderately priced at 30 gns. Incidentally this same firm are responsible for what must be the most intriguing novelty this year. An ingenious manipulation of the Auto- matic Volume Control enables _signals from the weakest :.tat ions to be -built up so that they may be heard as fully as normal programmes. At the same time extra-loud stations are damped down to a degree that prevents over- loading and distortion. All this is entirely automatic and maintains all programmes, from wherever received, at a pre-determined volume.
As is usual at the Radio Show there are scores of stands devoted to such intricate technical accessories as valves- Mullard always have a distinctive and interesting show— transformers, loudspeakers and _ a hundred and one items beyond the ken of the everyday listener.
Stripped of its fair-ground atmosphere the 1934 show is both interesting and disappointing. Possibly during the next twelve months some big discovery wilt be made which will take the science of radio a stride forward.- Efforts this year go little beyond " window_ dressing," simplifying the mechanics of tuning in various ways and improvements in the quality of cabinet work. It is a show in which emu- incree is more in evidence than constructive research,
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