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12
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
Nine Points to Be Watched When the
Merchant Installs a Receiver in the Home
All of These Are Essential if the Receiver Is to Give Perfect Satisfaction to Its Owner—Little
Things That "Make or Break" the Satisfaction of the Customer
T I 7 H EN installing receivers there are certain
* * little points that if carefully observed will
lead to the perfect operation of the set by the
purchaser. Strange as it may seem, it is the
little things which "make or break" the good
operation of the receiver itself when once in-
stalled. The following incidental observations
given consideration will surprise you when you
try them out on the next set you install.
1. Keep the ground lead short. The length
of the ground lead from the set to the actual
ground (waterpipe, sicampipe or register)
should not be more than one-tenth the length of
the antenna lead-in. This means that if you
have a lead-in of fifty feet try and keep your
actual ground wire lead down to, around five
feet. A long ground lead gives broad tuning
and allows the set to be disturbed by interfer-
ence.
2. Do not run the antenna lead and the
ground lead parallel. There is a decided tend-
ency of the installer to save work by using
braided cable to combine the antenna and
ground lead. Run the ground wire and the
antenna lead-in in different directions, not close
together as many are wont to do. Where the
antenna and ground lead are placed parallel
for any length a condition exists which is the
same as placing a condenser across the antenna
and ground of the set, making it extremely hard
for the set to reach the lower wave lengths.
3. Do not place the receiver in front of a
window where the damp air has direct access to
it. The dampness, besides warping the wood
and cracking the veneer, also has the effect of
making the receiver act queerly during rainy
weather. Radio receivers are extremely sensi-
tive to slight changes in internal capacity, and
a little dampness will often spoil the action of
the set over a considerable length of time.
4. Do not place the loud speaker directly
over the set. Doing so causes a feed-back of
energy in the audio frequency leads and will
make the voice or music muffled and unnatural.
It will also cause the set to howl or make queer
noises. Place the speaker at a distance of two
or three feet away from the set and note the
difference.
5. Never install a receiver without making
sure that the battery is fully charged. If a half-
run-down battery is supplied it is a sure thing
that the set will develop clicks and knocks which
will make your customer demand service and
thereby keep your service man running around.
If a storage battery stands on your shelf more
than three weeks without use, charge it. A
storage battery has the bad habit of running
down when not used, so one that is fully charged
to-day will not be in that condition three or four
weeks from to-day. Keep all your batteries con-
stantly charged, whether they are in service or
not.
.6. When a set using dry cell tubes is installed
place a felt mat under the receiver. This will
take up the shocks and' make the set quiet.
Otherwise, a person walking across the floor
will jar it, causing the tubes to give out micro-
phonic hums and making the customer think
that his set is faulty. A braided felt mat, fash-
ioned somewhat after a rag carpet, is available
and serves the purpose wonderfully, at the same
time dressing the set up a bit.
7. Where an outside antenna is used, make
sure that the wire from the lead-in to the set is
brought in through an insulated bushing, or
some means is used to keep the wire away from
the wood of the house. Do not let the wire
touch or come near any part of the house which
might ground it.
8. Use a good solid ground clamp which
makes perfect contact with the ground. The
best ground clamp is one which is made out of
a flat strip of heavy copper, with a nut and
screw arrangement to tighten it around any
size pipe. Scrape all the aluminum paint or
dirt away from the pipe, and sandpaper both
the inside of the clamp and the pipe. Then
screw the clamp on as tight as it is possible and
you will be assured of a good contact. A cold
water pipe forms a much better ground than a
register or radiator system, as it has a direct
contact with the best possible ground.
9. Use heavy wire for both the ground lead,
and the lead-in. The light annunciator or bell
wire does not come up to the underwriters' spe-
cifications, which state that a wire not less in
cross diameter than the combined diameters
of the wires used in the antenna system shall
be used for a ground wire. It would be a good
idea if a copy of these specifications pertaining
to the installation of radio receivers were care-
fully read before installing receivers. Many
installers have disregarded some very necessary
points in these specifications which would lay
the owner of the set open to possible fines for
endangering the lives of others.
AUGUST 9, 1924
their well-known musical business can give, this
firm investigated the field very thoroughly dur-
ing the early Spring and Summer, the result
of their investigation being the installation of a
most complete department carrying radio. Va-
rious receivers were demonstrated in direct com-
parison in the store before the line was decided
on. The receivers that are carried at the present
time include the Radio Corp. of America line,
Atwatci-Kcnt receivers and DeForcst. This
gives the firm a large selection of receivers to
merchandise, from the small compact instru-
ments to the console model receivers of tre-
mendous power. The accessory equipment in-
cludes only material of nationally known repute
which is known by the purchasers through its
extensive advertising. In each case the best of
everything is combined, nothing mediocre being
attempted in the sale of the receivers.
Radio Corp. Extends
Latin-American Market
Under New Broadcasting Arrangement Develops
New Merchandising Plan—An Interview With
General J. G. Harbord
The adoption of a new and extensive program
for the promotion of radio broadcasting in
Latin-American countries by American inter-
ests, following the abrogation of an agreement
under which the American companies had
jointly participated for the past three years
with interests in England, France and Germany,
was announced recently by General J. G. Har-
bord, president of the Radio Corp. of America.
Set on Board S. S. "Republic" Receives Pro- This new plan gives the United States its first
grams From American Stations While at Sea unrestricted opportunity to utilize fully its re-
—Listeners Wire Appreciation of Entertain- sources in the development of radio in South
ment
American countries.
The plan not only includes a change in the
When the S.S. "Republic" sailed last month with
distribution of merchandise which will enable
the five hundred odd delegates bound for the Inter-
the American company to direct its activities
national Convention of Associated Advertising
more efficiently, but it also introduces a most
Clubs of the World, to be held at Albert Hall,
practical method for the support of broadcast-
London, England, the Brunswick-Balke-Collen-
ing which will be first applied as a trial to the
dcr Co. installed one of its new type Rrunswick-
powerful station in Buenos Aires.
Radiolas in the main cabin of the ship. This
In discussing the plan, General Harbord said
Brunswick-Radiola was the first of its new
in part: "The canccllatipn of the former agree-
products to be utilized in this capacity.
ment marks the beginning of a new era in our
A special program was radiocast from Station
South American radio activities. We are now
WOO, the radiocasting station of John Wan-
in the position to carry the banner of the United
amakcr, Philadelphia, .Pa., for the entertainment
States' leadership in radio below the Equator.
of the travelers aboard the ship. In order to
"One of the outstanding advantages of the
allow for the full enjoyment of the program by
plan which was made effective following our
the members of the convention the officials of
release from Radio Sud America is a system
the United States Lines closed down the wire-
giving direct contact with the South American
less station aboard the ship, thus giving unin-
radio market from New York, thus eliminating
terrupted reception of this program during the
the expenses incidental to carrying on opera-
evening hours.
tions through intermediate distributing centers.
Jarvis Wood, president of the Poor Richard Thus every new development in broadcasting
Club, radiogrammed the station when the ship apparatus will be available for South American
was one day out that the club and members consumers simultaneously with its introduction
of the other affiliated organizations were enjoy- into the United States."
ing the concerts immensely and that every mem-
"It is a well-known fact that Latins now look
ber aboard the ship wished to thank the per- to America to help in developing radio broad-
sonnel of the station for their co-operation.
casting in their respective countries, which has
The installation of this Brunswick-Radiola, conclusively proved to the world that America,
which operates without antenna other than the now leads in radio communication in all its
self-enclosed loop, marks a most interesting branches.
milestone in the forward march of that ever-
growing science—radio.
Brunswick Radiola
Entertains Advertising Men
F. Bowman & Son Add
Radio to Their Stock
Firm Handles Radio Corp. Line Among Others
—Large Department Installed by Well-known
Music House
Realizing that this year marks one of the big
years in the sale of radio receivers, and that the
dealers who enter the field are in for the big
profits to be gained, F. Bowman & Son, 938
Hamilton street, Allentown, Pa., have secured
the distribution of the most generally accepted
radio receivers of the best-known manufacturers,
Believing that radio needs the service that
New Federal Radio Jobber
The Musical Instrument Sales Co., New York,
Victor wholesaler, announced recently that it
had completed arrangements with the Federal
Tel. & Tel. Co., manufacturer of Federal radio
receiving sets and radio panels, whereby the
company becomes exclusive jobber in the metro-
politan district to distribute the new Federal
radio Victor panel for Victrola models numbers
215, 400, 405 and 410. This jobber will be the
only source of supply in Greater New York
for this panel and in addition will also be able to
supply the trade with the other Federal models,
including numbers 59, 61, 102, 110, 135, 140 and
DX 58. The Musical Instrument Sales Co. has
arranged for a Federal exhibit at its offices.