My greatest love:
one of my special interests. I might post others later. Thumbs are clickable!
Electronics and old technology: This first picture was taken a few years ago when I built a 1923-style radio from mostly original parts. Here, it is paired with a quick-and-dirty wavetrap (for attenuating two local powerhouse stations) and a mid-20's coiled horn speaker, set up to log as many stations as possible for an informal homebrew radio contest. Note the unique power supply, since these radios originally ran off batteries instead of the mains. A 6V SLA battery lights the filaments (a car battery would have originally been used) while 90V worth of 9V batteries, with an additional tap at about 18V, supplies plate potential. Specialty batteries were made for this purpose back in the day.
The power supply sitting on top of the orange variac is made specifically for running these old radios, but batteries are a dead quiet power source that is necessary when listening for faint stations from afar.
Photos that I submitted for my contest entry description page, found here: http://theradioboard.com/radiocontest/2 ... windom.htm Note the center tube has not lost its vacuum; it's a tube specifically made for detector service, and uses a bit of cesium vapor instead of a hard vacuum.
A very crude, experimental lash-up of an all-wave (removable coil) regenerative set. I had fun listening to hams on this. Eventually I'd like to build a finished version. Notice the ultra-elegant copper foil, since just moving your hand near that knob would throw the tuning off otherwise.
Another couple of things. My modified Magnavox stereo amp after a fresh painting, next to my homemade AM transmitter (for putting good music on my old AM radios).
Finally, the main part of a neat alarm clock that I've still yet to finish. I designed it myself, including the PCB. Eventually I'm going to build an enclosure that looks like an old piece of test equipment, with dials to set the alarm. The alarm itself is simply going to be a relay that turns on whatever you plug into the clock.
I wasn't as knowledgeable about electronics as I am now, so it lacks little features like power-on reset. I am, however, surprised at what I was able to do with what I did know. I also realize that the 17 ICs could be replaced with a single microcontroller, but what fun would that be?
Last edited by Blasty on 09 Aug 2010, 2:20 am, edited 3 times in total.