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Old 10th Oct 2021, 4:10 pm   #1
David Simpson
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Default Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Calling all Cobbers out in the Australian Bush - 'twould be great if one of our Forum members out there could get his hands on one of Traeger's old 20's/30's pedal radios & give us a speil on it's restoration.
Every couple of years or so, I take down my copy of Fred McKay's 1995 book :- "Traeger the Pedal Radio Man"(IBSN 0-8643-9192-7), for a good read.
Wish I'd been interested in VR back in 1994 when out staying with friends in Adelaide(Traeger's base), on holiday. But, was more interested in scuba diving.

Regards, David
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Old 10th Oct 2021, 7:07 pm   #2
Graham G3ZVT
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Traeger
or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Baylis

Which one most deserves the "Mechanically Operated Radio" accolade?

Discuss.
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Old 10th Oct 2021, 11:36 pm   #3
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Quote:
Originally Posted by rambo1152 View Post
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Traeger
or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Baylis

Which one most deserves the "Mechanically Operated Radio" accolade?

Discuss.

They are both as worthy as each other.
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Old 11th Oct 2021, 6:30 am   #4
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Then there were the 'Gibson Girl' radios

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Old 11th Oct 2021, 10:37 am   #5
David Simpson
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Right enough, Trevor Baylis was in the same league at Alfred Traeger, but a couple of generations later. Ex Army PT instructor & trapize artist to boot.
Fred Dibner was another hero of mine of that ilk.
I do hope that some of Traeger's early 80m sets still survive. Later, of course, he changed to Vibrator PSU's. Then mains SSB's in the 50's & 60's.
Think I'll contact our friends in Adelaide & see if they know of a VR restorer with a knowledge of Traeger's work. Actually, Terry - our pal, is an ex RN Signaler/Meteorologist who retired from the Australian ATC a few years back.

Regards, David
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Old 11th Oct 2021, 11:11 am   #6
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

I'm pretty sure there are one or two sets on display around Adelaide somewhere, I'll see if I can dig up the details.

A quick trip round the 'net is showing there are actually quite a few radios from the earliest pedal ones to later Traeger gear in various places around Australia, mostly in places in the outback and the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.

Here is one link to a virtual museum in Alice Springs https://www.samhs.org.au/Virtual%20M...ctor-radio.htm

I'll drop an email to a collector in town who might have more info.
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Old 11th Oct 2021, 11:44 am   #7
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Email sent, we'll see what comes back.
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Old 13th Oct 2021, 12:53 pm   #8
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Ok, the word has gone out to various people here in the Colonies so will post what comes back as it becomes available.
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Old 13th Oct 2021, 6:36 pm   #9
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry_VK5TM View Post
Ok, the word has gone out to various people here in the Colonies so will post what comes back as it becomes available.
Fair dinkum
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Old 14th Oct 2021, 11:12 pm   #10
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

One reply back so far, certain non-essential wording has been removed, hence the ......... lines, so there is still gear in private hands.
Quote:
Hi Terry,
.........................
I am an ex Traeger radio tech, did my apprenticeship with Traeger in the early 1970's then worked as a production line alignment tech, then service and field service tech. (1970 - 1978) (1978, I joined the SA Police as an HF radio tech)

I have several old Traeger radios,

TS2
CM7
SSB50A (working)
SSB100 (working)

However, I have not restored the radios so, they look well used and a bit tired, need a good hammertone paint job.
.......................
Our Mens Shed has a descendent of Alf Traeger as a member and I spoke with him the other day, unfortunately, he had no information re the radio side of things as his branch of the family were not involved in it.

He did say Alf was one of four brothers and a sister, but it seems not a lot is mentioned about them in any of the biographies.

Some other information to light is that Alf's grandson is still involved in the radio industry (for privacy reasons, I'm not at liberty to say more than that at the moment).
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Old 15th Oct 2021, 3:58 pm   #11
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Very good of you Terry, to make enquiries. What appeals to me about Traeger(and Trevor Baylis, & Fred Dibnah) - is that they were hard working, down to earth, and always eager to pass on their skills to others. Unlike that plagiarist Marconi, always eager to litigate against folk who wished to improve some of his outmoded designs. With his socialite mother always pushing her son's name under the noses of the PMG and senior Naval officers. Oliver Lodge was my hero.

Regards, David.
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Old 24th Oct 2021, 11:15 pm   #12
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Worth noting that Alf Traeger was instrumental in assisting the setup of The Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australkia, as he started up the use of radio coms by outback people.

This organisation is held in very high regard by Outback Australia.
Not many people overseas know about it.


If you are out checking fences and fall off your horse onto a tree stump with a serious injury, and require urgent medical help, the RFDS will help.

They will fly an aircraft to the nearest suitable airfield with a doctor onboard, render first in, transfer you to a suitable hospital if required, fix you up, and send you home, all at no cost to you.

Funded primarily by our federal government, it is supported by local fundraising.
Few can resist putting a little something in the collection box.

Most inland shops have RFDS collection tins on the counter for loose change.

If I travel a few klms west of home to Noccundra, and have a morning shower in the campground, that will cost a gold coin in the RFDS tin.

Just a few more klms west, in the public bar of The Birdsville Pub, if you utter an expletive, that will cost you a gold coin in the RFDS tin, or else ... staff will not serve you.
That normally extracts a second expletive from the expletor.

"That will be another gold coin, sir".

This fund raising happens all over the outback, and we are so proud of the organisation.


If you think a tree stump in the chest is unusual, have a listen sometime to Richard Burton talking about his (real) father.
.

Last edited by Radio1950; 24th Oct 2021 at 11:44 pm.
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Old 24th Oct 2021, 11:53 pm   #13
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio1950 View Post
They will fly an aircraft to the nearest suitable airfield.............
.
An acquaintance of mine from a time past (now sadly departed) was an RFDS pilot - some of the places he spoke of putting a plane down on would make many a modern pilots rear end twitch violently - so it wasn't just local airfields they landed on.
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Old 25th Oct 2021, 1:43 am   #14
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio1950 View Post
Worth noting that Alf Traeger was instrumental in assisting the setup of The Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australkia, as he started up the use of radio coms by outback people.

This organisation is held in very high regard by Outback Australia.
Not many people overseas know about it.


If you are out checking fences and fall off your horse onto a tree stump with a serious injury, and require urgent medical help, the RFDS will help.

They will fly an aircraft to the nearest suitable airfield with a doctor onboard, render first in, transfer you to a suitable hospital if required, fix you up, and send you home, all at no cost to you.

Funded primarily by our federal government, it is supported by local fundraising.
Few can resist putting a little something in the collection box.

Most inland shops have RFDS collection tins on the counter for loose change.

If I travel a few klms west of home to Noccundra, and have a morning shower in the campground, that will cost a gold coin in the RFDS tin.

Just a few more klms west, in the public bar of The Birdsville Pub, if you utter an expletive, that will cost you a gold coin in the RFDS tin, or else ... staff will not serve you.
That normally extracts a second expletive from the expletor.

"That will be another gold coin, sir".

This fund raising happens all over the outback, and we are so proud of the organisation.


If you think a tree stump in the chest is unusual, have a listen sometime to Richard Burton talking about his (real) father.
.


Just a few kliks from Buderim to Noccundra, and just a few more to Birdsville.

You been smoking that Buderim Ginger again ?

( MODS: please note my attempt at an aussie pun. The distances he is talking would blind most Brits to Birdsville and back I would "guess" is around the same distance as sailing the whole UK coastline )

Tongue in cheek,

Joe
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Old 25th Oct 2021, 8:21 am   #15
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio1950 View Post
Worth noting that Alf Traeger was instrumental in assisting the setup of The Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia, as he started up the use of radio coms by outback people.

This organisation is held in very high regard by Outback Australia.
Not many people overseas know about it.
I'm not sure about not being well known outside Australia.

Australia has been pretty successful in exporting TV material including the well known Flying Doctors series (My wife and mum were great fans) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Doctors

I think that informed several generations of this amazing service although granted not its history to the English speaking world.


Cheers

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Old 25th Oct 2021, 10:20 am   #16
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1X3tksdjy4&t=331s

I dont normally post this sort of stuff, but it came up on my subscription today.

There are literally hundreds of vids/movies about them. My first movie memory is a black and white clip from Movietone news, showing ( I think ) a Ford Trimotor flying at a standstill in a big sand storm.
Sometime from the 30's I think. YES flying but stationary. The wind was at flying speed so the pilot "just held her steady ".

Joe
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Old 25th Oct 2021, 10:41 am   #17
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

The RFDS is probably the best known aspect of outback life internationally. It's been used in marketing products with an Australian connection, such as in this ad for Castlemaine lager which was brewed under licence in the UK for a while:

https://www.google.com/url?q=https:/...ttvoeP6mY89X7j
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Old 26th Oct 2021, 12:23 am   #18
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Default Re: Alfred Traeger/Pedal Radios

I didn't realise it was so well known, and I (normally) travel to UK twice a year!

Photo of Iconic Outback Pub, where, if you take a photo of the bar memorabilia, that's a gold coin in the RFDS tin.
Sign on wall RHS.
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