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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc.

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Old 8th Feb 2014, 8:09 pm   #1
Variometer
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Default Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

Does anyone actually write such books today? I have searched the Internet and can't find any! I have made one or two efforts myself in recent years, but have met with very little enthusiasm and finally given up!
I suppose it may be that most folk here are very experienced and are more than capable of designing and building their own equipment. But what of newcomers who would like to have a go at valve construction, but find it all too daunting!
Bob
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Old 8th Feb 2014, 9:33 pm   #2
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

What do you need writing that hasn't already been written?

In the last 40-50 years valves for ordinary purposes have been at an evolutionary standstill. Some niche transmitting and microwave jobs have progressed, but nothing suited to anything you want to build at home other than a microwave cooker.

There are plenty of books covering valve circuitry at all levels. There are text books by the likes of Fred Terman which did the job for mathematically inclined designers, then there's the massed works of Scroggie, WT Cocking, Cathode Ray, The GEC handbooks, the Mullard books, the Radiotron manual, the Radiation Lab series from MIT. Then John Markus' cookbooks have a good sprinkling of valved circuits.

Anyone who wants to learn has all the theoretical treatments, analyses and exercises needed to get them going as a full-blooded designer. For the guy who nobbles a circuit from here, nicks an output stage from there and so on, there's plenty to go at. For the guy who wants a ready to build design, the GEC and Mullard stuff are fine, plus he can trawl the RSGB 'Bull', QST, 73, and so on.

All the books needed by all the designers and constructors of all the valve gear around us still exist. We're losing people with specialist experience at some rate, but the books are still there.THe GEC book, the Radiotron manual and the radiation lab series are on the web. As a kid, using valves because I couldn't afford transistors, I never knew such works existed. I would have killed for information like that.

If you want to roll your own radio with valves, go ahead, the books have been sitting there on library shelves waiting for you for 40+ years. If you fancy something almost trivial, then there are small designs inSprat, QST, and QRP-Quarterly. If you fancy something staggering (literally) you have theHRO, AR88, R390, RA17 to show you the way. Going a step beyond that lot would be quite a feat. You just might find the audio valves and the rectifier priced out of your reach, though

No, I don't think anybody writes such books any longer, but everything needed has been said and there isn't anything much new.

Cheers
David
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Old 8th Feb 2014, 9:54 pm   #3
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

There are usually some on e-Bay about building amplifiers but as they talk of "Tubes" they are obviously American.

- Joe
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Old 8th Feb 2014, 10:13 pm   #4
Variometer
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

Yes, that's just about what I thought, but it seems a pity. I mistakenly thought there would always be new angles, but it would appear that everything that needs to be written on the subject has been written, so not much point persevering. But at the same time, this forum seems to be going from strength to strength.
Bob
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Old 8th Feb 2014, 11:12 pm   #5
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

I think I may have been misunderstood here. I am not looking for books myself, but have written several radio construction e-books in recent years concerning construction of various types from simple one valve up to superhets, often making my own parts such as variable capacitors, coil units, valveholders etc. This has been to try and interest more people into what is a fascinating (and dying) hobby. Interest has been almost zero, so I have now given up. Here is one of my sets. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I took pains to make it a thing of beauty as well as functional:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=98819

I have been interested in radio for about 60 years! 1952 to 1959 as a schoolboy. 1960 to 1992 as a ship's radio officer, and 1992 to the present day as one of my several hobbies (another of which is writing).

Bob
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Old 9th Feb 2014, 12:22 am   #6
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

I understand.

Those are things of beauty and they show the care that went into them.

I've made various components for myself when what I needed wasn't available. The little Myford has earned its keep, and the house has a folding stub mast at the apex, done in welded aluminium, so the TIG machine has been useful, too.

There are people interested in learning about valve technologies, and the books are available. It's mentors that they need, and this forum is a good meeting place.

Some years ago I had the job of writing part of the ARRL handbook, which was a sort of remote mentoring. I needed to lead people into subject areas without scaring them off and blowing their confidence. One method was to lead into an area and show that it is approachable and non-threatening before revealing it's notoriously scary name. It was fun writing it, but it was very difficult. It was written in layers so beginners could read through, miss a lot of points, but still pick up enough to let them get more on a second pass... all the while being aware that experts would also be reading it.

My particular interest is in ultra-high performance receivers using whatever technologies it takes. Of course the world took a different turning twenty five years ago, the market wants low performance cheap radio stuff for short range links like Wifi, Bluetooth and cellphones.

I could write about great dynamic range, and a small group of people would be interested enough to read it, but the market wouldn't interest a publisher simply as a matter of finances.

Cheers
David
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Old 9th Feb 2014, 7:51 am   #7
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

It isn't really a matter of getting a publisher interested as they can be by-passed with modern technology. It is easy enough to make e-books on CDs with as many images as you like in order to get an idea of the demand. Also, there are lots of book printers about who will produce very nice books for very little cost. For instance, last week I had 25 A4 size books printed with 154 pages, 94 colour photographs and 124 black and white. The cost per book was only £7.30 and they sold out within a week! Nothing at all to do with radio, but I just mention it to show how cheap it is! Now that it is set up, I can order any number from 1 upwards for the same unit price.
I had considered doing the same thing with vintage radio, but the interest in the CD disk master copies were virtually zero, so I abandoned the idea!
I see lots of new vintage radio books showing old sets and going into the history of radio etc, but never see anything concerning building or designing them.
Attached is the cover of a small book that I planned. I am not trying to sell anyone anything here, because I have abandoned the idea, but if anyone wants it, just PM your e-mail address and I will e-mail it to you for nothing!
The file is about 2mb. The text is rather large because I set it up so it could be put in a Kindle, Nook or similar e-reader. It is in PDF for Acrobat Reader and can also be read on a computer
Bob
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Old 14th Feb 2014, 8:13 pm   #8
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

Yes,there is a new book concerning tubes or valves (What´s in a name):

http://www.lulu.com/shop/grayson-eva...-20987562.html

Jard N.
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Old 14th Feb 2014, 8:54 pm   #9
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

Well, I have never heard them called Thermatrons before Live & learn
Bob
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Old 14th Feb 2014, 9:02 pm   #10
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Default Re: Recent Valve Radio Construction Books

The most inspirational writer I know of today is Dave Schmarder, who has an excellent website, all totally free - an extremely generous effort. http://makearadio.com/
I also find the 'Impoverished Radio Experimenter' series of pamphlets helpful, when i can afford them!
http://www.camdenmin.co.uk/products/...ter-vol-1-sale
Tony
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