salvaged transistors make for easy AM receivers. same parts as one tube radio only transistors, solderless bread board and low voltage power source are different. although I have additional RF stage into diode detect then audio amplified using only a 9vdc source wall transformer for my first transistor AM radio. plug-n-play solderless bread board easy to experiment with different value components. combine different sections for different effects. anyone else ?

no transistor homebrewers in here ? segregation

Well, I did a sand AM transmitter but like playing with tubes at the moment.

did a bunch of tube stuff for awhile. still do some. recently an RCA portable. couple tabletops. been getting into pocket transistor lately. built a breadboard two transistor radio. plug-n-play 9vdc source

Yes sir, been playing with home made TRF recievers on and off since 1972, aged 10

the category does say Homebrew Radios. should include transistor home made radios. dont see much other than tube radio and tube transmitters. nothing wrong with that. a little more variety would be an interesting addition. homebrew breadboards. ferrite antenna coil. hybrid. let it rip. its still component builds

I take old transistor stuff sometimes and repurpose it when I get an idea. and feel like firing up the power saw and stuff.

Chop-chop, spray some paint, bend some metal, cut some plexiglas.... and make a one of a kind job that sounds nice, and is functional.

For instance....
an old am/fm Realistic pocket portable - now a sharp red battery set for the bathroom shelf....
or a bunch of old stereo parts and some high compliance tv speakers to make a compact stereo FM set that blows the Bose Wave Radio out of the room.






IT'S ART!

Nice work RT !

John

art it is

+1.

The dial on the red set looks like a compass.

It DOES, doesn't it?

I hand made a pointer out of aluminum, (Dremel comes in handy) painted it red to match the case.
The dial is a hi-res photoshop print that I designed, and the gold bezel is from a clock-kit set from a crafts store.

here's a close-up.....

You MADE that entire dial yourself?
I think you actually chose the wrong profession;

Being a counterfeiter could have been much more lucrative...




As long as you didn't get caught!

Yes, I made the entire dial fities.

I am a stickler for details and fit/finish when I make something - people know about my handiwork.
That's one reason why people come to me, particularly if custom work is needed.
I do my best to make the impossible - possible.

Ya see, sometimes I have to craft things from scratch - some parts on old radios are impossible to find - ya gotta make them.
So I do much more than just "restoration" sometimes.

I'm sure there are other guys out there with the skills to do the same thing.
Like the one guy who makes reproduction Philco cathedral cabinets - very nice work indeed.

It's FUN!

amazing signal performance from graphite antennas. aids the compactness of pocket transistor receivers. I am thinking of building one fitting into a case of some sort like this one