1930-1939 - The Golden Age
1935
The first metal tubes are released.Over a million auto radios are installed this year.
Armstrong demonstrates FM.
Zenith 4V31
The Zenith corporation was founded by a radio amateur with a call sign of 9ZN, and was one of the most successful manufacturers of the era. This 1936 6 volt 'farm radio' is the newest to my collection. It worked pretty well the first time I powered it up - but the wood had been stripped and a lot of the veneer was loose and damaged. I swapped out some 'caps' and spent a lot of time on the woodwork. I think it turned out pretty well...
Thanks to Curt Schreiber for e-mailing the Date and Model number!.
1936
Most radios sold now employ an AFC circuit - Automatic Frequency Control.'Automatic Tuning' (pushbuttons) are the years big hit.
Approx. 8 million sets are sold this year.
3 out of 4 families have a radio in the home. As for the rest?? 97 K Wav
General Electric F-70 1937 Broadcast and 2 short-wave bands. As with most radios, just a replacement of filter caps and it works great. Oh yea...I did have to figure out the spiderweb that used to be the tuning string....
What do you mean $25.00...for a string?!
1937
The Magic Eye
Cathode Ray tuning eyes (the Magic Eye Tube), Slide Rule tuning, and sleek veneered cabinets are the big features this year.
The dirigible, Hindenburg crashes in flames at Lakehurst, N.J. May 6th, 1937 - and the tragedy was captured in an incredible live radio broadcast.185 K Wav
The NBC Symphony Orchestra is formed.
1938
Howard Hughes flies around the world and keeps in touch by radio.Broadcasting standards for TV were announced, paving the way for commercial television stations.
The power of radio is demonstrated by Orson Wells, and the "Mercury Theater of the Air" - Panic is reported to be widespread as people believe the earth has been invaded by "Martians", 263K Wav ... and we are in a "War of the Worlds"
Airline Montgomery Wards sold lots of Airline brand radios by mail! They were second only to Sears Silvertone's in catalog radio sales! I really like this model...Broadcast & Short-wave with a 'Magic Tuning Eye' and pushbuttons for preset station tuning. Ummm...I 'spose you noticed the three knobs that are not original... This was one of the first table radios I found..I think I paid 12 dollars for it.
1939
TV is demonstrated at the New York Worlds Fair.Edwin Armstrong is operating W2XMN - a 50,000 watt FM station at Alpine, N.J.
The first Television sets are sold by several manufacturers.
Wind generators are sold to farms to keep their radio batteries charged.
The start of the European war renews interest in short-wave receivers.
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