Your first radio?...

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by 50+AirYears

Some earlier tubes were mounted in regular tube sockets. Later, some small glass envelope pinless tubes were developed such as the 1AG4 and the RK-61 gas tube that had fine wires comming out through the envelope. Some of these came with a warning about not touching the leads with the hands because skin oils could work their way through the glass/wire interface and interfere with the correct tube operation.

These tube type receivers were usually powered with a 3 Volt battery for the filament (heater) and one or two 22.5 Volt batteries for the plate. These usually drove a relay, so you also needed another 3 Volt battery to operate the escapement or early servo. If you were really masochistic, and played with pulse proportional, you might have 2 three Volt bateries to drive a motorised servo back and forth from the relay. A frequent operation at the field was tuning the receiver, since the tubes tended to drift with temperature. You also had to watch the position of the receiver in the plane, because engine vibration could affect the receiver and relay.

Tube type Transmitters could have as much as 135Volts for the plate and another extra 3 to 6 volts for a bias Voltage. Going to transistors eliminated a lot of batteries, and also reduced the mathematics for circuit design.

Here's a sample of some tube circuits from 1955. High tech stuff then.

Thanks for the fascinating information, I love looking at old publications like that. Is there a way you could send me enlarged copies? I couldnt read them.
VP

[50+AirYears]

Try this link: http://www.rchangout.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24523&goto=newpost The copy shows up slightly larger on screen, plus if you right click on one of the files, you get a larger view that can be enlarged. They're from the same files I sent here, the same 103K size.

[northiceman]

Hi,
Saw your past conversation about vintage radio gear and I am hoping you can help - I have an old Citizen-Ship Model PLR - 27 receiver. I need the instructions /and/or help to get it connected with batteries and antenna properly. Do you have any info to help?
Its about 1958 production receiver - has one tube (a GE 3V4) and one relay. I believe the voltages need to be 1.4 (1.5) volts for the filaments and 90 volts for the plate (got this from the specs for the tube). No wires on it at all - only 5 copper clips on ends of the board to connect the batteries (2 at the tube end and 3 at the other end).
Thanks ~Ron

[Nitro Blast]

Originally Posted by northiceman

Hi,
Saw your past conversation about vintage radio gear and I am hoping you can help - I have an old Citizen-Ship Model PLR - 27 receiver. I need the instructions /and/or help to get it connected with batteries and antenna properly. Do you have any info to help?
Its about 1958 production receiver - has one tube (a GE 3V4) and one relay. I believe the voltages need to be 1.4 (1.5) volts for the filaments and 90 volts for the plate (got this from the specs for the tube). No wires on it at all - only 5 copper clips on ends of the board to connect the batteries (2 at the tube end and 3 at the other end).
Thanks ~Ron

Welcome to Wattflyer Ron,

Check this guy out, he says he has instructions included. The person that bought it now has those.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_48...tm.htm#5791942

If the buyer of the set has the instructions, you could get lucky!

[50+AirYears]

I did a little research on the 3V4, and the spec'ed filament (heater) Voltage is 1.4 to 2.8 V. Maximum plate Voltage is listed as 90 V, and I did find an AM broadcast band reciever schematic that showed a 45 V plate battery, but from what I remember of that era, 22.5V was a bit more normal, although some tube type rcvrs did use 45V.

Usually, if you can trace the wiring, the antenna would go to one end of the tuning coil. The negatives for all the battery packs were common. In my post #75, the figure A on one of the attached MAN pages could give a hint on how the connections were made, that might be a little help, if you can't find an instruction sheet.

Sadly, last year, I had to clean up my attic, and I kind of had to pick and choose among over a dozen boxes of photocopies of articles made over the years, and I did scan many pages, but threw out many more pages of some of this older stuff without scanning. Filled up over 20 recycle bags with paper. I threw out some very old stuff, and I regret it now. Even had some 1930ish stuff by Chet Lanzo, all gone now.

[jungmann1]

My first radio was an Aerosport 2 channel, mail ordered from Hobby Shack in California. I grew up in a little fishing community in Alaska. Nearest hobby shop was in Anchorage and we rarely got up there. This was in 1975, I believe. The Aerosports were great radios, built by Futaba I think. I think it was right around $110.00

[intimidator_md]

Good Lord I feel privileged. My first radio was a Futaba Attack SR 2 channel AM for a Lanier Indicator powered by a cox killer bee .049 circa 1997??? But then again many of you guys have me beat in age as well......I grew up with synthesized digital computer radios right in my hands I can't even imagine using some of those radios from the '50s or '60s like you guys had too.

[FlyWheel]

Does it have to be from the vacuum tube/transistor days to qualify for this thread, or does the 27 MHz 3 Ch. A.M. radio that came with my AeroBird-3 count? Damn thing was glitchy as #ell, don't know if it was the TX or the RX (the only CB'ers anymore are truckers on the interstate, 40 miles away).

Currently using a HiTec Flash 5X w/Berg MS4 Reciever. No problems what-so-ever (at least none stemming from the electronics )

Posted via Mobile Device

[starcad]

Originally Posted by pd1

My first radios were home made by my dad around 1958.
Without much outside help, we managed to learn to fly with equipment that failed quite often.

The planes usually didn't crash, but they did routinely fly away.

Those were the good ol days PD1.

[SteveM]

My very first R/C system was an OS Guppy 2-CH rig. It was a teal green colour and the rudder was actuated by a pendulum type gizmo on the front with the second control on the side of the case. On 27mHz AM band and I ran that in a Dumas Swamp Buggy with a Cox .049 for a year. Worked great.

[wthall]

my first was I think (Orbits) push button escapment. The escapment was just an electro magnet....You had to have a rubber band wound up and attached to make the thing work. ONe push left, next push right. But it did work...flew it in a free flight my dad converted to rudder only. The only thing you had to remember was to wind the rubber.

[WingingIt74]

Is it me or have prices not changed much over the years? I was looking at a few of my 70s and 80s RC magazines and prices really haven't changed much. An ARF then still costs you ~$200.

[pd1]

In the 60's a Space Control proportional radio cost $500.
Minimum wage was a dollar an hour.
For $1 you could buy 2 hamburgers, 2 french fries and a large drink and get change from McDonald's.
Or 4 or 5 gallons of gas.
20 full sized candy bars or 10 Cokes.

$500 was a lot of money back then, things cost a lot less now.


Paul

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by CLSSY56

Is it me or have prices not changed much over the years? I was looking at a few of my 70s and 80s RC magazines and prices really haven't changed much. An ARF then still costs you ~$200.

Guess the price may have stayed the same, more or less. But most folks are making much more money than they did 30 or 40 years ago.

FYI, my first 4 channel radio (Microavionics) cost me 4 months rent, and was USED. Still got several servos from that piece of junk, at least compared to whats available now days. My DX7 system cost about a week and a halfs rent, in todays dollars. (Your results may vary, I've not rented in 40 years! ) Before that I had a "galloping ghost" radio, with a home made transmitter and actually got it to work.

[WingingIt74]

I was just making a general observation, as the price of cars and gas has increased.

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by CLSSY56

I was just making a general observation, as the price of cars and gas has increased.

Good point! By several times.

[50+AirYears]

I can identify with WTHALL's comment about escapement rubber. I frequently forgot to wind mine after every couple flights, or overwound it. When overwound, the escapement would often function perfectly while the plane was being held, with your body absorbing much of the vibration, but would lock up about the time you let go, and the damping was gone. Results were pretty much the same, buy a new receiver, escapement, and build a new plane. Had far less trouble when I got my first Royal single channel servo, although the reciever relay had to be readjusted for the different timing characteristics. It worked beautifully with servo, but couldn't work the escapements reliably. At least I no longer had to worry about the rubber band, and could go back to using my store of strip for FF.

[E-Challenged]

Slightly off topic but I built a "walkie talkie" style AM radio in the 50's by adapting the two tube circuit from this "man from mars" radio hat. The radio was in a small ply box with an earphone mounted on the front and a home made whip antenna. I used to save my allowance money as a kid to by GE 2N107 transistors and build more small AM radios.

[cheshireflyer]

Mcgregor Codamac single channel TX and relay receiver.
This had a stick which gave the correct number of commands for full left or full right rudder. Other sets had a push button to send pulses.
Pres and hold was left - press release press and hold was right.
What men they were to fly that.

My simple version was installed in a keilKraft Super 60 with an AM 3.5cc diesel up front. All this was in about 1969.

It flew in large circuits and was Radio adjusted really. What a feeling that was - Me flying a model aircraft.!!

[cheshireflyer]

Originally Posted by intimidator_md

Good Lord I feel privileged. My first radio was a Futaba Attack SR 2 channel AM for a Lanier Indicator powered by a cox killer bee .049 circa 1997??? But then again many of you guys have me beat in age as well......I grew up with synthesized digital computer radios right in my hands I can't even imagine using some of those radios from the '50s or '60s like you guys had too.

To us ita really modern stuff of course. A couple of lights and taking a complete model home was rare but a feeling never forgotten to this day.
Same went for control line models and free flight.

Pete

[Big Johnny]

Heath Kit that my Dad and I put together. (More him than me) Dang, now my whole radio system weighs less than the Heath Kit servos. I put the radio in a Sterling 36" Corsair with an, I think Tiapan .09, that my Uncle brought home from Viet Nam. That plane would never even attempt to get airborne, but it did teach me how to taxi a taildragger.

[Big Johnny]

Originally Posted by PDARR

First off my first radio was bought in 1973 when I came home from Nam. A World Engines Blue Max semi kit. I flew that baby for about a year or so then I purchased a Cirrus 6. But I remember going with my dad when he flew control line speed and jets, then my grandfather when he flew R/C and it took two people to carry the transmitter from the car. I still have my grandfathers AMA number (250). He knew personally all the guys that made or hobby, electronically, what it is today. I saw many many fly aways when I was a kid. Tried to run them down but my legs even at that age couldn't go fast enough. We have a great hobby fellas, weather it is expensive or not.

The same with me. My uncle Jim was into R/C hot & heavy in the 50's -70's in Tampa Florida. His name was Jim Carpenter.

[degreen60]

Bought a single channel, carrier control CitizenShip tube transmitter and tube receiver in 1961. Had it in a Beaver.

[TM4197]

My first tubeless radio...

Futaba 4 channel. Still have the servos! I used this one to fly the Famous Hobie Hawk sailplane.

[pyroarch57]

Here`s my first radio. It was a nightmare to use, especially when you`re teaching yourself to fly

Single-Channel Compound Actuator Emulator for period S/C sets & modern