#1950s Vacuum Tube Radios

[joehaupt]

Vintage Motorola Pixie Pocket Radio, Model MP-45P1 (Ebony Case), Chassis HS-479. AM Band, 4 Vacuum Tubes, Made In USA, Circa 1955 by Joe Haupt Via Flickr: Model Number by Cabinet Color - MP-45P1 = Ebony, MP-45P2 = Brown, MP-45P3 = Cream, MP-45P4 = Red, and MP-45P5 = Teal.

[broadcastarchive-umd]

Back when radios and televisions had vacuum tubes inside, there were times when one burned out. Then, if you didn't want to call the repairman, you would take the tubes you suspected down to the drug store or grocery store to test on a machine like this. Replacement tubes were stored in a cabinet underneath.

This model lives at the National Capital Radio and Television Museum in Bowie, Maryland.

[systemtek]

The History of the Transistor Radio: A Revolution in Pocket-Sized Technology The transistor radio is a small, portable radio receiver that revolutionized how people consumed music and news in the mid-20th century. Its invention marked a transformative shift in the electronics industry, popular culture, and communication. Compact and efficient, transistor radios became a global phenomenon and a precursor to today's portable electronic devices. This blog delves into the history, impact, and technological evolution of this ground-breaking invention. The Predecessor: Vacuum Tube Radios Before transistor radios, vacuum tube radios dominated the market. These radios, though innovative for their time, were bulky, fragile, and required significant power, usually from wall outlets or large batteries. As a result, they were largely confined to homes and stationary settings. The quest for a smaller, more efficient alternative drove the development of new technologies. The Birth of the Transistor In 1947, a team of physicists at Bell Labs—John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley—invented the transistor. This tiny semiconductor device could amplify electrical signals and switch them on and off, much like a vacuum tube, but with significant advantages: it was smaller, consumed less power, and was more durable. This invention earned the team the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956 and laid the foundation for the miniaturization of electronics. The First Transistor Radios The first commercial transistor radio was the Regency TR-1, released in 1954. Jointly developed by Texas Instruments and Industrial Development Engineering Associates (I.D.E.A.), the TR-1 was a marvel of modern engineering. Although it had a limited frequency range and modest sound quality, its small size and portability made it an instant hit. Priced at $49.95 (about $500 today), the TR-1 was initially marketed as a luxury item. Despite its cost, it sold well, proving that consumers valued portability and novelty in technology. Soon, other manufacturers, including RCA and Sony, entered the market, sparking fierce competition and rapid innovation. Sony and the Global Expansion Sony, then a fledgling Japanese company, played a pivotal role in popularizing transistor radios. In 1955, the company released the Sony TR-55, followed by the TR-63 in 1957, which became a worldwide success. Sony's radios were smaller, more reliable, and offered better sound quality than many of their competitors. The TR-63, in particular, was affordable and compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket, earning it the nickname "pocket radio." This success marked Sony’s entry onto the global stage and established Japan as a leader in consumer electronics. It also signaled the beginning of the transistor radio's cultural impact. Cultural Revolution The portability of transistor radios transformed listening habits. For the first time, people could take their favorite music and radio programs with them wherever they went. Transistor radios became symbols of freedom and individuality, especially among teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s. This era saw the rise of rock 'n' roll, and transistor radios became a key medium for spreading the genre. Young people carried them to the beach, parks, and social gatherings, creating a shared cultural experience. The radios also played a role in political movements, as people could listen to news updates and speeches on the go, fostering a more informed and engaged public. Technological Advances Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, transistor radios became increasingly sophisticated. Advances in semiconductor technology allowed for better sound quality, longer battery life, and more compact designs. FM capabilities were added, improving audio fidelity and expanding content options. By the 1980s, transistor radios had evolved into multifunctional devices, often combined with cassette players and other features. The Decline and Legacy By the late 20th century, the popularity of transistor radios began to wane, replaced by more advanced devices like Walkmans, portable CD players, and eventually smartphones. However, their influence remains undeniable. Transistor radios democratized access to information and entertainment, paving the way for today’s mobile technology. Even today, transistor radios hold nostalgic value and remain in use in parts of the world where simplicity, reliability, and affordability are essential. Conclusion The transistor radio is more than just a piece of technology—it’s a cultural artefact that encapsulates the spirit of innovation and societal change. From its humble beginnings as a luxury gadget to its role as a ubiquitous companion of the 20th century, the transistor radio bridged the gap between technological advancement and everyday life. Its legacy continues to resonate, reminding us of the transformative power of portability and accessibility in technology. Read the full article

[navsooch]

The Birth of the Semiconductor Industry with Nav Sooch

The semiconductor industry has become a cornerstone of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones and computers to medical devices and renewable energy systems. However, the journey to its current prominence began with humble origins and the pioneering work of scientists and engineers in the mid-20th century. In this blog, we'll explore the early developments and key figures with the help of experts like Nav Sooch that laid the foundation for the semiconductor industry as we know it today.

Semiconductor Basics and Early Discoveries

Semiconductors are materials with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. The study of semiconductors dates back to the late 19th century when scientists began investigating the electrical properties of materials such as silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide. Early discoveries, such as the Hall effect and the photoelectric effect, provided insights into the behavior of semiconductors under different conditions.

Moreover, the development of quantum mechanics in the early 20th century further advanced our understanding of the behavior of electrons in semiconductors. Scientists such as Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and Werner Heisenberg made significant contributions to the theoretical framework that underpins semiconductor physics. These foundational discoveries laid the groundwork for the practical applications of semiconductors in electronics and technology, paving the way for advancements in the field with insights from semiconductor experts like Nav Sooch.

Invention of the Transistor

One of the most pivotal moments in the history of the semiconductor industry was the invention of the transistor in 1947 by scientists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley at Bell Laboratories. The transistor, a small semiconductor device capable of amplifying and switching electronic signals, revolutionized the field of electronics by replacing bulky and unreliable vacuum tubes.

The invention of the transistor paved the way for the miniaturization of electronic devices, leading to the development of smaller, faster, and more efficient computers, radios, and televisions. Its impact on technology was so profound that it earned Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956. The transistor quickly became the building block of modern electronics and laid the foundation for the semiconductor industry's rapid growth and innovation.

Integrated Circuits and Moore's Law

Following the invention of the transistor, scientists and engineers sought ways to further advance semiconductor technology and increase the density of electronic components on a single chip. In 1958, Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor independently invented the integrated circuit, or microchip, which combined multiple transistors and other electronic components onto a single silicon wafer.

The development of integrated circuits revolutionized the electronics industry by enabling the mass production of complex electronic devices at a fraction of the size and cost of previous technologies. This breakthrough also laid the groundwork for Moore's Law, formulated by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965, which predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double approximately every two years, leading to exponential increases in computing power and performance. Today, experts like Nav Sooch continue to affirm the significance of integrated circuits in driving technological advancements and shaping the future of electronics.

Silicon Valley and Entrepreneurial Spirit

The emergence of Silicon Valley in California in the 1950s and 1960s played a significant role in the growth and development of the semiconductor industry. The region became a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration, attracting scientists, engineers, and investors from around the world. Companies such as Fairchild Semiconductor, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard were founded in Silicon Valley and became pioneers in the semiconductor industry.

Moreover, the entrepreneurial spirit and culture of risk-taking in Silicon Valley fostered a climate of innovation and experimentation, leading to the development of new technologies and business models. The success of companies like Intel, which introduced the world's first microprocessor in 1971, further solidified Silicon Valley's reputation as a global center of technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

Global Expansion and Technological Advancements

In the decades following its inception, the semiconductor industry experienced exponential growth and expansion, fueled by advancements in technology, manufacturing processes, and market demand. Countries around the world, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, emerged as major players in the global semiconductor market, investing heavily in research and development to stay competitive.

Furthermore, technological advancements such as the development of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, which enabled the fabrication of faster and more energy-efficient integrated circuits, further propelled the semiconductor industry forward. Innovations in lithography, materials science, and nanotechnology, supported by experts like Nav Sooch, continued to push the boundaries of what was possible in semiconductor manufacturing, leading to the production of increasingly complex and powerful microchips.

Future Trends and Challenges

Looking ahead, the semiconductor industry faces a range of opportunities and challenges as it continues to evolve in the 21st century. Advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things are driving demand for more powerful and energy-efficient semiconductors to power next-generation devices and applications. Additionally, concerns about environmental sustainability, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions pose challenges to the industry's growth and resilience.

However, with its long history of innovation and adaptation, the semiconductor industry, supported by experts like Nav Sooch, is well-positioned to overcome these challenges and continue driving technological progress and economic growth in the years to come. By fostering collaboration, investing in research and development, and embracing emerging technologies, the semiconductor industry can build upon its legacy of innovation and continue shaping the future of electronics and technology.  

The birth of the semiconductor industry was marked by groundbreaking discoveries, visionary pioneers, and transformative innovations that have shaped the modern world. From the invention of the transistor to the development of integrated circuits and the rise of Silicon Valley, the semiconductor industry has continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible in electronics and technology. As we look to the future, the semiconductor industry remains at the forefront of innovation, driving progress and prosperity in the digital age. So, as we celebrate its rich history and achievements, let us also embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as we continue to unlock the potential of semiconductor technology to improve lives and advance society.

[avtechnologysworld]

The Evolution of AV Products: A Historical Perspective

Audiovisual (AV) products play an integral role in our daily lives whether it be for entertainment, communication or work purposes. From simple radios and televisions to complex home theater systems and conferencing solutions - the AV industry has come a long way in innovating and developing new technologies to meet evolving consumer needs. In this blog, we will take a historical perspective on the evolution of key AV components and product categories to better understand how we arrived at the advanced solutions available today.

Early Developments in Audio Technology

Some of the earliest AV components included the phonograph and radio which revolutionized home entertainment in the late 19th century. Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877, creating the first device capable of recording and reproducing sound. While early phonographs could only play sounds back a few minutes at a time, it established the foundation for audio playback technology. Wireless radio transmission technology emerged in the 1890s, pioneered by inventors like Guglielmo Marconi. In 1920, commercial radio broadcasting began and radio receivers became popular household items over the following decades.

Transistors Pave the Way for Modern Electronics

A major breakthrough was the invention of the transistor in 1947 by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley at Bell Labs. Replacing bulky vacuum tubes, the transistor was significantly smaller, more reliable and efficient. It enabled the miniaturization of electronics and the development of more advanced circuitry. Transistor radios emerged in the 1950s, making radio truly portable. Television also grew rapidly popular through the mid 20th century. While early tv sets were large console models, the transistor allowed for smaller portable television sets. It fueled advances in diverse consumer av components like amplifiers, tuners and speakers.

Home Theater Emerges as a Category

In the 1970s-80s, dedicated home theater began to take shape as a standalone category. Early "home theater in a box" systems bundled together amplifiers, speakers and sometimes lower-end projection TVs. DVD arrived in the late 90s, rapidly replacing VHS as the preferred home video format. It offered significantly higher quality video and audio along with interactive features. Support for surround sound audio formats like Dolby Digital also expanded the immersive home theater experience. Flat panel TV technologies like LCD and plasma emerged in the early 2000s, driving bigger screen sizes into homes. Processors were incorporated into AV receivers to integrate complex surround formats. Projection televisions and screens grew in popularity for larger home theater setups.

Modern Convergence of Pro Audio and Consumer Electronics

The digital revolution of the late 90s and 2000s blurred traditional lines between pro audio, consumer electronics and computing. Digital signal processing (DSP) enhanced audio features while formats like HDMI simplified integration. Network connectivity expanded the role of devices beyond standalone usage. Streaming media players launched by Roku and Apple in the late 2000s foreshadowed the connected home era. As smartphones and tablets proliferated in the 2010s, wireless multi-room audio solutions emerged along with voice assistants. Major technology giants like Amazon, Google, Apple and Samsung now actively develop diverse av components and whole-home solutions. Formats like 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos are driving the latest innovations while streaming media consumption surpasses physical discs. The fusion of computing, connectivity and seamless control experiences continues redefining modern av design.

Professional A/V Systems Grow More Accessible

Simultaneously, pro av displays, projectors, mixers and audio tools designed for commercial installations have become more practical for sophisticated residential integration. Large format displays over 80 inches in size with HDR and ULTRA HD resolutions deliver theater-quality visuals. Powerful conference room speakerphones and meeting room solutions enhance on-site collaboration and remote work capabilities at home. Pro-sumer grade cameras and studio-quality microphones expand creative possibilities for content creation and streaming. Networked control platforms provide sophisticated yet approachable control of whole home automation including lighting, shading, safety and security in addition to av components. As work, education and entertainment increasingly converge within homes, the accessibility of commercial-grade technology has become an attractive option for advanced users.

The Future of Immersive Personalized Experiences

Looking ahead, the continued fusion of av, computing and artificial intelligence promises to reshape the user experience. Voice and gesture control will make interactions with technology even more natural while analytics and machine learning optimize system configurations and recommendations. Higher resolution displays, wider color gamuts, enhanced audio powered by Dolby and DTS continue pushing the boundaries of realism. Virtual and augmented reality will converge reality with digital experiences within the home. Multi-room, multi-user functionality will deliver personalized content anywhere. Contextual awareness using presence detection and biometrics will automatically adapt av experiences based on the unique needs of each user. As technology plays an ever greater role in our work, education and leisure, immersive personalized experiences powered by next generation av components will be key to enhancing our lives.

Conclusion

From the earliest audio playback devices to today's sophisticated integrated smart home ecosystems, the audiovisual industry has come a long way in innovating new technologies and developing diverse product categories to suit evolving consumer demands. Key av components like amplifiers, speakers and displays have evolved greatly thanks to advancements in materials, miniaturization enabled by silicon semiconductors and digital processing power. The fusion of computing and connectivity is revolutionizing experiences through seamless control of whole home automation. Looking ahead, immersive personalized experiences, high resolution media and effortless multi-room functionality will continue pushing the industry forward. It will be interesting to see how artificial intelligence and new interface paradigms shape the future evolution of audiovisual experiences both within the home as well as commercial applications.

[oldadvertising]

<strong>1950's ... broadband! <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/x-ray_delta_one/">by James Vaughan</a></strong>

[magicclam]

Hey guys!

This is the penultimate post on the Graetz Melodia radio (finally). 

The good news is... I finished it up today!

Got the speakers and radio back in the cabinet. Everything is wired in and working. The first pictures show the new rubber grommets I put in to support the chassis. The next pictures show the construction of the Bluetooth feature for the radio. This included a 3.5mm stereo jack and a switch. The switch will allow the owner to enable/disable Bluetooth mode since it’s switched in via the Phonograph button on the front of the radio.

The other news is that I would have had this done a few weeks ago except that the tweeter that came with the radio wasn’t working. I don’t know whether it was working before I got the radio or not, but after a few weeks troubleshooting it, I gave up.

The radio was originally configured with the woofer and mid-range wired as a 2-way speaker. The tweeter was wired separately into the radio chassis. The reason for this is that the tweeter that came with it is electrostatic, so it needs some voltage in addition to the audio signal in order to operate. I got a tone out of it when I hooked it up to my audio generator, but I had to have the device turned up all the way. 

Anyway... what I ended up doing is just wiring in a regular paper-cone tweeter and re-wiring the speakers as a 3-way crossover. I had to drill a few small holes in the cabinet to mount the new tweeter, but it fits well in there and covers the hole where the original one was. 

I fired up the radio and tuned in some stations. Then switched it over to Bluetooth mode and synced it up with my phone. It sounds awesome and the Bluetooth is a nice extra feature that’ll let the owner get more use out of it.

On Monday after I’ve given it back to its owner, I’ll post pictures of the cabinet before and after.

Stay tuned!

[justforbooks]

Are We Alone in the Universe?

Alone, in all that space? Not likely. Just do the numbers: Several hundred billion stars in our galaxy, hundreds of billions of galaxies in the observable universe, and 150 planets spied already in the immediate neighborhood of the sun. That should make for plenty of warm, scummy little ponds where life could come together to begin billions of years of evolution toward technology-wielding creatures like ourselves. No, the really big question is when, if ever, we'll have the technological wherewithal to reach out and touch such intelligence. With a bit of luck, it could be in the next 25 years.

Workers in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) would have needed more than a little luck in the first 45 years of the modern hunt for like-minded colleagues out there. Radio astronomer Frank Drake's landmark Project Ozma was certainly a triumph of hope over daunting odds. In 1960, Drake pointed a 26-meter radio telescope dish in Green Bank, West Virginia, at two stars for a few days each. Given the vacuum-tube technology of the time, he could scan across 0.4 megahertz of the microwave spectrum one channel at a time.

Almost 45 years later, the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, completed its 10-year-long Project Phoenix. Often using the 350-meter antenna at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Phoenix researchers searched 710 star systems at 28 million channels simultaneously across an 1800-megahertz range. All in all, the Phoenix search was 100 trillion times more effective than Ozma was.

Besides stunning advances in search power, the first 45 years of modern SETI have also seen a diversification of search strategies. The Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations (SERENDIP) has scanned billions of radio sources in the Milky Way by piggybacking receivers on antennas in use by observational astronomers, including Arecibo. And other groups are turning modest-sized optical telescopes to searching for nanosecond flashes from alien lasers.

Still, nothing has been heard. But then, Phoenix, for example, scanned just one or two nearby sun-like stars out of each 100 million stars out there. For such sparse sampling to work, advanced, broadcasting civilizations would have to be abundant, or searchers would have to get very lucky.

So,  are we alone in the universe? Probably not.

Measured edge to edge, the universe as we know it stretches some 93 billion light-years across. That unfathomable expanse contains 2 trillion galaxies, each shining with millions of stars and dotted with more planets than you can imagine. Given all that real estate, it seems unlikely we're alone. Yet in all of human history, we've found nothing to suggest otherwise.

Scientists debate just how many of those planets could host life, but a common estimate suggests 20 percent of the 250 billion or so stars in the Milky Way may shine on rocky worlds temperate enough to allow liquid water. Do the math, and you’re looking at tens of billions of Goldilocks planets in our neighborhood alone where the gears of life could start grinding.

Could does not mean did, of course. Yet many astronomers say the complex biochemistry that created intelligent beings on Earth surely occurred more than once in 13.7 billion years, given the tens of billions of opportunities to do so in just one galaxy out of trillions. To suggest otherwise defies physics and the mediocrity principle, which states that, from a probability standpoint, our solar system is more likely a common event than a rare beast. “I think the universe is teeming with life,” says Sara Seager, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Italian physicist Enrico Fermi posed that question in 1950, and many scientists have riffed on it. They argue that there must be planets older than Earth, and that at least one society of extraterrestrial beings would be advanced enough to possess technology that would alert us to its presence—which is what astronomers mean by "intelligent life."

That assumes anyone beyond our solar system wants to make contact. Alien beings might lay low to avoid attracting interstellar bullies. They could lack the technology to greet us, or we may not yet have the means to hear them calling (or understand the message). Anyone out there could be so far away that we haven’t received their signal. It’s possible that this big blue marble is an astronomical backwater no one else finds interesting enough to bother checking out. It’s also conceivable that other civilizations have already come and gone, wiped out by some cosmic event, catastrophes of their own making, or simply the passing of time. In that case, perhaps we’ll one day find evidence of their existence.

But many astronomers believe there is a far more logical reason we haven’t found anyone: Space is too spacious. For all our searching, we haven’t looked much beyond our own neighborhood. Retired astronomer Jill Tarter, a 40-year veteran of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and emeritus chair for research at the SETI Institute, likes to use an analogy: If you imagine all the places where we could look for life and all the ways we could do so as the world’s oceans, we’ve examined just one cup of water. Others in her field are more generous; they say we’ve filled a small swimming pool.

It is about to get a bit deeper. On a high, arid plain about 400 miles northeast of Cape Town, South Africa, an array of 64 white antenna dishes called MeerKAT peers deep into space. That kind of research generates staggering quantities of data. By 2020, a supercomputer should begin analyzing it for even the faintest electronic signal suggesting that someone's out there. Astronomers hope to survey 1 million stars within five years, about 1,000 times more than any project before it. "There's some chance we're going to see a signal, that we're going to make a detection," says University of California at Berkeley astronomer Andrew Siemion, who leads the project. He and his colleagues may yet find the evidence that they're sure is out there, waiting to be discovered.

To find the needle in a galaxy-size haystack, SETI workers are counting on the consistently exponential growth of computing power to continue for another couple of decades. In northern California, the SETI Institute has already begun constructing an array composed of individual 6-meter antennas. Ever-cheaper computer power will eventually tie 350 such antennas into “virtual telescopes,” allowing scientists to search many targets at once. If Moore's law—that the cost of computation halves every 18 months—holds for another 15 years or so, SETI workers plan to use this antenna array approach to check out not a few thousand but perhaps a few million or even tens of millions of stars for alien signals. If there were just 10,000 advanced civilizations in the galaxy, they could well strike pay dirt before Science turns 150.

The technology may well be available in coming decades, but SETI will also need money. That's no easy task in a field with as high a “giggle factor” as SETI has. For that, mainstream radio astronomers will have to be onboard—or we'll be feeling alone in the universe a long time indeed.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[hagleyvault]

On this date in 1883, the first electric lighting system used overhead wires began service in Roselle, New Jersey. The system was built by Thomas Edison as part of an experiment; he wanted to see whether he could light an entire neighborhood with electricity using a shared  central generating station.

Thirty-two years later to the day, in 1915, French engineer and inventor Georges Claude made his own contribution to lighting history when he patented the neon discharge tube. This patent gave his company, Claude Neon Lights, a monopoly in the United States through the early 1930s on the production of the neon signs that his patent made possible.

Both inventors have left a complicated legacy. Claude was later imprisoned from 1945 to 1950 for propaganda work favoring collaboration during the German occupation of France. And, as far as Edison goes, an elephant never forgets (R.I.P. Topsy). But we could all use a little extra light now and then, so in honor of their achievements, here’s a photograph of the NOMA Electric Corporation’s display at the Electrical Association of New York’s 1934 National Electrical and Radio Exposition. NOMA was formed in 1925 as the National Outfit Manufacturer's Association out of a trade group of around 14 small manufacturers who consolidated to better compete against large manufacturers.

The company became best known for making Christmas lights, seen here, and was once the world’s largest manufacturer of the products. It’s also credited with inventing the Christmas bubble light in 1946, and, to the best of our knowledge, never electrocuted an elephant or collaborated with Nazis. So that’s nice.

This photograph is part of Hagley Library’s National Electrical and Radio Exposition album (Accession 2015.289). The trade show was held in New York City at Madison Square Garden from September 19th to the 29th, and was one of the annual radio and electronic products trade shows held in the city in the 1920s through the 1940s.

Similar radio expositions during the era were hosted in other major U.S. cities sponsored by local trade associations that brought together manufacturers, retailers, and customers.The expositions included national manufacturers and large retailers from around the country to display, demonstrate, and sell their products.

Among the more prominent products featured at the expositions during this period were radios, household appliances (vacuums, ovens, refrigerators, etc.), home/industrial lighting, and heating/air conditioning technology.This collection includes 45 photographs taken during the exposition. The photographs are primarily of various companies' individual displays. Companies represented include RCA, Westinghouse Electric, Singer Sewing Machine, General Electric, Hoover, Leonard, among others. To view more photographs from this album online now, click here.

[wetsteve3]

Ducati sport motorcycle 60cc from 50s.In 1926 Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons, Adriano, Marcello, and Bruno Cavalieri Ducati; founded Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati in Bologna to produce vacuum tubes, condensers and other radio components. In 1935 they built a new factory in the Borgo Panigale area of the city. Production was maintained during World War II, despite the Ducati factory being a repeated target of Allied bombing.

Meanwhile, at the small Turinese firm SIATA (Societa Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie), Aldo Farinelli began developing a small pushrod engine for mounting on bicycles. Barely a month after the official liberation of Italy in 1944, SIATA announced its intention to sell this engine, called the "Cucciolo". Ducati, in collaboration with SIATA, launched production of Cucciolo engines. In 1950 Ducati offered its Cucciolo-based motorcycle. Their first model was no more then a bicycle with an attached engine, but soon they were able to introduce a well designed little 60 cc bike. Ducati dropped the Cucciolo name, replacing it with "55M" or "65TL". In 1952 they introduced a four-stroke motor scooter named Cruiser and 65cc sport model, which replaced Ducati 60 Sport.

In 1953, management split the company into two separate entities, Ducati Meccanica and Ducati Elettronica. Ducati Meccanica was a very succesful sport motorcycle manufacturer in 60s and 70s (see: 1955 Ducati Meccanica and Ducati 900). The brand is continued until today.

[joehaupt]

Vintage Motorola Table Clock Radio, Model 57CS3A (57CS), AM Band, 5 Vacuum Tubes, Pink Colored Urea Cabinet, Made In USA, Circa 1956 by Joe Haupt Via Flickr: Newspaper Ad - Vintage Advertising For The Motorola Model 57CS Clock Radio In A Motorola Radio Ad In The Fort Worth Texas Star-Telegram Newspaper, December 9, 1956

[sadatrazon]

Electronic Tools

Electronics comprises the physics, engineering, technology and applications that deal with the emission, flow and control of electrons in vacuum and matter. It uses active devices to control electron flow by amplification and rectification, which distinguishes it from classical electrical engineering which uses passive effects such as resistance, capacitance and inductance to control current flow.

Electronics has had a major effect on the development of modern society. The identification of the electron in 1897, along with the subsequent invention of the vacuum tube which could amplify and rectify small electrical signals, inaugurated the field of electronics and the electron age. This distinction started around 1906 with the invention by Lee De Forest of the triode, which made electrical amplification of weak radio signals and audio signals possible with a non-mechanical device. Until 1950, this field was called "radio technology" because its principal application was the design and theory of radio transmitters, receivers, and vacuum tubes.

The term "solid-state electronics" emerged after the first working transistor was invented by William Shockley, Walter Houser Brattain and John Bardeen at Bell Labs in 1947. The MOSFET (MOS transistor) was later invented by Mohamed Atalla and Dawn Kahn at Bell Labs in 1959. The MOSFET was the first truly compact transistor that could be miniaturized and mass-produced for a wide range of uses, revolutionizing the electronics industry, and playing a central role in the microelectronics revolution and Digital Revolution. The MOSFET has since become the basic element in most modern electronic equipment, and is the most widely used electronic device in the world.

Electronics is widely used in information processing, telecommunication, and signal processing. The ability of electronic devices to act as switches makes digital information-processing possible. Interconnection technologies such as circuit boards, electronics packaging technology, and other varied forms of communication infrastructure complete circuit functionality and transform the mixed electronic components into a regular working system, called an electronic system; examples are computers or control systems. An electronic system may be a component of another engineered system or a standalone device. As of 2019 most electronic devices use semiconductor components to perform electron control. Commonly, electronic devices contain circuitry consisting of active semiconductors supplemented with passive elements; such a circuit is described as an electronic circuit. Electronics deals with electrical circuits that involve active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, optoelectronics, and sensors, associated passive electrical components, and interconnection technologies. The nonlinear behavior of active components and their ability to control electron flows makes amplification of weak signals possible.

[famouslomo]

World receiver radio sony

#World receiver radio sony portable

Because of the lightweight materials and the small, yet durable, construction on many of the early transistor radios Sony created, it was easier than ever before to transport a Sony radio to different locations. Even the TR-55, the original Sony radio, weighed just barely over 1 lb.

#World receiver radio sony portable

Many of the original vintage Sony radios are small enough to be taken anywhere and could be considered a portable radio. Are vintage Sony radios portable or stationary? While home built shortwave receivers had been used by amateur radio operators and radio experimenters prior to World War I, the first time shortwave radio reception was available to the general public was through the use of shortwave frequency converters sold as accessories to broadcast-band radio sets during the mid 1920s. Their first model of transistor radio was known as the TR-55, created in 1955 as the first officially branded Sony product on the market despite the company not formally transitioning to the name Sony until 1958. These types of radios were admired for their smaller size compared to those that came before, their increased durability, and how much more efficient and powerful the connection strength and quality were. The Sony corporation is known for manufacturing transistor radios, which were created near the beginning of the 1950s. In terms of Sony radios, the radios most prized by vintage radio collectors are those made before the 1960s. 1957 Motorola 57CD Tube AM Clock Radio in BLUE, Works Great / Retro Jetson Style. However, the three major types of radios most experts would consider to fit the designation of vintage are crystal radios, vacuum tube radios, and transistor radios. Diffuser City's Unpainted Berlin MLS type Audio/Sound Diffuser (Diffusor) reclaimed slat wood. The criteria for what is considered to be a "vintage radio" is not set in stone, with various examples spanning the decades between 19. What kind of radios are considered to be vintage? In the case of Sony, their radios date as far back as 1955. The majority of what collectors and experts consider to be an antique radio would be anything 50 years or older, typically made around the time of World War II. As such, there aren't any permanent criteria for what qualifies as sufficiently vintage or antique. The title of "vintage radio" covers electronic devices from several decades. Available in both portable radio and stationary varieties, Sony radios are a great choice for anyone who might be needing a way to listen to music without the use of a computer, or just for collection's sake and the joy of owning a piece of Sony history. Working radios and model radios from Sony can be great conversation pieces for guests as well as help to tie a room together. Vintage Sony radios are reliable electronics known for their crisp, clear sound and cool retro aesthetic.

[avtechnologysworld]

The Evolution of the AV Designer's Toolkit: A Historical Perspective

Over the past few decades, the role of the AV designer has transformed tremendously as new technologies have revolutionized the way we create, distribute and experience audiovisual media. This evolution has been accompanied by radical changes in the tools and techniques available to professionals working in this field. In this blog about av info , we will take a historical look at how the AV designer's toolkit has developed from the earliest days of radio and television through to the digital era. Through examining key innovations and turning points, we hope to gain insight into how new technologies continuously reshape this dynamic industry.

The Early Days of Radio and TV (1900s-1950s)

In the early 1900s, the era of radio and television was just beginning. Many of the most basic principles and components of AV systems were still being discovered and refined during this time. Pioneering designers worked with rudimentary equipment to craft some of the first radio and television productions. Their toolkit primarily involved hardware like vacuum tubes, antennas, primitive recording equipment and Studio setups av info would be unrecognizable compared to modern facilities. Designing audiovisual experiences was still in its infancy, focusing more on establishing the foundational technologies rather than sophisticated creative tools.

Nonetheless, rapid advancements were occurring. In the 1930s-40s, developments like frequency modulation transmission, television broadcasting standards and newer camera technologies started to take hold. Studios evolved basic lighting, switching and editing capabilities. Designers gained increased control over factors like audio mixing, visual composition and live switching between camera angles. While production values were relatively low, this era established many of the core building blocks that the AV industry would continue to build upon.

The Rise of Consumer Electronics and Broadcast Standards (1950s-1970s)

The post-war 1950s saw the rise of consumer electronics and a standardization of broadcast formats that transformed the commercial possibilities of audiovisual media. Technologies like reel-to-reel tape recording democratized audio production while video tape recorders began bringing television into consumers' homes. Standard television resolutions and framing emerged, along with innovations like color broadcasting.

Within professional studios and control rooms, this period brought expanded mixing consoles, multi-track tape decks, film-to-tape transfers and sophisticated broadcast switchers. Designers could now manage more channels of high-quality audio and precisely composite intricate television productions. Formats like NTSC and PAL established cross-compatible internationally broadcast standards.

Meanwhile, modular commercial and industrial AV systems emerged for applications like point-of-sale displays, digital signage, presentations and museum/exhibit multimedia. Rack-mount processors and industrial projectors expanded immersive audiovisual experiences beyond broadcast studios. By the 1970s, an interconnected ecosystem of production and presentation gear supported global mass media as well as localized commercial AV needs.

The Digital Revolution (1980s-2000s)

The digital revolution completely transformed the capabilities available to AV designers by extending computational power into all aspects of media creation and delivery. From the 1980s onwards, technologies like digital audio workstations, nonlinear editing systems, MIDI, sampling and DV/DVCam recording opened up new avenues for audiovisual artistry and productivity.

Computerization allowed for software-defined virtual studios, complex digital switching, and automated lighting/video control. File-based workflows streamlined content management. Formats like QuickTime, Flash and HTML5 enabled networked multimedia experiences. Meanwhile, CGI, 3D rendering and digital projectors enabled immersive cinematic presentations inconceivable just years prior.

By the 2000s, "prosumer" tools like DSLRs, smartphones and affordable editing apps gave consumers significant creative production abilities. Behind-the-scenes, immersive experiences like dome theatres and planetariums thrived thanks to technologies like 4K/HD projection, surround sound and sophisticated control systems. Today's IP-centric, software-defined, cloud-enabled workflows grant nearly unlimited scale, integration and creativity.

The Connected Future (2010s-Present)

The past decade has seen digital media, mobile connectivity and collaborative platforms converge in ways that dissolve old boundaries between production, distribution and consumption of audiovisual experiences. Innovations like social video, AR/VR, Esports broadcasting and the Internet of Interactive Things are pushing the role of AV design into uncharted areas.

Modern multi-user software and networked hardware allow geographically distributed teams to collaboratively develop immersive projects. Formats like 360-degree video utilize dynamic sensor input while real-time analytics optimize engagement. 5G, edge computing and processor innovations continue extending computational power to even the smallest portable devices.

Cloud storage and processing as well as software-defined infrastructure now provide limitless scalability. Interfaces like drag-and-drop workflows are bringing technical capabilities previously requiring extensive expertise within reach of general consumers. Connected home/office/classroom platforms seamlessly integrate diverse types of displays, speakers and IoT devices into holistic multimedia experiences.

As new frontiers in creativity, education and social interaction continue emerging, so too will innovative tools to support audiovisual designers at the forefront of these transformations. The connected, intelligent, experiential future remains unwritten - it will take a new generation of visionary media makers to fully realize its potential.

Conclusion

This blog has provided a high-level overview of the incredible evolution that has occurred within the toolbox available to AV designers over the past century. What began as rudimentary wired circuits, vacuum tubes and film projectors has advanced through analog, digital and now networked/IoT technologies. Each major wave of innovation expanded the frontiers of creativity by orders of magnitude while dissolving old barriers between production and consumption.

Looking ahead, it's difficult to predict precisely how tools, formats and workflows may continue to evolve - but one can be certain new frontiers in immersive, intelligent and experiential media are on the horizon. Adaptability will remain crucial as new platforms emerge - just as ingenuity and creative vision will remain central to realizing the full promise of future innovations. The rapid pace of audiovisual transformation shows no signs of slowing, ensuring continued excitement and opportunities for generations to come.

[themightymadman]

Making an Audio Input Adapter Cable for a 1950s Vacuum Tube Radio

Making an Audio Input Adapter Cable for a 1950s Vacuum Tube Radio

[lizzie-music-performance]

Research for presentation (21/11/18)

Technology

There is various tech used in the 1950′s Rock ‘n Roll era that has help to create what made Rock ‘n Roll is own genre and originality. For example, there was ‘Vacuum Tube Amplifiers’ this was a important tool used in Rock n’ Roll as it gave it the volume to play loud but to also keep the texture warm. Due to this tech, it gave Rock n’ Roll an iconic sound in which it made it what it is. Not only did it make it sound warm but you could poke holes and fill the come with paper which created a distorted sound as well. Another example can be ‘Transistor Radios’. This type of radio was popular for teens as most of them use it as an act of rebellion to play Rock n’ Roll music as the music at the time was different from other music at the time.  Due to the technology at the time being revolutionary at the time as tech was created throughout the 1950′s, it has created a positive influence as without it we wouldn't get genres such as Rock especially British Rock N’ Roll as well. Technology effected production such as having things like the television which was made in the 50′s helped to broadcast different music productions  so more people will be able to hear and see the music being played and performed as well.  It also effected the recording process as it made it more efficient and made it more easier to perform different songs as tape recorders such as the Ampex 350 was made at the time.