Crystal Radio [Everyman]
Maker and role
Canadian Independent Telephone Company Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
Circa 1920
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Object detail
Accession number
2011.644
Production period
Description
A portable radio receiver inside a wooden box with a flip top lid. Included are headphones and an instructional sheet pasted inside the lid. Handwritten on the sheet reads: "Once belonged to the mayor of Onehunga." This is a crystal radio set which does not require batteries to operate.
Brief History
Crystal radio sets were the earliest form of radio receiver and used particular crystals both to power the radio and to convert radio wave signals so that they could be listened to. As the sets didn’t need batteries to power them and were quite simple to make, they were more affordable.
Crystal radios didn’t produce a loud sound, and the headphones in this set were an essential part of most crystal radio sets. Antenna wires could also be rigged up to improve the listening experience, and the instructions with this set show how one could be set up using a nearby tree.
Crystal radios didn’t produce a loud sound, and the headphones in this set were an essential part of most crystal radio sets. Antenna wires could also be rigged up to improve the listening experience, and the instructions with this set show how one could be set up using a nearby tree.
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Canadian Independent Telephone Company Limited. Circa 1920. Crystal Radio [Everyman], 2011.644. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
On display?
On display
Public comments
This crystal radio is significant, as it is most likely one of 300 imported into NZ in 1922 by a newly formed company called 'Radio Ltd'. That company would reorganise in 1936 to become Radio (1936) Ltd and by this time their main brand, Ultimate, would be rapidly growing to one of the largest and most recognisable in the country, selling high quality radios, ovens, toasters, kettles, coffee percolators, heaters and more right through into the 60's when they were taken over by Pye, who were in turn taken over by Philips. There is more here www.vintageradio.co.nz/manufacturer/radio_1936 but this radio was their very first product and the reason they started 1YA, Aucklands first radio station (so their customers would have something to listen to).
- Steve Dunford posted 4 years ago.