somewhere in mid 1930's my maternal grandfather managed to get a radio " on appro". Co incidently there was a Test Cricket match on. Once Test had finished he took it back. Sorry mate she's not very good. He didnt have enough money of course, but I don't remember the story being at 700 quid.
DMaxer said
09:52 AM Jan 2, 2021
My grandfather on my mum's side was a builder and a keen radio enthusiast. In the 1930's he built a radio and being a builder also built the cabinet and the speakers.
My old mum tells me that on special broadcasts, Sunday night hymns and general orchestral broadcasts, my grandad would put the speakers up to the window and the neighbours would congregate outside mum's front fence to tune in. Cricket broadcasts were the most popular, not only in the household but the neighbourhood.
He also built a gramophone. We would play 78 rpm records and laugh our heads off. The funniest ones were called "Old Black Crows" or "Two Black Crows, something like that. They were just corny jokes that we kids thought were hilarious.
Possum3 said
10:44 AM Jan 2, 2021
Late 40's early 50's I had a crystal set - I used to listen to the test matches at Lord's overnight, (I assume it was relayed on Radio Australia), Signal strength was OK during the nights but very sketchy during the day.
Also had the Two Black Crows 78 and a wind up Edison gramophone. It was a simple life, no PC,
DMaxer said
11:35 AM Jan 2, 2021
Thanks Possum. Two Black Crows. I remember one was the straight man and one the simple friend. Pretty funny to us kids.
It is still less than a hundred years for reasonable mass listening of radio.
The first radio was 1906.
In 1922 regular wireless broadcasts for entertainment began in the UK from the Marconi Research Centre.
23 November 1923 2SB was the first Australian station to be officially recognised.
Marconiphone Radio from around 1934. In today's money that is over £700 about au$1300.
https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/history/radio-receivers/history-of-the-radio-receiver.php
A wealth of information here if looking for an AM radio for the outback.
https://radiojayallen.com/am-portables-mega-shootout-2019-update/
My grandfather on my mum's side was a builder and a keen radio enthusiast. In the 1930's he built a radio and being a builder also built the cabinet and the speakers.
My old mum tells me that on special broadcasts, Sunday night hymns and general orchestral broadcasts, my grandad would put the speakers up to the window and the neighbours would congregate outside mum's front fence to tune in. Cricket broadcasts were the most popular, not only in the household but the neighbourhood.
He also built a gramophone. We would play 78 rpm records and laugh our heads off. The funniest ones were called "Old Black Crows" or "Two Black Crows, something like that. They were just corny jokes that we kids thought were hilarious.
Also had the Two Black Crows 78 and a wind up Edison gramophone. It was a simple life, no PC,
Thanks Possum. Two Black Crows. I remember one was the straight man and one the simple friend. Pretty funny to us kids.