The MODEL ENGINEER
Edited by PERCIVAL MARSHALL CIMechE
Assist. Editor: WALTER RUNCIMAN
Business Dept. ALFRED DAWSON
Tech. Research and Workshop Dept.: ALFRED W. MARSHALL, M.J Mech.E. A.M I.E.E. Editorial and Publishing Offices: 66 FARRINGDON STREET, LONDON E.C.4 Single copies. 4d., post free 5d. Annual Subscription. 21s. 8d.. post free. VOL. 62. No. 1501. FEBRUARY 13, 1930. SMOKE RINGS WE publish in this week's 33 our issue the opening instal- ment of the description of THE MODEL ENGINEER wireless receiving set. I have christened this THE MODEL ENGINEER 1,500 set, as it marks the passing of our 1,500th issue, and symbolises the progress of wireless science since we published our first wireless article on the making of a coherer thirty-two years ago. For many years THE MODEL ENGINEER was the only journal publishing articles on the construction of experimental wireless apparatus, and some of enthusiastic readers of those days profited by the information and inspiration given in our articles to enter the wireless industry in its early stages and achieve important personal and material success. It is there- fore quite appropriate that we should still maintain touch with that side of scientific work and give present-day readers useful and up-to-date information and advice. I asked Mr. Barton Chapple to approach this design from the point of view of the model engineer as a competent mechanic with a desire to possess a really first-class receiving set within his power to make either for him- self or for his friends. I said we wanted a design which would give first-class reception from all home and Continental stations which might reasonably be desired, and at the same time would be fully adapted to meet the new broadcasting conditions. Mr. Chapple, who is in the very front rank of wireless techni- cians, has taken a great personal interest in the success of this design, and, having built it and submitted it to exhaustive tests, has the fullest confidence in offering it to our readers. There are, of course, hundreds of sets of all kinds described in books and in "" PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY. 4d. the wireless Press, and the ordinary con- structor might well have an attack of mental indigestion if he tried to assess the merits of them all, and select a really good all-round set to make. We are saving him that trouble, and I am quite convinced that every- one who follows Mr. Barton Chapple's instructions and builds "THE MODEL ENGINEER 1,500 set, will have every reason to be satisfied with his choice. A corre- spondent wrote me the other day in regard to this set, and said he hoped we would not content ourselves with giving instructions for the assembly of purchased components, but would describe fully the making of the components themselves. This is ruled out from the start by the fact that many of the components necessary are the subject of patents, but there is also the disadvantage of the fact that while some of the components could no doubt be effectively made by the skilled model engineer, most of them would either be quite beyond his abilities, such as the valves, for example, or could not be made satisfactorily except after prolonged trial and experiment. In purchasing finished components from specialist manufacturers, the constructor not only gets them more cheaply and more quickly than he could make them himself, but gets the advantage of the expert knowledge and research which has been put into the component before it has reached its marketable stage. There is a certain amount of constructive work to be done in fitting up the set, which every model engineer will enjoy, and, if he so chooses, there are certain of the simple details be can make for himself instead of buying. I shall be glad to hear how my readers get on with the building of this set. If any difficulties arise either during construction, or in opera-
