General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

3

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

sheet steel case, chassis and internal shielding/ metal, synthetic and glass working parts/ synthetic knobs and parts/ fabric covered power cord Bakelite knobs

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

25.4 cm

Width

26.5 cm

Height

18.6 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Communications

Category

Radio

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

National

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Massachusetts

City

Malden

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Nova Scotia

Period

+/- 1940 +

Canada

An American made radio receiver used by a member of a Canadian amateur radio club, Arron D. Solomon, VE1OC. Mr. Solomon began his radio career as a SWL in 1931. Licensed as VE1OC in 1938, he received his advanced certificates in 1938. A life member of ARRL [American Radio Relay League] and RAC [Radio Amateurs of Canada], he had confirmed contacts with 333 countries at the time of his passing. Arron was also an antique radio collector and was a member of the Antique Wireless Association and several other antique radio associations. His extensive collection of antique radios is now on display at the Hammond Radio Museum in Guelph, Ontario. Mr Solomon graduated from Dalhuosie University with a B.A.,B.Sc and Diploma in Engineering and was a member of the Engineering Institute of Canada. In 1941 He joined the RCAF as a Flying Officer and served with the RAF, UK Radar Chain 1941-1942 and RCAF Radar Signals, Radar Officer 1942-1944 on the west coast. He passed away January 29, 2002 at age 82. [Written by Dave McClafferty, VE1ADH for Dartmouth Amateur Radio Club]

Function

A device used to receive radio amateur CW (Continuous Wave - Morse) and AM (Amplitude Modulated) radio signals.

Technical

An example of a regenerative shortwave radio receiver. The regenerative process, designed into this receiver was a major development that moved radio from insensitive crystal detectors to highly sensitive vacuum tube receivers. Developed in 1914, regenerative receivers were used into the mid forties. National Company was formed in 1914 as the National Toy Company and became the National Company by 1916 as it broadened its product line. In the 1920's the firm began manufacturing broadcast and shortwave radio receivers, including the SW-2, SW-4 and the SW-5. In the 1930's during the depression, a lower-cost version of National's regenerative SW-5 was developed, the SW-3. The push-pull audio output stage of the SW-5 was eliminated - which meant headphone operation only - and a wrap-around sheet metal cabinet was substituted to further reduce costs. Both AC and battery powered models of the SW-3 were marketed and two upgrades made; the last right after WWII to use octal tubes. This receiver was in production almost 15 years, from 1933 to 1948.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

logo on front reads 'NC'/ plate on transformer inside reads 'NATIONAL/ AUDIO/ TRANSFORMER/ TYPE S-101/ NATIONAL CO., INC.,/ MALDEN, MASS. U.S.A.'/

Missing

plated cap detached from casing front [stored with receiver]

Finish

black wrinkle finish on casing exterior/ glossy black painted interior and underside/ black synthetic controls and dial casing/ metallic, black painted and metallic parts/ colourless and transparent and silvered glass/ brown wire covering

Decoration

N/A