apteryx

The swapmeet today proved interesting as well as fun. I picked up an old 8 channel (4 really) reed receiver called an O.S. Minitran which uses a 1AG4 pencil tube and some transistors. It looks like a tuned regen and the size of the coil indicates 27Mhz.
An old frequency flag stand also followed me home. Two questions: what is the approximate timeframe of the reed receiver
and what were the 27mhz flag colors ? I want to make a cool desk stand out of the two. The receiver even has two 22-1/2 V
for the B+ soldered in.

iflyj3

My Feedback: (7)

The tube with a multi channel reed band would place it some where in the 1950's.
My best guess.....

LesUyeda

If it has some transistors added in, that would probably place it in the late 50's.

Les

CoosBayLumber

My Feedback: (1)

World Engines imported the O.S. line of radio equipment. O.S. had brought in a few minor items under their own label beginning in 1958. They had a signal seeking radio available in 1958.

It wasn't until about 1960 they upped the ante and teamed up with World and then got going. The Min-Trans was just one of the line of transmitter/receiver combo sets, all carrying the same name. These came in single channel, six, ten, etc. Without a model number, it cannot be determined when the receiver (and transmitter) was first introduced. The transistor/tube receivers were popular beginning in 1961 and carried through until about 1964.



Wm.

apteryx

Excellent information, CoosBayLumber, that narrows it down sufficiently so I can inscribe something on this "desk stand" I'm making. I had an ACE 1 tube escapement tansmitter/receiver in 1959 (in an R/C bus), so I knew it was around there. Now if someone knows the 27Mhz frequency flag colors ?? Couldn't find it on the AMA site nor after a search of RCUniverse.

CoosBayLumber

My Feedback: (1)

You will find that in the front pages of American Modeler, Model Airplance News, etc. are the A.H.C. advertisements. This firm tended to buy up obsolete equipment and put on sale in big blatant ways. If you see your equipment noted in one of these type advertisements, that may be the signal to look for way earlier mentions of reviews. I have a couple of their mailer catalogues from the late 1950's and 1960's which were included in every parcel sent out with an order.

It doesn't take but a few seconds to look through a host of these early issues covering a few years.

Wm.

iflyj3

My Feedback: (7)

IIRC these are the colors as I remember them.

26.995 Brown
27.045 Red
27.095 Orange
27.145 Yellow
27.195 Green

27.225 Blue........ Not sure about this one as this freq was also shared with channel 23 CB.

Notice they follow the resistor color code.

michpittsman

My Feedback: (11)

You are correct 100 % Dan. The colors followed the resistor color codes for ohm value; I remember the old mnemonic device to remember the colors: bad boys rape our young girls but violet gives willingly. Take the first letter of each word...JIM

apteryx

Here is the net result.

iflyj3

My Feedback: (7)

Apteryx..... Great looking display.

apteryx

Thanks Dan,

Maybe it will give some others ideas about hanging some history on the wall for conversation.

iflyj3

My Feedback: (7)

Now that I have had more thinking time. In addition to your mounting style, what about using a shadow box? It would still give the framed look but the radio would be protected by the glass. Sometime I may give that a try.

apteryx

Sounds like a good idea to me. It is definitely 3-D

73 Kees K5BCQ

newtech

I have been trying to find a five channel version of the O.S. reed radio you found. I have been slowly collecting the major hobby items that played such a great part in my youth. Congratulations on finding yours.