History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australasian Radio World/Issues/1951 06-07

Front Cover

Australian Radio and Electronics

incorporating

Australasian Radio World

Registered at G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a periodical.

JUNE-JULY, 1951 - Vol. 15, No. 11

1/6

P.01 - Contents Banner

AUSTRALIAN RADIO AND ELECTRONICS

and incorporating

AUSTRALASIAN RADIO WORLD

Vol. 15 - JUNE-JULY, 1951 - No. 11

P.01 - Contents

CONTENTS

Our Cover . . . . 1

Editorial . . . . 2

The Tape Recording Head . . . . 4

In Tune with the Trade . . . . 7

R. & E. Gramophone Pre-Amplifier - (Part 2) . . . . 8

Audio Frequency Distortion Measurements (Part 2) . . . . 12

Novice Set Building (A Section for the Beginner) (Part 4) . . . . 16

The S/W Miniature Three (Part 2) . . . . 19

An Easily Constructed Instrument for Measuring R.F. Resistance and Other Important Quantities (Part 2) . . . . 20

R. & E. Television Project for Home Construction (Part 5) . . . . 21

"Ham" Activities . . . . 25

Short Wave Review . . . . 29

Classified Advertisements . . . . 32

Our Cover

OUR COVER

Mounting and inspecting Radiotron Valve Assemblies at the works of Amalgamated Wireless Valve Company, Ashfield, N.S.W.

P.01 - Publication Notes

Subscription Rates: 12 Issues 18/- Post Free

Published by the Proprietors: Radio & Electronics (N.Z.) Ltd. (Publishers - Incorporated in N.Z.) 17 Bond Street, Sydney, N.S.W.

Managing Editor: LAY. W. CRANCH, AMIRE (Aust.), M.W.I.A., VK2XC

Providing National Coverage for the Advancement of Radio and Electronic Knowledge

Sole Wholesale Distributors - Gordon & Gotch (A/asia) Ltd.

Wholly set up and printed in Australia by R. V. Byers, 9 Wetherill St., North Lidcombe. 'Phone: UX6681 (Footnote P.1)

P.02 - Editorial

EDITORIAL

The expansion of a relatively new field of endeavour, such as electronics undoubtedly is, depends largely in a given place, on the number of skilled engineers and technicians that are available. The Australian radio industry, even at the present time, is short of such personnel, and possible future events can only increase the shortage, unless something is done about it. Not only is it possible that in a very few years the manufacture and maintenance of television receivers will be added to the industry's present endeavours, but the normal development of radio services generally, and the expanding use of electronic equipment in a wide variety of industries, will create a need for more men whose knowledge and attainments will have to be high, by present-day standards, if their functions are to be satisfactorily carried out. One of the greatest difficulties in attempting to entice more young men into the industry is that there is no professional standing attaching to most technical jobs within the industry. What other avenues of approach are available? If the boy is of greater than average ability, and is well advised, he may go to university, take a science degree in radio-physics, or one in electrical engineering, and then, after years of expensive preparation, find that the only positions available which will make use of his attainments are those in Government departments. This may not worry the young man him self, because he is usually sufficient of an enthusiast to be glad of work that is interesting, and in his own particular line, but it should worry the radio industry! The radio industry should, for its own good, do something active to encourage university graduates of the right kind, and with the right qualifications, to join its staffs. It may think that it has no place for such men, and in some cases this may be true, because the positions that might be held by them are filled by men who have grown up with the industry almost from boyhood, and who hold their positive (sic, positions?) by virtue of long practical experience rather than by formal qualifications. These men are extremely valuable, and no one in his senses would suggest that they should not hold their positions because they do not hold degrees. But time has already marched on, and these old hands will before long have disappeared; from where are they to be replaced. They should be replaced, when the time comes by young men of the kind we have been discussing. Those responsible should not make the mistake of believing that because the "old hands" were so good without formal training, then formal training is not needed. It is the time factor that counts, as ever; for a young man, suitably trained before engagement, can, if he is a capable youth, be brought to the required standard more surely, and in a tenth of the time than can one who has no formal background.

THIS COMBINED ISSUE — or BLACKOUT BLUES — (Part 2)

In our May issue we wrote a leader on newsprint shortage, etc., and had hopes that our supplies of paper already "on the water" would arrive in time to prevent further worry in this direction. Well, it did arrive in Sydney Harbour quite satisfactorily — but it's still on the water, as due to measures beyond our control, the ship containing same has not been unloaded to date. Wouldn't it? This, of course, has thrown a large spanner into our works, with the result we have been forced to publish our June and July issues together, otherwise we would have been 30 days behind delivery date with Australian Radio & Electronics. We, therefore, have taken this drastic step of catching up a month's lag, but can assure all concerned that there will be no loss of continuity in articles, advertisements or subscriptions, as the latter expiry date will be extended to cover an extra issue. Many of our readers have complained that they are not receiving A.R. & E. until the month following publication date, and this has also been a prime factor in combining this issue, as it gives us the opportunity of getting a bit of time "up our sleeves" so that we can endeavour to overcome the many problems of publishing today. Considerable reorganisation has been necessary and we intend producing a bumper August issue, to compensate for this combined one, which will start our new volume, and A.R. & E. should, according to plans, make its appearance in the first week of the month in future. The trials and tribulations of today are enough to send a man bald-headed (as a matter of fact, your Editor is already growing a nice head full of skin), but as some wise gentleman once wrote, "It's better to be optimistic than have a misty-optic" — so here's hoping.