Interesting Set - Can You Help ID?

[W1UJR]

Hello fellows,

I picked up this set at the radio meet last Sunday in Boston...along with a wicked sinus cold.

Photos are up at http://gallery.me.com/brucehowes#100497

Clearly its some sort of regen receiver, but that's about all I know.
The seller had no paperwork, or information about the set.
I did see this very same set at last years radio meet, its been
kicking around for a while.

The front panel is metal, appears to be aluminum, and the
chassis is a stained and varnished wooden breadboard.

Front of the front panel is labeled as "Doerle TWO~ER".
Below this, about 2/3 of the way down the panel, is a label which read "CHI-RAD".

It also has a sticker on the rear of the front panel listing:
Chicago Radio Corporation
415 S. Dearborn St., Dept. S-43
Chicago, III.

There is another label near of the bottom on the back of the front panel,
but can not be read, appears to have been partially removed, or perhaps
the adhesive has come loose.

The set uses, or currently has installed, a pair of Westinghouse 230 tubes,
one of which has a test label dated 1931.

The wooden breadboard is interesting, has labels on the wood, appear
to be painted or decal, listing connection points.

The feedthrough bushings, where the wire go from the top of the chassis to the bottom
are hollow metal material, flared on the ends for retention.

Tube sockets are marked "Pacent" and seem to have some sort of
adjustment mechanism?

The bus wire is square in cross section.

I am thinking that this was some sort of kit offered by Chicago Radio, but
don't know the vintage. Of course, it might be a very well built repro unit.


Cordially,
Bruce W1UJR

[W3RSW]

I'm no authority, but from what little I've seen and read, it looks like a repro unit using old parts. The panel seems to be two layer plastic/aluminum. 

The front panel labeling is pretty modern, font, application, style, everything.

Can't tell precisely from the photo, but the wiring on bottom is modern, not cambric, etc.

The 'label' on rear of panel seems to be printed up recently, hand cut unevenly and bordered with a swipe (with overmarking) of red 'magic marker, tm.'

Don't know what you paid, but hopefully not more than the sum of the old parts.

[W1UJR]

I'm no authority, but from what little I've seen and read, it looks like a repro unit using old parts. The panel seems to be two layer plastic/aluminum. 

The front panel labeling is pretty modern, font, application, style, everything.

Can't tell precisely from the photo, but the wiring on bottom is modern, not cambric, etc.

The 'label' on rear of panel seems to be printed up recently, hand cut unevenly and bordered with a swipe (with overmarking) of red 'magic marker, tm.'

Don't know what you paid, but hopefully not more than the sum of the old parts.

Good catch on the label! I did not notice that, but it does look uneven on the right side, may well be a marker.

The front panel is not plastic, it is almunum, but I see how you could think that, they painted the edges about 1/2 back, makes it look like a two part unit.

I didn't think it was from the 1930s, in far too good of shape for that. What I do wonder if is anyone recongizes it as a kit which was offered during
some recent period.

At the very least they got the hardware right, not "Phillips" or crosspoint screw heads on the set, just good old flat head type.
That's usually a dead giveway to me. 

[WQ9E]

Bruce,

Doerle was the last name of a person who designed a simple regen shortwave set during the Great Depression and it became very popular.  There were "Doerle Clubs" in most major cities and major suppliers sold kits for making the "miracle receiver" and yours is probably one of those kits.  A later version added a tuned RF stage.

I have a couple of articles on this receiver I will scan and send you over the weekend.

[WQ9E]

Bruce,

The first article is on its way via email.  I will send a construction article from the 1930's along with some advertisements later.

[flintstone mop]

CHI RAD would be China Radio?

Interesting for sure

Fred

[w1vtp]

http://www.philcorepairbench.com/doerle.htm

??

Al