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panbiker
Senior Member


2301 Posts
Posted -  01/09/2008  :  13:48
Hearing Stanley's comment in another thread about someone he knew at Lancaster Uni that made a radio with a bucket and a coat hanger has got me going.

I'm going to need one or two bits and pieces to make this work.

Some wire, a safety pin, a pencil, some kind of earpiece and a razor blade. That should just about do it.

An appeal to all the locals, probably the blokes. Ideally I need one of those old fashioned single sided razor blades (preferably blued), although this could be sorted if its not. A later generation double sided Blue Gillette blade would probably do at a pinch but the single sided ones have recesses in the right place for fixing. Can anyone help?

We shall make music or speech (or both) out of the ether once we get the kit together.


Ian
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 01/09/2008 : 17:04
Can't help with the razor blade but I think craft shops still sell them.  Do tell more......


Stanley Challenger Graham




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panbiker
Senior Member


2301 Posts
Posted - 01/09/2008 : 17:27
Thanks for the tip Stanley, I saw dulciesdad looking at the thread earlier and was hoping his "magic garage" might bear fruit.
I want to do it with just the bits that you average soldier would have available or be able to pinch or reclaim from somewhere when on active service. The shopping list above is complete, no crystals or owt fancy like that in sight or required.

Once I get all the bits together I'll post some pics of my progress in true shed style. Foxhole or Trench Radio here we come.


Ian Go to Top of Page
pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 01/09/2008 : 20:53
You got a source for high impedance earpieces ? I doubt industry standard 8 or 32 ohm would work on an unpowered radio.

That might be more trouble than single sided razor blades in this day and age ....


Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"

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tripps
Senior Member


1404 Posts
Posted - 01/09/2008 : 21:05
I read that (quickly) as Single Sideband razor blade. That would be interesting!  Look forward to more on this topic.


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pluggy
Geek


1164 Posts
Posted - 01/09/2008 : 21:13
Apparently blued junior hacksaw blades can be made to work as a detector and are somewhat easier to come by.  You'll still need an high impedance earpiece or headset though.

Heres how to make one from the innards of a cheap digital watch, but whether that meets the criteria for what an average soldier could lay his hands on is for you to decide.

http://www.josepino.com/other_projects/index.php?making-high-impedance-headphones.jpc


Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"

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panbiker
Senior Member


2301 Posts
Posted - 01/09/2008 : 22:37
I am trying to keep this down to what could be obtained by the ordinary soldier on the battlefield with a bit of foraging, the headphones are not the issue. If I was going to make the earpiece or headphones as well it would have to be from materials that were available at the time. Interesting Idea though Pluggy and in the true spirit of reworking scrapped items into something that you have a use or need for. It would be even easier to nick the piezo sounder off a computer mainboard but hey did'nt have them either.

The classic design uses a razor blade so that will be the starting point. You can use a number of different items to fashion a detector. With the absence of razor blades in POW camps, the lads had to be even more inventive and used a small piece of coke as one half of the detector. Once I get the trench radio going I will try out the POW version of a detector as well.

Tripps, I will need the carrier and both sidebands if this has any chance of working! Beggars can't be choosers working with minimal parts.

Should be a bit of fun. Right back to basics.







Ian Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 02/09/2008 : 06:53
I'm all agog.......


Stanley Challenger Graham




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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 02/09/2008 : 06:55
If you get stuck with the blade, I've got plenty of shim steel that could be hardened and would be blue........


Stanley Challenger Graham




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dulciesdad
New Member


30 Posts
Posted - 02/09/2008 : 08:37
      Ian,
             I,m absolutely certain i have some flat razor blades in my magic garage. I will have a look for them when i wake up ......been on nights.
                                                                                            Stan


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belle
VIP Member


6502 Posts
Posted - 02/09/2008 : 08:54
I haven't a clue where this is going but it sounds very exciting...will follow avidly!


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Sue
Senior Member


4201 Posts
Posted - 02/09/2008 : 09:43
I'll get Bob in on this one.
 Sue


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panbiker
Senior Member


2301 Posts
Posted - 02/09/2008 : 18:20
Magic garage has produced and Stan has just made the delivery, 7 O'-CLOCK blades. These are double sided and not blued but I'm fairly sure we can cope with these. I feel sure the guys would have used these as well. I can always swap out if a single edge blued turns up at some point.
The razor blade form half of the detector for the receiver, I am going to try one or two alternatives and see which works best.
Searching around now for a suitable transformer to strip for the wire I need - 22 swg or there about - not really critical as long as it's not too thin.


Ian Go to Top of Page
panbiker
Senior Member


2301 Posts
Posted - 02/09/2008 : 18:43
I have done a  bit of searching on the net:

The 7 O'Clock blades were introduced about 1938 along with a safety razor system of the same name and are therefore contemporary with this project. Gillette patented the design of the disposable safety blade in 1904. The blue version of their product was introduced in 1932.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.linnell/sso/razorssafety.html#Anchor47606

http://www.geocities.com/safetyrazors/blades/DEBladePage.htm

The blueing of the blade produces an oxidised surface which will form half of the detector. The 7 O'Clock blades will have to be heated slightly to create this effect. A bit of experimentation required.

Edited by - panbiker on 02/09/2008 18:45


Ian Go to Top of Page
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 03/09/2008 : 07:22
Ian, no experimantation needed.  Put some dry sand in a flat metal tray, lay the perfectly clean and de-greased blade on top and have a saucer of cold water handy.  Heat the metal tray and the sand and watch the blade.  It will change colour as it warms up and will start pale straw and go through to dark blue as the temperature rises.  As soon as it gets to the shade of blue you want, hook the blade out and drop it in the cold water.  It is now coated with blue iron oxide and is permanent.  Oil blade up and wipe off.


Stanley Challenger Graham




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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 03/09/2008 : 11:04
Ian, you're right to make base this on what the avergae soldier would have in the field - with the current levels on spending on the army they will have to equip themselves! It's great to read about all these practical things happening on OGFB.


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