I have been slowly collecting parts to build a WWII "Paraset" or "Paracette". This was a type of radio used by the resistance during the war to communicate back with the allies. So far, I have all the tubes, tube sockets, and a variety of other bits and bobs. Some items I will have to make, such as the case and some items I will have to modify to make them look authentic. For example, the Hammond choke in the center of the box will be given a cosmetic make-over to look like a 1940s choke.
By chance I was able to identify the actual make and model of the first telescope I ever owned. It turns out to be a Tasco 4VTE "Asteroid Telescope". Considered a "junk scope", this one wasn't over powered like later models. The maximum magnification was 50x and the objective was 40mm (1.6-inch) objective, so it was still quite useable. Through this peashooter, I was able to see the moons of Jupiter, Saturn's rings, the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda galaxy and several other objects for the first time. Unfortunately on one cold winter night, the mount broke on me when I over tightened the nut to keep it from moving up and down. The mount actually split in half. Recently, I managed to track down the same scope. Here it is posing with period correct observing items. Some of these I owned back in the day as well. I tested this peashooter out the other day, but it was horrible. I don't know how I ever saw anything in one of these back in the 1970s, but I did. I took it apart and noticed that the inside was not properly coated in flat black. I fixed that, and now I am awaiting a clear night. Video of my Viscount "Solid State Tape Recorder". Not sure the age of this, but I expect it is from the late 1960's. The recording came with the recorder and is likely made in the 1970s. Unfortunately, the record function doesn't work to well. The volume is low. Not sure if the crystal mic is dead, or if it is something else. Will need to do some troubleshooting. Another oddity is that when I use rechargeable batteries, the speed is OK, but if I use alkaline, the speed is too fast. I assume this means that the original recording was done with NiCd batteries. My mother had this identical machine back in the 1970s. I remember trying to record "Baker Street" by Gerry Raftery and "Gemini Dream" by the Moody Blues one time. It quite seriously sucked for that. |
AuthorCharles Baetsen holds a Bachelor and a Master's degree in Engineering Physics from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. Archives
February 2024
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