An old wireless con trick

[Doodlebug]

Just after WW2 I recall a stall holder in Shepherds Bush Market selling this rip off.
Cheap ex wireless equipment like capacitors could be bought for pennies
after the war. Some spark realised that they could be an aerial if plugged into the aerial socket of a radio. Just stick an impressive label on them
So this bloke had a stall with battery radio. To the amazement of those watching he would plug it in and hey Presto there was the Home Service loud and clear.
Many forked out 2/6 to buy one, and in the 1950s 2/6 was a great deal of money for the working man.
So this wireless con trick probably spread to all of UK.
Some of you very elders may recall some near you.

[ppppenguin]

There have been con tricks ever since humans starting acquiring things of value. The interesting question is how did he fake the improved performance.

[PerdioPal]

2/6 My pocket money in the 60's and 70's it never went up (mum being clever!) I could get lots of aerial wire from a transformer at no cost, ignition coils were the best (thicker wire) and gettable for nothing from the local scrappy if you asked nicely.

[Doodlebug]

There have been con tricks ever since humans starting acquiring things of value. The interesting question is how did he fake the improved performance.

Maybe he converted the earth socket to an aerial socket with big attenuation, plug a wire aerial in for poor reception then the capacitor in the right aerial socket for good reception. Fiddling about on the back no one would have noticed. Or he had a secret high value R in the wire aerial, or even O/C 6 inches in from socket.
I do remember though folk handing over 1/2 a crown (2/6) to buy.

[BusyBee]

Maybe nothing to do with it but don't forget that a good tuned loop somewhere in the vicinity of a radio will improve reception to a remarkable degree. A simple switch bringing in the hidden loop would make it seem like magic.

Tracy