‘Tbt RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1347 
The Radio Problem 
Radio for the Farmer’s 
Family 
As a farm woman, interested, by na¬ 
ture, in things mechanical, I want to 
speak a word for the radio as a two-fold 
means of education and entertainment for 
the farmer's family. Few people realize 
what a tremendous amount of pleasure 
and profit can be derived from a small 
radio outfit costing but twenty or thirty 
dollars. Nightly there are broadcast 
from every section of the United States 
programs of every variety for every tftate, 
jazzy and classical music, plays, political 
speeches and talks on sports, health and 
agriculture. Indeed they cover the en¬ 
tire range of interest from bed-time 
stories and sermons to boxing matches. 
All radio enthusiasts emphasize these 
same features, but I wish to call atten¬ 
tion, a^ well, to radio construction in it¬ 
self, as a source of education and enter¬ 
tainment. 
Encourage your farm boys and girls to 
make a study of radio and build their 
own sets. It is remarkably simple. At 
first, to be sure, the diagram of a typical 
“hookup” will look like a Chinese puzzle, 
but every company selling radio supplies, 
the well-known mail-order houses, or even 
the 5 and 10-eent stores in cities, can 
supply you with explanatory charts and 
diagrams, making clear the symbols. 
Many up-to-date diagrams picture the 
parts themselves, just as used, thereby 
making the symbols unnecessary. 
The studying of diagrams, and the 
building of an outfit, will provide whole¬ 
some entertainment for your boy’s leisure 
hours and, if later, he sits up half the 
night in order to “pick up” California, 
at least you know he is in good company. 
Many people start with a crystal set 
costing but two or three dollars to build, 
and proving unsatisfactory to the more 
ambitious. Crystals lose their sensitive¬ 
ness and must be constantly replaced. 
This is especially true of a home electric¬ 
ally lighted, where a crystal will often¬ 
times be dead after two or three eve¬ 
nings’ use. Then too, the range of a 
crystal set is very limited and altogether 
undependable. 
One must have the same aerial, ground 
and ear phones for a tube set, so it is 
better to start with a real distance outfit 
and leave the crystals to those living a 
few miles from a broadcasting station. 
The impression is, that a tube outfit in¬ 
volves expensive storage batteries and 
their necessary recharging. The five and 
eight tube Neutrodyne and “Super-IIets” 
are more satisfactory with storage bat¬ 
teries, but by using a modest one to three 
tube set, one can use the well known 
W D 11 or W D 12 tubes, taking one 
common 40-cent dry cell per tube. These 
will need renewing but once or twice a 
season, and a two dollar B battery may 
remain efficient for nearly two years. 
Beyond these batteries there is no ex¬ 
pense for upkeep. 
I would advise starting with a single 
tube set, and one or two pairs of ear¬ 
phones. Later one or two tubes or 
“stages” of amplification may be added, 
for greater distance and volume. 
Two tubes will give the same volume 
of sound on a pair of earphones as the 
three tubes operating a loud speaker. The' 
loud speaker has many advantages, but 
involves more work and expense. 
Country homes have the advantage over 
those of the city when it comes to the in¬ 
stallation of the aerial. This wire should 
be from 25 to 30 ft. high and one hundred 
feet in length. Sometimes, however, a 
shorter, lower aerial will work quite as 
well, giving greater selectivity on a single 
circuit set, but in any event it should be 
clear of trees and buildings, and provided 
with a suitable switch and ground con¬ 
nection for lightning protection. 
The young person who becomes a real 
radio “bug” can derive unending hours 
of pleasure by owning a few standard 
parts and building them up according to 
the numerous new diagrams constantly 
appearing in the papers and magazines, 
and there is always great interest in try¬ 
ing a new circuit. There isn’t a member 
of the family, who won’t thrill over each 
new station picked up. What more 
wholesome fun for a farmer’s family 
than long Winter evenings around the 
radio cabinet? a. e. w. 
RUBBER 
FOOTWEAR 
For Economy—Buy WEAR! 
When the snow is deep wear 
* Warmfut* with 
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For comfort, protection, long wear and economy this 
combination can’t be beat! Takes the place of the 
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more practical because in the spring and fall you 
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when winter sets in wear “ Caboose ” over this 
‘Warmfut’ gaiter and keep your feet warm and dry. 
‘Warmfut’ can be worn alone around the house 
if you desire. 
“Warmfut” gaiter is made from wool yarn 
knitted and shrunk into a solid 
fabric. Tough felt sole 
and leather back stay. 
Made in different heights. 
You’ll never realize how much wear 
and how much comfort can be put 
into an overshoe until you’ve worn 
“Nebraska”. Wool lined, warm, and 
light and easy on the feet. Gives the 
long service, under hardest conditions, 
that only Big “C” footwear can give. 
Gusset reinforced against chafing of 
buckles. Wide extension sole and 
“Stubgard” toe 
and heel prevent 
snagged or scuffed 
uppers. Don’t ac¬ 
cept a substitute. 
The best costs less 
in the long run. In¬ 
sist on“ N ebraska”. 
Look for the White 
Top Band and the 
Big“C” on the White 
Tire Sole-—then you 
know its genuine! 
Ask Your Dealer 
Find out also about the other leaders 
in the Big “C” Line, the ‘ Watershed.’ 
cloth top overshoe and the ‘Ruff 
Shod’ boot. Overshoes for the women 
folks, too, and husky rubber footwear 
for the youngsters. If your dealer 
hasn’t the complete line in stock he 
will quickly get what you want from 
our nearest office. Write for circular 
and give your dealers name. 
“Caboose”, the world’s 
best work rubber, is built 
sturdy and strong to stand 
hardest wear. Slips on 
easily, fits perfectly. Four 
ply laminated upper and 
extra heavy White Tire 
Sole. 
Converse Rubber Shoe Co. Factory-M alden, Mass. 
Boston Chicago New York Philadelphia Syracuse 
