PURCHASER'S ODDITY

Evening Star, Issue 22252, 1 February 1936, Page 4

PURCHASER'S ODDITY

Some of the tests imposed by prospective purchasers of radio sets are extraordinary. An Aucklando • recently passed over a very excellent receiver in favour of a decidedly inferior one, solely because the selected set would bring in certain local stations without either aerial or earth, whereas the be> ; t set was “ dead ” until properly onnected. Needless to say every receiver must, in some way or other, collect sufficient energy from the ether, and thus an aerial is necessary unless the set is insufficiently shielded or unless there is some coupling to an energy collector, usually through the flex to the power plug. Complete shielding 's essential and the transfer of the signal to the set through the power flex highly undesirable. Thus the ideal* receiver will not receive even a focal station unless it has either a small aerial lead or an earth connection.

A young Polish engineer, named llomann, possesses a remarkable brain. It behaves like a wireless receiving set. M. llomann lives an exciting life. His brain is in perpetual activity; it receives broadcasts from all over the world from early morning to late at night. Naturally, there have been sceptics who do not believe in M. llomann’s capacity. The young engineer has now confounded all by allowing himself to be locked in a room under the most complete test conditions. Released, he was able to furnish a detailed account of all the broadcasts during his confinements in the room, including speeches, musical numbers, recitals, etc. The experiment has been repeated several times with complete success.