[Boatanchors] Coke as a detector - was: Foxhole Radios

[Mick]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry L. Ornitz" <ornitz@tricon.net>
To: <boatanchors@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 9:48 AM
Subject: [Boatanchors] Coke as a detector - was: Foxhole Radios


> There has been considerable discussion on the use of coke as a
> detector in simple crystal sets.
SNIP
> Lots of natural semiconductors are found in nature and can be
> used as detectors.  Galena (lead sulfide) and iron pyrite are
> common ones.  But two dissimilar metals with some galvanic
> corrosion between them can also act as rectifying junctions.
SNIP
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Thank you Barry for such a fine description (like all your posts).

I have a book called "Crystal Receiving Sets and How to Make Them"
published in England around the early 1920's by "Amateur Wireless
Handbooks".
    This book has a very informative chapter on the crystals used in the
construction of crystal sets and lists the following as being able to be
used as
detectors when building crystal sets.
     Silicon, Galena & Special Galena , Bornite , Radiocite , Carborundum (3
kinds), Copper Pyrites, Zincite , Tellurium , Lybdenite, Iron Pyrites ,
Molybdenite and Permanite. I like many others on this list made crystal sets
for my first venture into "Radio". One of the most popular items on display
in "The Wireless  Shack" is the humble crystal set. And yes the most unusual
Crystal set on display is the Razor Blade detector type.
73's Michael Harley,
Curator "The Wireless Shack" Caboolture Historical Village,
Brisbane Australia.