[Boatanchors] Racor Blade Rectification

Thu, 22 Jan 2004 19:23:48 -0600

Well, Duane, I'm not WWII vintage, but I built a razor blade radio as a kid,
using an old Gillette Blue Blade, and it worked very well on VERY STRONG,
local stations, but have never been able to repeat the process with other
blades that I find now.  I'm not sure what the "Marlin" blade was, but that
old Gillette sure perked!!
73,
Don, WB5HAK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 6:04 PM
Subject: [Boatanchors] Racor Blade Rectification


>
>
> Do any of you who served in WW2 remember what brand of razor blades the
Army, or
> other branch of the armed forces, issued to each person?
>
> W8QLZ, Roy, who is 89 was telling me about the modified 'fox hole' radio
he
> built while at the WAR station in Maryland. He said they used the Marlin
brand
> of razor blade. Some of you have suggested that the Gillette blue blade
was what
> was used, not Marlin.
>
> They will probably both work.
>
> Question: exactly what made the Marlin or the Gillette razor blade work as
a
> diode for rectification? Some say it was the special electric printing of
the
> product name on the blade and others claim it was what the blade was made
of.
>
>
> How about it you guys who were there in WW2 and used one of these infamous
'fox
> hole' sets, what is the rest of the story?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Duane W8DBF
>
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