[Hallicrafters] Communications Receivers - why speakers separate?

[Howard Weeks]

Peter,

Some thoughts on the subject:
* It saved a lot of space on the front panels. Some put small speakers 
on the end or top of the radio.
* A bigger and better speaker could be put in an external enclosure.
* For some, it saved a few coins for both the builder and the consumer.
* In the 20's, speakers were either horns or big heavy albatrosses. Just 
wouldn't fit in a table top cabinet easily.
* People buying communication receivers were more apt to understand the 
issue of separate speakers than someone buying a radio for the kitchen 
table.
* Some combination of the above thoughts.

Howard K5JCP


On 5/30/2014 10:54 PM, Peter VK6PM wrote:
> I've been chatting with some younger amateurs on a local net, and the question of why communications receivers did not come supplied with built-in loudspeakers emerged.
>
> Some of the younger guys reckon that  it appears to be at the outmost extremity of "stinginess" that you would have to buy the speaker separately.
>
> Historically, broadcast receivers from the crystal set era onwards came with a built in loudspeaker.
>
> I shot down the argument that it was just USA companies (which was the original beef, aimed at the Lafayette HA-600), pointing out that Eddystone (UK) STC and Kingsley (Aust) also followed the practice.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas on this one? I don't have any sensible answers for the young blokes.
>
> Regards
>
> Peter VK6PM
>
> ---
> This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
> http://www.avast.com
> ______________________________________________________________
> Hallicrafters mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hallicrafters
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
>
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>