KEVIN’S WEBSURFER

HANDBOOK I
FOR CRYSTAL RADIO

A CATALOG OF CRYSTAL
HOOK-UPS

Kevin Smith
2009
rev 2015

i
 Notes:

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http://www.lessmiths.com/~kjsmith/crystal/catalog.shtml

KJ Smith

ii 129
Notes: Hookup Page coil cap features
Contents iii
Intro Note vii
Legend viii
Chapter 1 Broadcast
Sleeper #1 2 0 0 Untuned
Sleeper #2 3 1S 0 Basic
American Radio Stores 4 1B 0 TC
Sleeper #9 5 1S 0 TC
MRL #12 6 1S 0 2SL
Wagner: XSS v10, n4 7 1S 0 Veractor
Sleeper #5 8 1S 1 Series
Sleeper #6 9 1S 1 Parallel
Sleeper #7 10 1S 1 SP switched
MRL #1 11 1S 1 LWT
MRL #17 12 1S 1 TC
Steinite 13 1W 1 TC
Dunwoody 14 1S 2 TC
Babani LD 15 1S 2 TC
MRL #13 16 1S 2 SL LWT
Schmarder #30 17 1L 3 Loop RFC
Schmarder #43 18 1W 2 LD LD
MRL #2 19 1S 2G LWT
KJS Fleming 20 1S 2 Valve
BBCS #6 21 2S 2 TC LWT
Sleeper #11 22 2S 0 LD SL
MRL #11 23 2S 1 TC
BBC Comm 24 2W 0 VM
Sleeper #12 25 2S 0 VM
Sleeper #14 26 2S 1 VM
MRL #22 27 2S 1 VC TC
Sleeper #15 28 3S 0 VM TC TC
MRL #29 29 3S 1 VC TC

128 iii
Hookup Page coil cap features XSS www.midnightscience.com/index.html
Crystal Set Society, (M Peebles)
Schmarder #11 30 3S 2 TC VM
Newsletter #
MRL #15 31 3S 2 VC
Sleeper #18 DeForest 32 2S 1 VC TC
MRL #35 33 3S 3 TC VC
Secor, 1920 34 4S 0 VM
StayTuned #76 35 3W 0 LC TC
KJS Bremer-Tully 36 2D 1 LC
MRL #10 37 2L 1 TC
DP Galenatron 38 3S 2 VC TC
XSS #59 39 3D 2 LD TC
MRL #24 40 3D 2 LD TC
MRL #43 41 2D 2 Counterwound
McCall 42 2S 1 VC
MRL #3 43 2S 2 VC TC
MRL #30 44 3D 2G LC LWT
Sleeper #16 45 2S 0 LC SL
Sleeper #17 46 2S 1 LC SL
KJS Teflon 47 2 S 3G LC
Tuggle L17 48 2W 3G LC TG IWT
Tuggle ML17 49 2W 3G LC Mossfet
Poole #5 50 2S 2 TC LC
XSS #58 51 2S 2 TC LC
Polk Symmetry 52 2S 3G TG 4SL
Poole off the shelf 53 2S 3G TC LC
KJS Hammarlund 54 2S 3G TG SEC
XSS #54 55 3S 3 LC WT
KJS ID #3 56 2S 3G TG TC
Dejan 57 2S 4G LC TG IWT
M Hampton, BRG 2009 58 2S 5G TG LC
W Thelen, BRG 2006 59 2W 5 TG LC
Sleeper #19 60 4S 1 LC SL LD
Kinzie 47b 61 3S 3 LD LC
RTVE p129 62 2 SW 2 FW

iv 127
References: Hookup Page coil cap features
Schmarder #1 63 2W 4
Boursin 1939 64 2S 1 MW LW
BBCS Boys Book of Crystal Sets
Jacquemard 65 3S 2 MW LW
W J May 1954
Proton Mystery 66 2C 1 TF
MRL #8 67 2L 1 TF CK
Babani Crystal Set Construction
Peebles XSS #9 68 2L 1 TF
BB Babani,
KJS Mystery 69 2C 2G TF TG
Tuggle Mystery 70 2C 2G TF TG
BCRG Birmingham Crystal Radio Group
Solomon Double G 71 2C 2G TF
http://www.crystalradio.us/
MRL #39 72 2L 2G TF TG
Gollum Mystery 73 2C 4G TF
GE Ham GE Ham News, V10, n6
Proton Mystery Plus 74 3C 1 TF
MRL #4 75 3L 1 TF
Gollum home.snafu.de/wumpus/gollum/
Solomon Mystery Plus 76 3C 2 TF
Solomon Crazy Plus 77 3C 2G TF
Kinzie in XSS newsletter #47
MRL #23 78 3L 2G TF LWT
Solomon Almighty 79 3C 3G TF
Klase www.skywaves.ar88.net/xtal/xtal.htm
GE Ham News 80 2L 4G FW DA
Pop Mechanics 81 3M 3G FW
MRL Modern Radio Labs HB 17, 25
XSS #62 82 5M 3G FW TD
Elmer G Osterhoudt
Sleeper #21 83 2S 3G SL CT
BBCS #11 84 2S 3G TC
Poole bellsouthpwp2.net/w/u/wuggy/
Coupled Trap 85 4S 2 IWT
Sleeper #20 86 4S 2 LK
Schmarder www.schmarder.com/radios/crystal
Hogan 1922 87 4S 2 LK TC
XSS #63 88 4S 2G LK VC
Sleeper Radio Hook-Ups
Ford, Pop M 1945 89 4S 3G LK
Milton B Sleeper 1920
Radio Craft ST#31 90 4S 3G Band select
KJS Minstrel Boy 91 5T 3 LK
Solomon Solomonmusic.net/Radios.html
Petersen XSS #107-8 92 5S 4G LK CK
Barket, RW 1924 93 8W 2 LD LC
Stay Tuned www.crystalradio.net/crystalplans

126 v
Hookup Page coil cap features

Chapter 2 Shortwave
KJS Global DX 96 1W 2 TC
Poole SW 97 2S 1 LC
XSS #56 98 2S 2 TC
H Lash SW 99 2S 4G LC
AKlase SW 100 3S 3G LC LD
Harthun SW Mystery 101 3D 1 TF SW
Chapter 3 Misc
Wave traps 104 Circuit Additions
Benny & SEC 105 Circuit Additions
Detector Bias Circuits 106 Circuit Additions
Matching Transformer 107 Circuit Additions
Transistor detectors 108 Circuit Additions
Phone Amplification 109 Circuit Additions
Dummy Antenna 110 Radio Measurement
Performance Test 111 Radio Measurement
Diode Test 112 Radio Measurement
KJS Spark Gap 113 Transmitter
Marconi 1896 114 Coherer detector
Lodge 1898 115 Coherer detector
Tesla 1899 116 Coherer detector
Marconi 1900 117 Coherer detector
DeForest Smythe 1902 118 Coherer detector
Anderson XSS #53 119 Heterodyne
Fleming Valve 120 Vacuum Diode
Pratt 1915 IRE v2 n2 121 Crystal+Audion
Audion Valve 122 Armstrong Circuit
Armstrong Regen 123 Dec 1914
AF amplifier 124 LM 386
References 125
Notes 126

vi 125
AF Audio Amplifier Introduction:

The following catalog features circuit diagrams hand-drafted

by myself from various sources (as indicated on each page, see
catalog reference). When I first entered the crystal radio
hobby, I was amazed and more than a bit intimidated by the
sheer variety of circuit possibilities. I began to make my own
circuit drawings in order to get a handle on this in addition to
finding interesting circuits to construct myself.

To organize the circuits from fairly easy to rather complicated,

I put together a simple classification based on the number of
Inductors and Tuning Capacitors in each circuit and a few of
their main distinguishing features, but this does not always feel
right. Sets are arranged broadly by groups, single-tuned,
C1 10 uF variometers, double-tuned, etc. Better classifications may
C2 2.2 uF exist, but this works well enough for my purpose. A legend
C3 470 uF follows so anyone may break the code.
C4 220 uF
C5-6 0.1 uF I provide only minimal information about each circuit.
C7 0.22 uF Although an experienced builder may make the calculations to
D1 LED 3mm build a radio from the data provided, I mostly intend this for
R1 2.2 k Ohm (short R1 to get max gain = 200) information only. I highly recommend if you wish build a set
R2 1k Ohm to consult the original reference.
R3 22 E Ohm
R4 10 k Ohm variable Please note that this compilation represents only a small
SW switch fraction of the circuit possibilities in the world of crystal radio.
IC LM 386 Competition sets in particular can get very complex. I have
tried to find a wide range of styles and ideas with examples
from many circuit families. The reader is encouraged to
pursue more on the web or via whatever sources are available.

Kevin Smith

124 vii
Legend: Armstrong Regenerative 12-1914
Coil
1, 2, 3+ number of coils
S = single winding selenoid
W = spiderweb, other non-selenoid
D = dual windings on one form
M = multiple windings on one form
C = co-wound, bifiliar
L = layered windings
Capacitor
1, 2, 3+ number of capacitors
G = ganged
Features
VM = variometer
VC = variocoupler
LC = loose coupler
FW = full wave receiver L1-2 coupled tuning circuit
LD = loading coils L3-4 feedback circuit (transformer)
CK = rf choke C1 tuning capacitor
CT = capacitively tuned C2 circuit choke
TG = tuggle tuning B1 A-battery filament current
TF = telefunken variation B2 B-battery plate potential
SL = slider tuned Single triode vacuum (Audion) tube
TC = tapped coils F Filament supplies electron current
LK = link coupling G Grid control space charge around
LWT = linked wave trap filament
IWT = wave trap inductively coupled P Plate (Wing) rectifier / oscillator
MW = Medium Wave
LW = Long Wave
SEC = Selectivity Enhancement Circuit
B = Benny circuit

viii 123
Armstrong Circuit
Audion Valve

Unit prefix’s
m milli 10^-3
u micro 10^-6
n nano 10^-9
p pico 10^-12

Old radio text notation

1 cm = 1 nH
1 mmf = 1 pF

Single Audion tube rectifies signal and provides amplification.

L1-2 Coupling coils

C Tuning capacitor
A Filament current
B Supply of plate potential
Poole’s Quick Fix’s
Vacuum Tube elements Add a loading coil for short antennas
F Filament supplies electron current Add series capacitance for long antennas
G Grid control space charge around Add coupling coil in front of tank
filament Tap antenna down on coil
P Plate (Wing) rectifier / oscillator Tap diode down on tank coil

To consider:
Add a Benny, even without matching transformer
Add SEC to unload diode
Add Bias to the detector

122 ix
 Pratt 1915 IRE v3, n2

Combined crystal detector and Audion amplifier circuit to test

amplification on distant signals.

x 121
Fleming Valve

CHAPTER 1

BROADCAST BAND HOOK-UPS

Rectification of signal with diode tube

L1-2 Coupled coils

C1 Tuning capacitor
C2 Shunt capacitor
R Variable resistor to adjust temperature on
filament
B1 Battery for heater (filament current)
V Vacuum diode (Fleming Valve) rectifier

P35: 1918_Bucher Vacuum tubes in wireless communication

120 1
Sleeper #1 Anderson XSS #53

0 0 Untuned

Heterodyne Circuit

Detector of radio waves

Untuned circuit, all frequencies, especially those close to the

natural resonance of the antenna itself will pass.

Diode shown in parallel with the phoned, may also be placed

in series, but will have lower sensitivity.

2 119
DeForest – Smythe 1902 Sleeper #2

“Receptor” 1S 0 Basic

A1-2 Anti-Coherers
RFC1-2 Choke coils
C Tuning condenser
L Inductor
B Battery Variable inductance circuit with tapped or slider-tuned coil.
S1-2 switches

118 3
American Radio Stores Inc. Marconi 1900

1B 0 TC

L1-2 Coupling inductors

L3 Ant loading coil
g Loading inductor
C1-2 Tuning condensers
C Coherer
Variable inductance circuit with 2 sets of taps, Units and K “Stopping“ condenser
Multiples B Battery

The fascination of this radio is its tapped, bundle-wound coil. Coherer and telephone circuits as per Lodge Patent
Taps are formed to wind into the main bundle.

4 117
Tesla 1899 Sleeper #9

1S 0 TC

Variable inductance circuit with double switch to taps on coil,

coarse and fine spacing switches separate.

L1 Secondary inductor
L2 Primary inductor
L3 RF Choke
Cp Condenser 500 pF
C Coherer
B Interrupter “Break”
B1-2 Batteries
r resistor
R Relay (sounder or headphones)

116 5
MRL #12 Lodge 1898

1S 0 2SL

L1 Variable antenna inductor

Form 2” x 4 ½”
L2 Coupling coil to detector circuit
L1 120t, 22 awg
C Coherer
B Battery, current triggered through coherer
C1-2 Fixed mica, 150 pF
K Condenser of large capacity
P primary slider
S secondary slider
This detects radio energy impulses, damped waves ala Morse.
X crystal slider
Secondary coil aperiodic, tuning un-necessary.
First receiving circuit to place detector circuit away from
antenna circuit thus reducing load resistance and allowing
antenna to be tuned.

6 115
Marconi 1896 Wagner: XSS v10, n4

Untuned receiver 1S 0 Veractor

L1 260 uH, tapped

C1 1000 – 5000 pF
D1 MV1662 veractor
D2 1N34A
R1 100k ohm
R2 5-10Meg Pot
L1-2 Choke coils B1 9 – 15V DC
C Coherer
B1-2 Batteries Tuning of set via variable capacitance diode (veractor) rather
R Relay than traditional Vcap.
S Morse sounder Crystal Set Sociery, 2000, v10, n4.

Coherer tapper not shown

114 7
Sleeper #5 KJS Spark Gap Transmitter

1S 1 Series

Series tuning capacitor

The lower the capacity used, the shorter the wavelength,

(higher frequency) tuned.
Adding series capacitance lowers overall capacitance and thus
“shortens” the antenna.

8 113
Diode Test Sleeper #6

Petersen (modified) 1S 1 Parallel

R1-2 1k ohm Parallel tuning capacitor

R3 23k ohm
B Variable power supply (18 – 24V max) The lower the capacity used, the greater the wavelength,
VM Volt meter (digital) (lower frequency) tuned.
AM Amp meter (digital) Adding capacitance in parallel increases overall capacitance
thus “lengthening” the antenna.
DUT Diode Under Test

112 9
Sleeper #7 Performance Test
C Lauter
1S 1 SP switched

Artificial antenna Measurement load

Artificial Antenna
L1 = 20 uH
R1 = 15 ohm
R2 = 10 ohm
C1 = 200 pF

Measurement Load
R1 = 1M ohm pot
R2 = 100k ohm
Series / Parallel switched tuning capacitor C2 = 0.01 uF
DPDT switch to choose between the two prior circuits in a Hookup to measure crystal set performance. Connect dummy
single set. antenna between Signal generator and set, use load between set
and DVM. Follow protocol of Lauter:
http://www.oldradioworld.de/gollum/testing.htm

Note: Modification of the Load (pot) made to determine

impedance match at output. kjs

10 111
Dummy Antenna MRL #1

1S 1 LWT

Form 2” x 4 ½”
L1 75t, 22 dcc ~175 uH
Taps: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45
50

C1 365 pF
C2 fixed, 15 – 100 pF depending on antenna
(or just make it variable)

110 11
MRL #17 Simple Amplification for your Phones

1S 1 TC

Form 2” x 4 ½”
L1 111t, 24 dcc ~340 uH
Taps: 20, 36, 46, 51, 56, 66, 76/83, 89, 96,
111

S1 and S2 to taps 20, 36, 46, 51, 56, 66, 76

S3 to taps 83, 89, 96, 111

A few extra components can add up to 10 dB of volume to

your phones. This may offset some of the lost sensitivity when
used with highly selective sets..

12 109
Simple circuits with Transistor Detectors Steinite
http://www.noniandjim.com/Jim/RadioProjects/UsingElectroni
cs/UsingElectronics.html 1W 1 TC

Basic radio from 1920’s

Spiderweb coil
ID OD
45t, 22 dcc, 6 taps
Transistors may be substituted for diode detectors to make
interesting configurations while remaining un-powered. These C1 mica book-style ~250 uH
form a starting point, see what works.

108 13
Borden Radio Dunwoody Impedance Matching Transformer

1S 2 TC

I have generally avoided including schematics and info

concerning impedance matching transformers as I do not have
much experience with them. The above general schematic I
take from Ben Tongue’s article 01. Note that he includes a
benny as a standard part of the transformer circuit.
Form 2” dia
L1 100t, 22 awg The transformer provides a 16:1 transformation ratio between
C1-2 365 pF the typical 12k ohm phones and a tank Rd of around 192k
ohms.

14 107
Detector Bias Circuits Babani Long Distance

1S 2 TC

Form 2 ½” x 3”
L1 51t, 24 swg ~170 uH
Taps 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 31, 41

C1-2 365 pF

106 15
MRL #13 Benny

1S 2 SL, LWT A Benny serves to equalize the DC load resistance on the

diode to the AC audio load.

Examples of Benny circuits, with or without variable

resistance.

Selectivity Enhancement Circuit

2-Slider with QRM

Form 2 ½ x 4 ¼”
L1 120t, 22 awg ~460 uH
C1-2 365 pF not ganged

Example of a circuit to include for selectivity enhancement.

Simple cap, small trimmer, or differential cap (shown on left).
Cap ~ 20pF, choke 25+- mH.

16 105
Wave Traps Schmarder #30

1L 3 RFC B
Inductively coupled:

Coil should have same diameter as set tuning coils, placed in-
line to couple.

Directly coupled:

L1 Loop 30x36“, holes spaced 3/8“

13t, 660/46 litz
L2 2t, 40/38 litz coupling winding
L3 2.5 mH RFC
C1-2 365 pF (ganged?)
C3 3-30 pF trimmer
C4 500 pF
C5 0.1 uF
Form 1” x 1 ½” R1 100 k
L1 110t, 30 awg on base layer
L2 15t, 22 awg space wound on top C3-L2 is the Selectivity Enhancement Circuit.
C1 410 pF C5-R1 is the Benny

104 17
Schmarder #43

1W 3 CK

CHAPTER 3

MISCELLANEOUS

L1 spider, 1“ ID, 54t, 165/46 L

C1-2 365 pF (ganged?)
C3 10 pF trimmer (or 5-50 var)
C4 180 pF
R1 47 k (w/crystal earphones only)
RFC 27 uH

C3-RFC is the Selectivity Enhancement Circuit.

18 103
 MRL #2

1S 2G LWT

Form 2“
L1 90t, 22 dcc ~220 uH
taps, 5, 10, 16, 23, 31, 40, 50, 61, 73, 90

C1, C2, 365 pF, may be ganged

Switch broad / narrow tuning

QRM may be placed in tank as well to cut out strong locals.

This set “looks” a lot like May’s BBCS#6 set without the
choke, (p 20).

102 19
KJS Fleming Harthun Shortwave Mystery XSS #62

1S 2G Valve 3D 1 TF SW

Valve Detector of Professor Fleming Form 2 3/8” x 2 ½”

Patented 1904 L1 20t, 22 awg, close wound
Space 1/2” dual winding
Form 3.54” L2 13t, 20 awg
L1 49t, 18awg, taps 0,8,12,17,24,34 L3 6t, 22 awg, bifilar with L2

C1a-b 470 pF ganged C1 15 – 250 pF

This is MRL #2 with Selectivity Enhancement Add, The antenna may be connected directly to post A or B
superficially resembling BBCS #6, p21. bypassing the coil L1.

20 101
Al Klase SW WJ May BBCS #6

3S 3G LC, LD 2S 2 TC, LWT

L1 2”, 18t, 14 bare awg, clip to tap

L2 2”, 2t, 14 bare awg
L3 2”, 8t, 14 bare awg, clip to tap, ~4.3 uH
Forms 2” x 4”
C1 100 pF 2 gang L1 90t, 22 dcc ~230 uH
C2 365 pF Taps 5, 10, 15, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80
C3 fixed 0.5 uF L2 choke 110t, 38 dcc right angle to L1

C1-2 500 pF

This set looks similar to MRL #2 (p19),

See also MRL #8 on p67 and MRL #23 on p78.

R1 100 k
T1 100 – 600 k

Back end to audio transformer and S-meter

100 21
Sleeper #11 H Lash SW

2S 0 LD, SL 2S 4G LC

Slider tuned radio with loading coil in front end

Coils in series
Shortwave
Loading coil increases the wavelength tuned. L1 2”, 9 1/2t, 22 awg
L2 2 1/8”, 30t, 22 awg on top layer

C1-2 365 pF – 180 pF 2-gang

22 99
XSS #56 SW MRL #11

2S 2 TC 2S 1 TC

Shortwave Set

Forms 3 ½“ x 3 ½“
L1-2 space wound, 6-8 tpi, 14 awg, ~38 uH
Form 2 ½ x 4 ¼”
C1-2 100 pF
L1 132t, 24 dcc Loading, ~625 uH
12 taps, spaced each 11 turns
L2 40t, 20 dcc 2“ space wound ~80 uH
Coils at right angles, not coupled

C1 350 pF

98 23
BBC Commemorative (Prac Wireless Sep 1972) Owen Poole SW
AKA Sleeper #12
2S 1 LC
2W 0 VM

Variometer
Pancake-style with 2 spiderweb coils
Form 1 5/8”
L1 14t, 24 awg hookup wire ~12.4 uH
Tuning accomplished by varying the mutual inductance
L2 5t, 24 awg hookup 1/8” from first coil
between two coils connected in series.
C1 10 – 60 pF

24 97
KJS Global DX Sleeper #12, 13

1W 2 TC 2S 0 VM

Spiderweb Form ID 0.6“, OD 2.0“

L1 9t, 18 awg 7.6 uH
Tap 3 3.8 uH
Tap 8 5.8 uH
Variometer
C1-2 10 - 115 pF (tunes ~ 6 – 18 MHz)
Optional capacitor in series to ground
to tune upper BC band
Set based on Gollum SW Set

96 25
Sleeper #14

2S 1 VM

CHAPTER 2

SHORTWAVE HOOK-UPS

Variometer
Parallel tuned circuit
120 M 2.3 2.5 MHz
Variable condenser to tune wavelengths greater than the circuit 90 3.2 3.4
with variometer alone. 60 4.75 5.06
49 5.9 6.2 active
41 7.3 7.35
31 9.4 9.9 active
25 11.6 12.1 active
22 13.5 13.9 acrive
19 15.1 15.8 active
16 17.5 17.9
15 18.9 19.0

26 95
 MRL #22

2S 1 VC, TC

Variometer, coils in series

L1 stator 2“ 54t, 22 dcc
Taps : 14, 27, 39, 48, 54
L2 rotor 1 1/2", 11t, 22dcc
C1 365 + Pf
S1-2 Roraty switches

94 27
Sleeper #15 Barkett, Radio World 1924, (st #20)

3S 0 VM, TC 8W 2 LD LC VM

The Ultimate Coil Fantasyland:

Variometer
With tapped loading coil in series with the variometer. Tap Coils L1-L5 basket weave
separation equal to the inductance range of the variometer. Coils 6-7 honeycomb
L1 3” loading, 50t, 20 awg, taps ~175 uH
L2 4”, 25t, 20 awg ~ 90 uH
L3 3”, 60t ~230 uH
L4 4”, 30t ~125 uH
L5 3”, 30t ~ 80 uH
L6-7 25t
L8 variometer
C1-2 365 pF

28 93
Petersen XSS 107-8 MRL #29

5S 4G LK CK 3S 1 VC, TC

L1 4 x 3“, 44t, #26 hookup, stator ~250 uH Variometer

L2 1 ¾ x 3“, 15t gap 15t, rotor
C1 365 pF 2-gang Form 2“ x 4 ½“
Ls 3 ½“ x 2 ½”, 60t, 24 dcc, gap ~360 uH
L3-4 3 ¼”, 68t, 20 awg, right angles ~300 uH Tap at 30
C2 365 pF 2-gang Lr 2 ½“ x 2”, 64t, 28 dcc, gap ~300 uH
L3 loading, 2“ x 4 ½“, 100t, 24 awg
C3 10 pF C3/RFC SEC circuit Tap each 25t
RFC 2.5 uH to lightly load detector ~300 uH
C1 365 pF
C4 0.1 uF C4/R1 is a Benny
R1 22 k
R2 120 k for high-impedence phones

92 29
Schmarder #11 KJS Minstrel Boy

3D 2 TC VM 5T 3 LK

L1 3 1/8”, 50t, tap each 10t

L2 stator, 3 1/8“, 40t, 40/44 L
L1-2 dual wound on same form, 1/8” apart
L3 rotor, 2 1/8“, 48t, 40/44 L Link coupled Triple tuned set

C1-2 500 pF L1-L5 180 uH Air-core torroids (Magnavox)

C3 220 pF L2-L4 35 uH coupling coils within above
R1 33k (w/crystal earphones only) L3 110 uH Honeycomb,

C1,2,3 540 pF each

Coupling between antenna coil and stator. Series/Parallel switch on antenna circuit cap

30 91
Radio Craft ST #31 MRL #15

4S 3G Band Selection 3S 2 VC

L1 4“, 80t, 28awg, stator ~840 uH

L2 2“, 80t, 28awg, rotor ~300 uH
L3 1”, 48t, 28 awg ~ 50 uH
L4 3”, 90t, 24 awg ~515 uH

C1 365 pF
C2 365 pF 2-gang L1 3“ x 4”, 24t, 20 dcc, ½“ gap, 45t, 22 dcc
Tap at 30
# turns on L3 controls degree of band selection L2-3 2” x 2”, 60t, 24 awg
C1-2 ? 365 pF
How does this work? How to “select” band?
Make L3 variable?

90 31
KJS DeForest (aka Sleeper #18) Ford, Pop Mech 1945, (st #111)

2S 1 LC, TC 4L 3G LK

Form 1” x 2 ½”
L1/L3 30t, 30 awg, top layer ~ 28 uH
L2/L4 140t, 30 awg, base layer ~235 uH
C1-2 365 pF 2-gang
C3 3-30 pF trim
Basic Variocoupler C4 0.001 uF
L1 Primary: stator 560 uH Coils at right angles
tapped fine / coarse switches
L2 Secondary: rotor 285 uH Option to connect all three circuits to ground to increase
Variocoupler NOS De Forest Co sensitivity.
C1 550 pF to tune secondary circuit
Used, Windham Co

Note: The radio doesn’t couple well and tunes broad as a barn.
Pity…

32 89
XSS #63 MRL #35

4S 4 LK 3S 3 TC, VC

Link coupled variocoupler

L1 rotor 1 1/16”x 7/8”, 16t, 28 awg, gap in coil

Forms 2” x 4 ½”
L2 stator 1 7/8”x 2 3/8”, 72t, 28 awg ~230 uH L1 100t, 24 dcc ~300 uH
Tap every 10t
L3 1 7/8”, 70t, 28 awg, ~220 uH
L2 stator 100t, 24 dcc, tap every 10t
L4 1 7/8”, 35t, 28 awg, ~75 uH
L3 rotor, 1 ½“ x 1 ½“, 35t, 32 awg
C1 365 pF, 2-gang with trimmers
C2 0.001 uF
C1-3 365 pF

88 33
Secor, 1920 Hogan 1922

4S 0 VM 4S 2 LK, TC

Link coupled variation with sliders or taps

C1 365 pF
C2 500 pF or higher

Double variometer
VM1 loading
VM2 tuning
C1-2 365pF
C3 0.001 uF

34 87
Sleeper #20 Stay Tuned #76 (ref not known)

4S 2 LK 3W 0 LC, TC

Link coupled set with loose coupling

Tapped Spiderweb Rig
Primary and intermediate circuits tuned with variable
condensers while secondary circuit is untuned, (aperiodic). Coils ID 1 ¾“
L1 50t, 22 dcc, over 1 under 2, 20 spokes
Tap every second turn
L2 12t, 22 dcc, over 2 under 2, 19 spokes
L3 50t, 22 dcc, over 2 under 2, 19 spokes

Visit Darryl Boyd’s excellent website to see the plans for this
set. It is a visually interesting set that will please you.

86 35
KJS Bremer Tully Set Coupled trap

2D 1 LC 4S 2 IWT

Coupling coil circuit with trap

L1-L4 1.5” form, 90t 28 awg, 220 uH

L2-L3 1.5” form, 45t 28 awg, 85 uH

C1-C2 365+ pF

Basic tuner with co-wound antenna coupling coil

Dual wound primary and secondary on open form

L1 20 uH
L2 370 uH (Reference unknown, clipped from an old magazine)
C1 10 - 270pF

This set features a lovely bank-would coil with separate

primary and secondary. The high primary inductance
necessitated a low-value variable cap with as low a minimum
as possible.

36 85
BBCS #11 MRL #10

2S 3G TC 2L 1 TC

Forms 2 ½” x 2”
L1-2 50t, 28 swg (~25 awg) ~180 uH

C1 100 pF
C2 C4 500 pF 2-gang
C3 50 pF trimmer

Band Pass Circuit Form 2 x 4 ¼”

Grounded screen between coils to prevent coupling L1 40t, 20 dcc start 1/8“ from end ~95 uH
L2 160t, 28 dcc on top layer loading ~1100 uH
Capacitively coupled Taps 5, 10, 20, 60, 100, 160
C1 365 pF
C2 150 pF optional
Coils not coupled.

84 37
Dan Petersen Galenatron Sleeper #21

3S 2 VC, TC 2S 3G SL, CT

Primary and secondary circuits tuned by varying the coil

inductance with sliders while coupling between primary and
secondary is varied capacitively, (ganged capacitors)

L1 3.15”, 50t, 22 awg ~230 uH

L2 3.15”, 10t, 22 awg
L3 2.15”x2”, 50t, 22 awg, gap in coil
C1-2 400 pF

38 83
XSS #62 XSS #59

5M 3G FW, TD 3D 2 LD, TC

Fullwave Receiver (variation on Pop Mech, P72)

Form 1 7/8” x 2” L1 2 ¾”x 3”, 42t, 22 awg ~130 uH

L1 72t, 28 awg, L2 2 ¾”x 4”, 67t, 22 awg ~255 uH
Taps 0, 16, 30, 44, 58, 72 L3 2 ¾”x 4”, 15t, 22 awg 1/8” from L2, same form
L2 17t, 28 awg ~ 25 uH
C1-2 365 pF
Form 1 7/8” x 3 ½“ Sw 4-6 position switch
L3,5 72t, 28 awg,
Taps 0, 18, 36, 54, 72
L4 17t, 28 awg

S1 6-position switch

82 39
MRL #24 Popular Mechanics (Dec-1950): BBCS #4

3D 2 LD, TC 3M 3G FW

Forms 2” x 4½”
L1 100t, 24 dcc, loading coil ~300 uH Full wave receiver
Taps 0, 25, 50, 75, 100
L2 90t, 24 dcc, ~260 uH Form 1” x 4”
Taps 5, 25, 50, 90 L1 43t, 32 awg ~ 60 uH
L3 25t, 24 dcc 1/8” from L2, same form L2-3 120t, 32 awg ~270 uH
~ 40 uH 1/8“ between windings

C1-2 365 pF C1 365 pF ?

C2 fixed, ? pF
C3 365 pF 2-gang with trimmers

This set is a fun candidate to make with a 5726 dual Diode

vacuum tube.

40 81
EL Anderson, (GE Ham News, 1955, v10, n6) MRL #43

2L 4G FW DA 2D 2 Counterwound

Twin-Crystal Set Form 2” x 4 ½”

L1 Use 27 awg ~375 uH each section
L1, L2 Variable Loopstick Coil Wind 100t, anchor then reverse wind 100t
Taps every 10t on each section
C1 15-400 pF 3-gang
C2 15-400 pF To trim balance between antennae C1-2 365 pF (not ganged ?)

80 41
Gordon McCall Solomon Almighty

2S 1 VC 3C 3G TF

Telefunken Style
Variocoupler
Form 3“
L1 4”, 57t with gap, #22 awg L1 50t, 24 awg, base layer
L2 3”, 57t with gap, #22 awg L2 15t, 24 awg, top layer
C1 ? 365 pF L3 25t, 24 awg, bifilar with L1

C1 500 pF, 3-gang

C2 0.001 uF

42 79
MRL #23 MRL #3

3L 2G TF, CK, QRM 2S 2 VC, TC

Variocoupler

L1 3“, 100t, 24 dcc, 4 taps stator ~590 uH

Telefunken Style with RFC and QRM L2 2“, 75t, 24 dcc, 4 taps rotor ~205 uH
See also MRL #8 on page 67.
With family resemblance to sets on pages 19-21. C1-2 365 pF

Form 2“ x 4 ½“
L1 75t, 22 dcc, base layer ~175 uH
L2 75t, 22 dcc, middle layer ~190 uH
L3 15t, 22 dcc top layer ~
19 uH

C1 365 pF, 2-gang

RF choke 85 mH

78 43
MRL #30 Solomon Crazy +

3D 2G LC, LWT 3C 2G TF

Telefunken Style

Form 2.5”
L1 45t, 24 awg
L2 15t, 26 awg on top layer
L3 25t, 30 awg, bifilar with L1
QRM 1”x 1½”, 110t, 30 awg, 15t, 24 dcc space
Forms 2” x 4½”,
C1 500 pF
L1-2 75t, 22 dcc, couple to ant ~175 uH
L3 8t, 22 awg 1/8” from L2, same form
~5-6 uH

C1 365 pF, 2-gang

44 77
Solomon Mystery + Sleeper #16

3C 2 TF 2S 0 LC, SL

Telefunken Style

Forms 2.76”
L1 45t, 22 awg Loose coupler
L2 15t, 22 awg on top layer
L3 25t, 30 awg, bifilar with L1 Aperiodic secondary, responds to any wavelength with which
the Primary coil may be tuned.
C1-2 350 pF not ganged

76 45
Sleeper #17 MRL #4

2S 1 LC, SL 3L 1 TF

Basic Telefunken Set

Form ?
L1 75t, 22 dcc, base layer ~175 uH
L2 20t, 22 dcc, middle layer
Loose coupler with tuned secondary L3 10t, 22 dcc top layer

Both Primary and secondary circuits may be tuned to C1 365 pF

resonance giving high efficiency of energy transfer.
Changing coupling between the two coils can vary the degree
of selectivity attainable, at the expense of sensitivity.

46 75
Proton Mystery + KJS Teflon

3C 1 TF 2S 3G LC

Telefunken Style

Form 3“
L1 45t, 23 awg, base layer
L2 15t, 23 awg, top layer
L3 25t, 29 awg, bifilar with L1
Simplicity in a double-tuned rig.
C1 365 pF
Silver-plated, Teflon-insulated Coils, over 1 / under 1
C2 0.001 uF
18 awg, 4.75” av diameter
L1 41t, 3.75” long, 171 uH
L2 50t, 4.25” long, 234 uH
C1a 465 pF
C1b 375 pF
C2 433 pF

74 47
Mike Tuggle Lyonodyne 17 Gollum Mystery

2W 3G LC, TG, 2WT 2C 4G TF

Telefunken Style

Form 3.15”
L1 51t ferrite 147 uH L1 48t, 26 awg ~250 uH
L2 36t basket 185 uH L2 28t, 22 awg, bifilar with L1
L3 36t basket 185 uH
L4 42t basket 187 uH C1-2 ?365 pF, 2-gang

C1 15 – 470 pF, 2-gang R1 68 kohm

C2, C3, C4 15 – 497 pF
C5 0.02 uF Capacitor gangs switchable in parallel to add capacitance.

R1 500 kΩ

T1 UTC A-27

D1 RS 12101 3RT

48 73
MRL #39 Mike Tuggle Lyonodyne Mod

2L 2G TF, TG 2W 3G LC, TG, MOSFET

L1 51t ferrite 147 uH

L2 36t basket 185 uH
L3 8t basket
Telefunken Style Outboard traps not shown

Form 2” x 4 ½” C1 15 – 470 pF, 2-gang

L1 80t, 22 dcc primary on bottom layer 190uH C2 15 – 497 pF
L2 40t, 20 dcc secondary on top layer ~ 70uH C5 0.02 uF

C1 pF 2-gang R1 500 kΩ

IC 1 ALD 110900 APA MOSFET

T1 UTC LS-12

72 49
Owen Poole Project Crystal Radio #5 Solomon Double gang

2S 2 TC, LC 2C 2G TF

Telefunken Style
Antenna tuner w/secondary Form 6 cm (3.275”)
L1 50t, 24 awg primary
Form 1 ¾“ L2 25t, 24 awg secondary co-wound
L1-2 152t, 24 awg ~390 uH
Tap each 10 turns C1 500 pF 2-gang
C1-2 ? 365 pF

(essentially the same as MRL #3)

50 71
Mike Tuggle Mystery XSS #58

2C 2G TF, TG 2S 2 TC, LC

Double loose coupler Navy Style

L1 3 ½”x3 ½”, 48t, 22 awg

Taps 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 44 48
L2 2 3/8” x 3 ¾”, 72t, 22 awg
Taps 0, 6, 12, 18, … 72

Telefunken Style w/QRM C1-2 365 pF

L1 36t, 660/46 litz 5 inch basket weave

L2 18t, 420/46 litz

C1 500 pF 2-gang
T1 UTC LS-12

70 51
Tom Polk Simply Symmetry KJS Mystery

2S 3G TG, 4SL 2C 2G TF, TG

Telefunken Style
Form 2” x 5 ½”
L1-2 125t, 18 awg ~240 uH Form 8 cm (3.275”)
C1-2 365 pF 2-gang L1 46t, 18 awg primary
C3 365 pF L2 24t, 18 awg secondary co-wound
Radio Shack 70v Line Transformer
Sliders C1 495 pF 2-gang

52 69
Peebles XSS #9 Owen Poole Off the Shelf

2L 1 TF 2S 3G TC, LC

Telefunken Style

Form 1 ¼“ x 1 5/8“
L1 110t, 28 awg, base layer ~205 uH
L2 30t, 28 awg, top layer ~ 34 uH Form 4“ x 4”
L1-2 60t, 20 awg hookup wire
C1 365 pF Tap at 20
C2 0.001 uF C1 365 pF 2-gang
C2 365 pF
Long antenna tap at 10t from ground
J optional jumper

68 53
KJS Hammarlund MRL #8

2B 3G TG, SEC, B 2L 1 TF, CK

Telefunken Style
See also MRL #23 on page 78.
With family resemblance to sets on pages 19-21.

Form 2” ?
L2 75t, 22 dcc bottom layer
Basketweave coil 4.2” OD – 3.2” ID L1 20t, 20 dcc space wound 2 ½” on top layer
Over 2 – under 2 Taps 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
L1 38t 20 awg 180 uH L3 BC band RF Choke, ~ 50ohm DC
L2 41t 20 awg 205 uH Single or 3-section ok
C1-3 510 pF C1-C2 are ganged
C4 20 pF differential C1 ? 365 pF
C5 0.1 uF
RFC Choke: 25 mH
R1 100k ohm
D1 ITT FO-215 germanium

54 67
Proton Mystery XSS #54

2C 1 TF 3S 3 LC, WT

Telefunken Style

Form 3”
L1 50t, 23 awg primary
L2 25t, 29 awg secondary co-wound

C1 500 pF
C2 0.001 uF
Forms 3 ½”x 3 ¾”
Helps to add Loading coil in series with antenna.
L1,2,3 55t, 20 awg, no taps ~250 uH
C1,2,3 500 pF

Series / parallel DPDT switch over L1

Diode on top of tank, why? Candidate for SEC?

66 55
KJS ID #3 Professeur Jacquemard

2S 3G TG, TC 3S 2 MWLW

Medium Wave / Long Wave Receiver

L1 25mm x 68mm, 170t 4/10 wire (~28awg)

~ 220 uH
L2 Honeycomb ID 25mm, OD 35mm, W 8mm
#turns ?, In-line with L1
Forms 3.15”
L1 62t, 18 awg
L3 Honeycomb ID 20mm, OD 34mm, W 6mm
Tap 11, 16, 22, 31, 43, 62
#turns ?. Coil for LW
L2 62t, 18 awg
C1-2 450 pF, 2-gang
C1-2 450 pF

56 65
Boursin Selective 1939 Dejan’s contest rig

2S 1 MW LW 2S 4G LC, WT, TG

(Shown without audio transformer)

Medium Wave / Long Wave Set Contest Rig
L1 ferrite core
L1 MW 30mm, 90t, tap at 45. ~220 uH L2 basket weave
L2 LW ID 10-15mm, OD 20-25mm, W ? L3 spiderweb
280t, tap at 140
C1 500 pF C1-3 ?
DPDT switch between LW-MW

GO = Grandes Ondes = LongWave

PO = Petits Ondes = Medium Wave

64 57
M Hampton, BRG 2009 Schmarder #1

2S 5G TG LC 2W 4

Audio transformer not shown L1-2 spider, 1.5“ ID, 3.5“ OD

L1 15t, 40/44 L ~16 uH
Form 3“ L2 33t ~80 uH

C1 356 pF
C2-4 270 pF
C5 .001 pF
R1 33k (w/crystal earphones only)

n narrow tuning
b broad tuning

58 63
RTV Electronics p129 George P Pearce W Thelen BRG 2006

2SW 2 FW 2W 5 TG LC

L1 spider, OD 5.7”, 9-point, 36 ½t, 660/46

L ~160 uH
L2 spider, OD 5.85 », 9-p, 37 ½ t, L~171 uH

L1, L3 Solenoid C1 450 pF

2” od, 1.2” l, 63t, 27 awg, ~150 uH C2 435 pF
L2 Basket o1,u1 C3 500 pF
2.25” od, 1.25” l, 80t, 21 awg, ~350 uH C4-5 50 pF trimmers
Coils spaced about 1” apart C6 0.1 uF
C7 0.47 uF
C1, C2 380 pF
C3, C4 1000 pF R1 500 kΩ
T1 Vintage RCA
D1, D2 1N35

62 59
Sleeper #19 Kinzie 47b

4S 1 LC, SL, LD 3S 3 LD, LC

Loose coupler with loading coils

Primary and secondary circuits each have separate loading

coils in order for the secondary circuit to be tuned as well.
Loading coils at right angles to tuning coils.
In secondary circuit, condenser placed across both tuning AND
loading coil. Double tuned set with loading coil

60 61