Chapter 24

Repairing American ‘midget’ receivers

American midgets are engaging little sets in two respects. One, they are masterpieces of the multum in parvo school of construction, and two, they often have very attractive cabinets, especially those made of the plastic material called Catalin, which enabled almost any shape in any colour to be produced with ease. Although midgets were inexpensive they were seldom cheap and nasty, as is evidenced by the large numbers of 50- and 60-year-old $5 bargains that are still in good working order.

Servicing these sets is an art all of its own, requiring as it does a good knowledge and appreciation of US design techniques, which differed in many respects from those employed by UK manufacturers. For a start ...

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