Broadcasting
The Radio Show THE Radio Show is smaller this year : it could well be-smaller still. The vapourings of certain sections of the Press about the enormous public interest in this show can best be measured by their publishers' desire to secure advertising for columns which at this season are . normally empty. The frenzied endeavours of the Promoters to bring the public to Olympia must surely fall into the same category. Consideration for gate money cannot but outweigh any real belief that.the general
public is interested in the technicalities of radio. The plain fact is that the average listener has not yet reached the stage of " wanting to know why." He is still content to turn a knob or two and obtain entertainment suited to his taste.
Unquestionably, the big public " draw " at Olympia is the Radio Theatre, where one may see those artists and enter-
tainers who have made themselves familiar to millions of ears. The crowds thronging about the booking offices and waiting in queues for admission contrast significantly with the rather meagre attendance at the stands.
What is there for the ordinary listener to see ? A succession of cabinets—some beautiful, some pretentious, some prepos-
terous—and a variety of tuning dials and knobs. It is for- bidden to hear any instrument—probably a wise measure in a hall so vast as Olympia, but one which nevertheless negatives most of the value of the exhibition for those who do not com- prehend the technical niceties of a radio circuit.
The exhibits themselves show little advance on last year. There is no marked swing in any direction except perhaps a
tendency to show " all-wave " receivers. His Master's Voice and Marconi have a lavish display of beautiful instruments, all of which are thoroughly workmanlike in design. Both stands have many visitors and prices are arranged to ensure that there is an' instrument for all pockets. A great deal of attention is centred on the new H.M.V. All-Wave Automatic Radiogram, a really magnificent instrument with a 15-yalve circuit (in- cluding two rectifiers) which brings in stations from all over the world.
By far the most interesting exhibit from a technical point of view is that of Halcyon Radio. As far as can be ascertained, Halcyon are the only manufacturers to offer something entirely new and different in design. The Halcyon patented Tonal Balance Output Circuit gives an amazing improvement
in the quality of .reproduction. Even when the volume,
control is turned right back reproduction is complete in every detail. The bass notes which are usually lost at this stage remain delightfully clear and have their proper values. An exclusive system of Automatic Volume Control further ensures better entertainment by building up weak stations to listening- strength, so that the level of sound is maintained at uniform volume for both local and distant stations. Halcyon are showing both A.C. and Universal Models, and manufacture the only Universal Radiogramophone on the market.
At the Pye stand a very fine variety of receivers and radio- gramophones is displayed. Practically all the Pye instru- ments have been designed with an eye to neatness. There are no massive cabinets or gigantic radiograms. Perhaps Pye have been planning to meet the needs of modern flats, where every inch is valuable. They should be successful.
. One comes away from the Radio Show feeling that a little less of the Public Entertainment and a little more latitude in demonstration would snake a great improvement to the Show. Exhibitors can scarcely feel amused at paying heavy rents merely to be at Olympia when, perhaps, a less imposing centre would bring as many or even more of the people they
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