The Listener Leatherette Edition

Kenmac Radio Ltd.: London

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  • Year
  • 1925
  • Category
  • Detector-Radio (Crystal or diode, without tubes/transistors)
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 72431

 Technical Specifications

  • Main principle
  • Crystal or Solid State Detector; Crystal-detection 1 circuit (no tubes)
  • Wave bands
  • Broadcast (MW) and Long Wave.
  • Power type and voltage
  • No Power needed
  • Loudspeaker
  • - For headphones or amp.
  • Material
  • Various materials
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: The Listener Leatherette Edition - Kenmac Radio Ltd.: London
  • Shape
  • Miscellaneous shapes - described under notes.
  • Dimensions (WHD)
  • 4.75 x 3.5 x 1 inch / 121 x 89 x 25 mm
  • Notes

  • Introduced in mid-1925 by Kenmac Radio Ltd. of Hammersmith, London, the Kenmac Book Crystal Set was one of the era's most distinctive novelty radio designs. Marketed under the humorous fictitious title "The LISTENER by E.R. FONE" stamped on the front cover, the standard version retailed for £1 1s 0d and was bound in red, green, or blue leatherette with gilt page edges. Internally, the set featured high-quality brass fittings, a linear sliding-coil tuning scale graduated from 0–100, a compact galena crystal detector, and spine sockets for a long-wave loading coil.

    Technical Data & Specifications

    • Model Designation: The Kenmac Book Crystal Set (Standard / Leather-Bound Edition) — Inscribed: "The Listener by E.R. Fone"
    • Circuit Topology: Passive crystal set comprising a slide-coil tuner, fixed/adjustable crystal detector (galena/cat-whisker), and headphone terminals. 
    • Wave Bands: Medium Wave broadcast band, with a miniature double-socket on the spine allowing the addition of a 5XX loading coil for long-wave reception (e.g., Daventry 5XX). 
    • Physical Construction / Dimensions: Miniature book format measuring approximately 4¾” x 3½”  x1” (closed). Bound in red, green, or blue leather-patterned cloth with gilt-blocked page edges and a spiral spring mechanism to hold the cover closed.
    • Price: £1-1-0

    Note: See also the companion De Luxe Imitation Tortoiseshell Edition model variant.

  • Price in first year of sale
  • 1.05 £
  • Literature/Schematics (1)
  • -- Original prospect or advert (Popular Wireless and Wireless Review, August 29, 1925, p. 28)
  • Literature/Schematics (2)
  • -- Collector info (Sammler) (Antique Radio Classified, September 1996, pp. 6–7:)
  • Literature/Schematics (3)
  • -- Original prospect or advert (Popular Wireless & Wireless Review, Sep 5, 1925, p.74)
  • Author
  • Model page created by Ernst Erb. See "Data change" for further contributors.

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The model The Listener is part of the collections of the following members.

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