Apart from eBay, does anyone know a source for Litz wire, I'm completing the restoration of the KQ and need to make a loop aerial for it, as the original one is missing from the lid. The loop aerial has to be wound in the horizontal plane, any suggestions on how to hold it together would be appreciated. Astor KQ is very similar to an AWA 450P, both are shaped like bricks.

It might be an idea for someone to post a picture, or line drawing of one. Often those things were a basket weave.

a source for Litz wire

Quite a few suppliers of it on eBay, but they are not local.

If you mean a loop antenna for the MW AM band, take a look at my web page
http://www.wa2ise.com/radios/12ba7.html#loop
Smaller loops use more turns. You can get away with regular wire, but choose copper wire without tinning on it. As the RF currents are mostly on the surface of the wire, and solder is not as conductive as copper.

The RQ had a normal 3/8" ferrite rod (Source: Rodney Chamness EA) but the KQ looks like a flat wound pancake built into the lid?
Perhaps then copper wire as in the AWA coil I used in my "Little General" would be in order?
Fred.

I now have a feeling that I know where there is one and I repaired it? Following up.

I was able to source Litz wire from a local member. The next problem, as Fred correctly described it, is to form a flat pancake oval winding without it unraveling. I'm thinking very thin double sided tape with location pins. It has 27 turns each measuring 400mm.

I have several pictures to send but the link to send pictures says "page not found" ?

Here is another way of making a flat loop antenna by laying the wire onto a bed of duct tape and stiffening up the loop with super glue; then strip off the tape. Might be useful if there isn't much space through the thickness to locate it.

http://www.sparkbench.com/loopante2.html

If basket weave construction isn't needed to get the right Q (sharpness of tuning) for the radio it might suit.

G'day Rudolf,

The broken link has been fixed. Thanks for letting me know.

Thanks STC830, that's exactly what I was looking for.
Ta
Rudy

Photos uploaded to Post 7.

Six turns have been separated from the rest of the aerial. If this is to adjust the alignment of the aerial circuit then stiffening the whole antenna with superglue would be a problem.

Maybe a light spray with a clear lacquer, or even hair spray, may allow the turns to be separated. But since duct tape sticks extremely well you wouldn't be able be remove the lightly tacked aerial loop after laying up the coil.

A better idea than laying up on duct tape might be needed, but I don't have it.