General Discussion

Forum home - Go back to General discussion

Valve portable A and B battery cost back in the days
« Back · 1 · 2 · Next »
Return to top of page · Post #: 1 · Written at 3:58:05 PM on 24 March 2019.
	Jimb Location: Kanahooka, NSW Member since 18 November 2016 Member #: 2012 Postcount: 712
I would imagine the owners of battery portables back in there day would have had to be comfortably off to afford these batteries. I was wondering how much they cost and what proportion of the average wage would they have represented. Also how many listening hours they would have got for their investment. I suspect the HT battery would have had a resonable life outlasting many filament batteries. Any ideas. Regards Jimb

Return to top of page · Post #: 2 · Written at 5:12:29 PM on 24 March 2019.
	GTC Location: Sydney, NSW Member since 28 January 2011 Member #: 823 Postcount: 6687
Yes, batteries were expensive. Price-wise, I guess it depends on what year and place but here's an ad from an Adelaide newspaper in June 1933 claiming "greatly reduced prices" : And here are the amounts in today's currency adjusted for inflation (courtesy of the RBA): 8/9 -- $44.00 14/6 -- $73.58 18/0 -- $91.35 9d -- $3.81 6d -- $2.54 According to Commonwealth Stats, the average weekly wage for males at the end of 1933 was £4/0/6 -- $408.52

Return to top of page · Post #: 3 · Written at 5:38:42 PM on 24 March 2019.
	Jimb Location: Kanahooka, NSW Member since 18 November 2016 Member #: 2012 Postcount: 712
Thank you GTC

Return to top of page · Post #: 4 · Written at 6:27:06 PM on 26 March 2019.
	Brad Administrator Location: Naremburn, NSW Member since 15 November 2005 Member #: 1 Postcount: 7301
I heard somewhere once that before Federation there were quarter pennies (1/4d) in circulation. I can't think of much that we can buy now that would cost that little and even 1c pieces haven't been minted for more than twenty years. ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

Return to top of page · Post #: 5 · Written at 6:40:19 PM on 26 March 2019.
	Marcc Location: Wangaratta, VIC Member since 21 February 2009 Member #: 438 Postcount: 5254
Quarter of a penny was a Farthing. That's where the name "Penny Farthing" originated for the Cycle.

Return to top of page · Post #: 6 · Written at 6:45:05 PM on 26 March 2019.
	GTC Location: Sydney, NSW Member since 28 January 2011 Member #: 823 Postcount: 6687
I heard somewhere once that before Federation there were quarter pennies (1/4d) in circulation. I remember my grandfather showing me some farthings when I was in primary school. IIRC, they were British and not legal tender here. I do recall spending halfpennies on lollies, but not for long.

Return to top of page · Post #: 7 · Written at 4:28:27 AM on 27 March 2019.
	Fred Lever Location: Toongabbie, NSW Member since 19 November 2015 Member #: 1828 Postcount: 1250
Yes, the Farthing was never included in the Australian Coinage Act of 1909. Our coinage started with the One HalfPenny size. That about the size of a 10c piece roughly, the Farthing was smaller about the size of a 5 cent. In 1909 the Act was implemented and we kicked off with Australian coinage with "Commonwealth of Australia" marked on them. Previous to that our currency was mostly British being a Pommy outpost. Our coinage was modelled on the Brtish coins, for the first couple of years the Brits actually made our coins and shipped them to us. We started to make our own around 1919 and I could go on for ever and ever because i'm so full of it, but wont, because this is a radio web site not a coin web site! Anybody that doesn't coins as a hobby but wants to know something: get a second hand or even a new copy of the book "Australian Coins and Banknotes" by Greg McDonald and be amazed at number of types of coins minted in this country, its a whole world in itself. Fred.

Return to top of page · Post #: 8 · Written at 4:28:57 PM on 27 March 2019.
	Jimb Location: Kanahooka, NSW Member since 18 November 2016 Member #: 2012 Postcount: 712
Thank you all for your contributions, that is a great add GTC.

Return to top of page · Post #: 9 · Written at 3:06:03 AM on 28 March 2019.
	ALISON SCHWABE Location: Montevideo, URUGUAY Member since 27 March 2019 Member #: 2340 Postcount: 2
Thanks for the replies - I don't know how to up-load the image. This is what I got when I clicked on 'copy link address' - https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fvintage-radio.com.au... This is what I go when I copied the URLatopp of the page of images I got when I googled my search for: AWA Radiola antique of vintage valve operated mantle radios Australian. The images page that I got was 5 radios per line, and it's on the right hand end of the second row down. If I knew how to upload an image to this site I could take a screen shot and post it, or copy the image itself, but my limited tech ability is failing me at this time. I think the site could be a bit more user friendly - it's hard to find the info needed to use it. A bit old fashioned like these wonderful old radios I suppose - https://www.google.com/search?biw=1229&bih=578&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=EHiaXKGxJfmx5OUPvu-A8A8&q=+AWA+Radiola+antique+or+vintage... I hope this get me closer to getting the permission I need ... cheers, Alison

Return to top of page · Post #: 10 · Written at 5:23:31 AM on 28 March 2019.
	Skymaster Location: Lalor Park, NSW Member since 7 April 2018 Member #: 2237 Postcount: 57
Hi Alison, I have updated your original thread with a link to the original poster of the image in question. Please see the original thread below. https://vintage-radio.com.au/home.asp?f=4&th=283

Return to top of page · Post #: 11 · Written at 2:41:16 PM on 28 March 2019.
	Fred Lever Location: Toongabbie, NSW Member since 19 November 2015 Member #: 1828 Postcount: 1250
This thread displays about twice as wide on my laptop! Other posts are normal size with no adjustment. Is this just at my end? Fred.

Return to top of page · Post #: 12 · Written at 3:20:52 PM on 28 March 2019.
	Johnny Location: Hobart, TAS Member since 31 July 2016 Member #: 1959 Postcount: 544
Same here.

Return to top of page · Post #: 13 · Written at 4:16:35 PM on 28 March 2019.
	GTC Location: Sydney, NSW Member since 28 January 2011 Member #: 823 Postcount: 6687
This thread displays about twice as wide on my laptop! Brad might like to change the width of the image.

Return to top of page · Post #: 14 · Written at 5:26:33 PM on 28 March 2019.
	Jimb Location: Kanahooka, NSW Member since 18 November 2016 Member #: 2012 Postcount: 712
Hi Brad same here something gone wrong

Return to top of page · Post #: 15 · Written at 6:32:03 PM on 28 March 2019.
	GTC Location: Sydney, NSW Member since 28 January 2011 Member #: 823 Postcount: 6687
Hi Brad same here something gone wrong The page automatically adjusts to the width of the image. As per my above, Brad might change the image size.

« Back · 1 · 2 · Next »
You need to be a member to post comments on this forum.

General Discussion

Sign In