ahh my appologies

Jeepers, O-N, you don't 'alf bring up some nostalgic topics! The radiograms you've shown are absolutely stunning. We had (actually, it's still in the ol' family house back on the Island) a 60's Ferguson (I know, I know) which had book-matched walnut veneer doors. Pretty ugly, actually - far too dark - but I'd lose myself in the grain pattern; to my 5-year old mind, it looked like a series of never-ending caves I could stare into forever.

But the sound... I used to crawl beneath it and lie with my head directly under the 'woofer' which was in the unit's floor pointing at the ground. The bass notes would meld into my brain - wonderful.

Anyways, since you asked; in the centre of a Thermionic valve sits the filament which is sheathed in a coated metal sleeve called the Cathode (cathode = negative polarity). When the filament heats up, the electrons (which is the negatively-charged component of atoms) are 'enlivened' and become more mobile, ready to leap from the surface of the cathode.

A further metal tube surrounds the cathode and is positively charged - this is called, not surprisingly, the Anode. With the cathode being negatively charged, the electrons - which are also 'negative' polarity - want to get away; they are being expelled from the cathode. Similarly, the +ve Anode is very attractive to the electrons and, since the whole thing is in a vacuum, they find it easy to cross the gap in between. Hence you have a current flowing across the gap (a current is basically just a flow of electrons).

Ok, here's the clever bit; in between the cathode and the anode is a perforated sleeve called the 'Grid' and this is used to control the flow between the other too; the more +ve you make this grid, the fewer electrons can pass through as they are obviously repelled by the, er, positiveness. A small change in the voltage in this grid can have a much greater effect on the flow of electrons through it and getting to the anode. This is amplification! The small fluctuating voltage coming from the record pickup is used to control the grid - the much larger voltage set across the cathode and anode is now fluctuating in the same way but on a much greater scale.

Oh wait - you didn't ask...

Another one of my projects - which has been sitting very forlornly outside for the past 3 years - is an NG TF kit car, loosely styled on 30's Squires and suchlike. Anyways, I bought one of these 'Spirit Of St Louis' radios a couple of years back (for 99p on eBay - simply the worst advertised item ever...) which has an illuminated magnolia analogue tuning dial as well as black Bakelite control knobs and metal toggle switches - tho' it's transistorised so will work off batteries. My plan is to incorporate this radio and dial into the car's dash to complete the 30's/40's effect.

Dreams, dreams... Will they ever become reality...?

I showed a photo a wee while ago of a rusting Allegro almost engulfed by brambles and sitting outside the most amazing house.

Chust been for another walk down there today (taking advantage of the recent wonderful weather...) and took a few more shots:



And this is where it's located...



Just in case you think it's an ordinary-sized house, take a look at the entrance doors in the front wall (which used to lead to a covered vestibule going to the house's door). And these tall windows in the centre section are all leaded.

And they reckon the two old sisters who own it still live there, in one small room...

I always thought that the NG TF was a styling copy of the early '50s MG TF 'Midget', an evolution of the TC series 'Midget' loved by American GIs.

That's a right proper 'Haunted House'

They kind of pinched the name 'TF' but the styling is very, very different and much more reminiscent of 30's cars.

Yeah, spooky house - but wonderful. God, I'd love to have a look inside...

Where is this house? Devon?

Yes, in Westward Ho!

Did you know that Westward Ho! is the only place name with a ohIcan'tbearsed...

D.A,
'tis high time to revisit some works of Daphne du Maurier, perhaps?

ken