Name/Title
The Minerva Tropic Master: a portable WWII era morale radioEntry/Object ID
2023.21.1Description
AC-DC receiver with all-metal cabinet. This is model W-117.
This 8 tube set covers the AM broadcast band and the shortwave band from 5.5-18 Mhz. It has an RF amp tube and push-pull audio output, a bit unusual in a series filament set. the series string.
Manufacturing on these sets was obviously planned and started during the latter days of World War II, but it appears many, if not most, were sold after the war ended. A series on restoring the Tropic Master can be found in the April through July and the September issues of Popular Electronics for 1995. According to one letter in those articles, this radio was sold through military post-exchange stores as a morale receiver for the troops. The writer was a Korean conflict veteran. The advantage of an AC-DC set for troops overseas was that power was less of a problem. Either AC or DC could be used. The set will work on as little as 90 volts. For areas with voltage higher than 120, the troops simply hooked a few light bulbs in series to divide the power to the radio until the dial light was about the right brilliance. An ad for the receiver indicates it was "Made for Members of the U.S. Army and Navy. Now Available for Civilians".Cataloged By
Chris CausleyAcquisition
Accession
2023.21Source or Donor
Judy GriffithAcquisition Method
DonationMade/Created
Manufacturer
MinervaDate made
1945Time Period
World War Two, Post WWII (September 3 1945 - June 1950)Location
Location
Shelf
Store Room 1 Shelf CRoom
Store Room 1Category
StorageRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Raymond Eugene Goronczowski / Goron
