Valve Radios, an antique item - 681

I am not sure how many from the Gen Next  would have even  heard of the term Valve Radio .

 TELERAD, MURPHY , PHILLIPS,   TELEFUNKEN MARCONI were popular Brands in those days . They were bought on Installment payment just as it is done nowadays for a Fridge , TV or AC or Car .

It used to be the sole mode of entertainment by way of listening to music via the Radio Signal through what used to be called an Aerial  on the Terrace of your Homes  .


It came with features which included Medium Wave + 3 or 5 Bands . More the Bands , higher the prices and better the  Rrception .




FM did not even exist in those days .

All India Radio and Vividh Bharathi came a very poor second to Radio Ceylon which  had a huge audience in both Hindi and Tamil Languages . This extended across the whole of the Indian Sub Continent . Being a Commercial Broadcaster , its Ads for Indian Products were the only ones to be heard in those days . Some of the Catchy Jingles for Hamam and Lyril Soap are still a favorite with many.

 Radio Ceylon which was  set up by the Voice of America in Colombo had a  powerful reach which  extended across the length and breadth of India and its neighboring countries. 


The Hindi Broadcasts were there from morning 7 to 10 am on Weekdays  and at Evenings from 7 to 11Pm . The daily PURANI FILMO KE GEET from 7.30 am to 8.00 am with the final song from KL Saigal and the susequent AAP HI KE GEET which followed were a must in almost every household .


The Tamil broadcast from 4.00 to 7 .00 pm which  was again followed by Hindi Programmes from 7.00 to 10 pm . BINACA GEET MALA on Wednesdays at 8.00 pm and ABHI TO MAIN JAWAN HOON on Sunday Nights at 10.00 pm were never missed .

To day even after some 6 decades , the names of AMIN SAYANI and MAYILVAAHANAN  , SUGUNA AND SAROJA always seem to ring a bell and bring back nostalgic memories .


Over the years , the Valve Radio slowly lost ground and The Transistor Radio took over.

The major difference was that there was no need for a power supply point and it could be energized with PENCIL AA OR ORDINARY Batteries . This made it possible for it to be taken anywhere one wished and listening  to your favorite program was that much more easier . Following your Sports Commentary became very easy . One could keep abreast of the latest Happenings on the Cricket Field or Football Maidan .

One grew up listening to Surajit Sen , Pearon Surita on the News at 9.00 PM  or Vijay Merchant  Dicky Rutnakar on the Cricket Commentary. 

This was during the Audio Age . Today we are in the the Hands of the Visual Media . The Valve and Transistor Radio have become obsolete and a thing of the past and can be found as a Museum or Antique Item in a few homes . Most  are gathering dust in the attic of the Households if they have not already been thrown out or discarded as Trash .

 The SMARTPHONE in ones hand is now a combination of a RADIO , TRANSISTOR TELEVISION AND A COMPUTER -  ALL IN ONE GADGET . IT IS OMNIPOTENT AND OMNIPRESENT IN EVERYONE'S HAND IRRESPECTIVE OF THE AGE , SEX , LITERATE , SEMI LITERATE , WHITE - BLUE OR KHAKI COLLARED .

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