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July 7, 2005 12:02 PM

Museum of old Russian radios I want the styling Zvezda-54 and one of these early iPods. The Thermogenerator TGK-3 looks like fun.
posted by arse_hat (13 comments total)

These are cool. What is it that the Thermogenerator TGK-3 does, I mean aside from getting you hung as a Soviet spy?
posted by OmieWise at 12:07 PM on July 7, 2005

I think it uses heat from the oil lamp to provide electricity to run a radio. Wild.
posted by arse_hat at 12:13 PM on July 7, 2005

If that's true, it's very cool. It reminds me of those fans that you can get to place on top of your woodstove that use heat to power them to spin. Those are really cool.
posted by OmieWise at 12:22 PM on July 7, 2005

Fan: Using simple thermodynamic technology, the hotter your stove gets, the faster it quietly propels heat back into your living space, all the while, using zero electricity. Peak performance occurs at surface temperatures of 400°F - 700°F. A temperature sensitive, bimetal strip on the unit tilts it slightly to prevent overheating.
posted by OmieWise at 12:24 PM on July 7, 2005

The main site has all manner of neat stuff.

Was that meant to be your first link? You realize the first and second links are the same, right?
posted by languagehat at 12:55 PM on July 7, 2005

Gahh! Thanks languagehat.
posted by arse_hat at 1:13 PM on July 7, 2005

The TGK-3 does indeed power the radio using the heat from a lamp, through the Seebeck effect.
posted by kickingtheground at 2:13 PM on July 7, 2005

Cool stuff -- thanks!
posted by scody at 3:08 PM on July 7, 2005

Wow, great collection! Thanks for this post.
posted by Galvatron at 4:31 PM on July 7, 2005

Ooh lovely, thanks!
posted by carter at 5:48 PM on July 7, 2005

[this is good]
posted by dg at 5:57 PM on July 7, 2005

Thanks for the link kickingtheground.
posted by arse_hat at 5:57 PM on July 7, 2005

wow, Those are marvelous. I love antique electric devices of all kinds and there is an ample sleekness to those wonderful old radios. A treat, thanks.
posted by nickyskye at 7:40 PM on July 7, 2005