Beachhead Gadget

The World War II equivalent of the homemade crystal set (circa 1920) with its galena rock and cat's whisker, turned up in force on the Anzio Beachhead. One of hundreds of U.S. infantrymen who made foxhole receivers to kill time and boredom at Anzio, Lieut. M. L. Rupert, sent a diagram and description of the set to the Marlin Firearms Co. (razor blades, etc.). Wrote he:

"The razor blade is tacked down with a wire taped to it and going to one side of the coil and on to the aerial. The other side of the coil goes to the ground and to one side of the headset. From the other side of the headset a wire goes to the safety pin, which is driven into some wood at one end so the pin may be turned. Then the free end of the pin is moved across the unground part of the Marlin blade, and in that way you can find your station. Reception is very good and at night we can get several stations, including Berlin Sally. . . ."

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