We stumbled upon this device, forgotten, but very original and working, by chance: in Popular Science, Jun, 1956, literally a couple of paragraphs were devoted to it. It was especially remarkable that it was invented in Russia. Here's what was in the article:
Today 470 views 403 reads 2 min. 470 views. Unique visitors to the page. 403 readings, 86%. Users who have read to the end. 2 minutes. Average time to read a publication. Forgotten technologies: TGK-3, "Wait, mom, let me light the radio!" On this device, forgotten, but very original and working, "NM" stumbled upon by chance: in "Popular Science", Jun, 1956, literally a couple of paragraphs were devoted to it. It seemed especially remarkable that it was invented in Russia. Here's what was in the article: "Popular Science", Jun, 1956 - Kerosene Radio "Popular Science", Jun, 1956 - Kerosene Radio "Popular Science", Jun, 1956 - Kerosene Radio.
If you look into history, you can find out that the first such battery was invented and assembled in the middle of the 19th century by Oersted and Fourier, using bismuth-antimony pair, heating the joints with gas and cooling with ice. Further, Clamon's battery, made in 1874, could be used in practice: for galvanic gilding and in printing houses. Noe batteries, in general, at that time were quite widespread.
From the magazine "RADIO", number 2 for 1954, we learn a little more about our device: this is a thermogenerator TGK-3 (the three means the power - 3 watts), which converts heat from burning kerosene into electricity. The lamp equipped with it could both illuminate and allow you to simultaneously listen to the connected radio.
The construction of TGK-3 is not just simple, but practically eternal - there is nothing to break! The heat exchanger was installed in the shortened glass of the lamp and the hot junctions were heated from hot gases. The radiator fins were cooled cold. That's all the magic.
Promotional video:
Today, all this seems somehow frivolous and causes laughter, but in the fifties of the last century, TGK-3 was a real miracle of technology.
