English: Actor listening to a homemade regenerative radio receiver in 1922. The "regen", invented by Edwin Armstrong in 1913, was widely used in inexpensive receivers until the 1930s. This receiver has 3 triode tubes: one regenerative detector and two audio amplifiers, which were needed to provide enough power to drive the large Magnavox horn loudspeaker visible at top. The "tickler coil" which provides the feedback is one of the three "honeycomb" coils in the variometer attached to the front of the radio. The coils are mounted on hinges; to increase the feedback the operator moves the tickler coil closer to the others. On top of the radio are visible additional plug-in honeycomb coils needed for other bands. The two large knobs are probably the tuning capacitors, while the 3 small knobs at the bottom are rheostats that control the individual filament currents of the 3 tubes.

Caption: "Alan Edwards, formerly a radio engineer, is now singing and acting his way to fame in "The Gingham Girl" one of New York's successful musical comedies. He is the proud possessor of one of the smallest radio sets in the world. It has a two-bulb regenerator honeycomb-coil, a detector, a two-stage amplifier, and can receive 2500 meters. It is built into a soap box covered with leather, the finished article resembling a camera. In a recent radio show in New York, this set won first prize. Between acts Mr. Edwards entertains the other members of the cast with concert music."