single transistor projects?

[Tony Duell]

> Good on ya, Brad!  I built my first receiver with my dad--using a 

I still haev the first radio I built -- 35 years ago, alas it wsa 
transistorised . It was the well-known 'Ladybird book' design, using an 
OC45 as a regenrative detector and a couple of OC71s as audio stages.

> 1G4GT, back when one could still buy "B" batteries.  Many many years 

These days, you can get 9V (PP3, 006P, 6F22, whatever you call them) 
batteries very cheaply in the 'Everything's a pound' shops (I assume you 
have similar shops that sell all sorts of things for a dollar a time). 5 
to 10 of those in series will work as B battery, of couse.

Personally, I'd use a mains supply. a 30V transformer (15-0-15, ignoring 
the centre tape or a pair of 15V windings in series) feeding a voltage 
doubler rectifier (2 diodes, 2 capacitors) will give about 85V, ideal for 
most 'battery' valve circuits.

-tony