Correction - the hand crank on the old tube ADFs (ARN6 or ARN7) was
the tuning control. The manual loop control was a right-left switch.
Manual (RDF) did work better in bad static than ADF but it was tough
on the ears.
Radio Range - the north quadrant (and thus the south quadrant) was an
N quadrant, logically.
Those antiquated time/distance checks were left over from long-lasting
flights (10-20 hours) in multi-engine prop planes like the Clipper
flying boats crossing the Atlantic. They had some value then (are we
going to have enough gas?) but for every day flying - bah. Still, if
you pick a VOR off at right angles to your track it has some value -
not much, but some. Might help you decide to divert if the winds are
double what the weather guesser told you.
Walt BJ