I have built what are called foxhole radios using germanium diode, safety razor blade, pencil , two thumbtacks and a safety pin and a little wire and lead pencil piece before ....Not sure of the range but with a crystal ear bud it does receive AM and some SW.
That would fit...... or parts for it.
What you suggest is a listen only as well I think......
http://www.io.com/~n5fc/dcrx.html
That might be. I'm not into HAM so when my friend launches into it my eyes begin to glaze over after thirty or more minutes of it. No detail is too small or obscure to be left out when he covers a subject. Which is mostly a good thing. Mostly.