Sixty years ago, some would have considered soldering to be a “macho” activity. This gentlemen, however, shown in the June 1066 issue of Radio-TV Experimenter, was more progressive, and he realized that Gladys probably had better eye-hand coordination than he did (especially considering those beer cans on the table in front of him). I suspect that as soon as the kit was complete, it worked flawlessly.

If you wanted to be the first on your block to have a transistor radio seventy years ago, one good way to meet that goal would be to build the one described in the May 1956 issue of Popular Electronics.  It was said to pull in local stations with loudspeaker volume with no external antenna.  It consisted basically of a crystal set followed by four stages of audio amplification.

Crystal sets often have very wide tuning, due to the detector loading down the tuned circuit and reducing the Q factor.  In this case, however, the coil is tapped to reduce this effect.

Seventy years ago this month, the May 1956 issue of Popular Electronics carried this ad for the Allied Knight Kit Space Spanner receiver.  The three-tube AC-DC set covered the broadcast band and 6-17 MHz shortwave.  It included a 35W4 rectifier and 50C5 final audio amplifier.  The heart of the set was a 12AT7 which served as regenerative detector and first stage audio amplifier.

Seventy-five years ago this month, the May 1951 issue of Radio Constructor showed how to build this handsome three-tube (including rectifier) broadcast receiver. It covered both mediumwave and longwave (1225-2000 meters). A 15-foot antenna would pull in the mediumwave broadcasts, as well as the BBC Light Program and Radio Luxembourg on the longwave band. The detector was regenerative, and the author had to work out some tricks to keep the regeneration (or reaction, as they called it) stable even if the line voltage varied.

Shown here, one hundred years ago, is Brainard Foote, showing off the one-tube portable receiver, the details of which are contained in the construction article he authored in the May 1926 issue of Radio In The Home.  He calls the set a Magic Music Box, and notes that it’s useful for picnics and outings. But it’s also useful for the traveling man, for information and entertainment in some distant city.

The set is small enough to be tucked away in a handbag, convenient to use, and ready for work at a second’s notice. In particular, he points out numerous available antennas. In the photo, he is using the wires of a fence as antenna and counterpoise, “even though the farmer didn’t dream of such a thing when he put them there.” For the hotel, he suggests the electric wires, the telephone, or even the button for calling the bellboy. He notes that the two capacitors on the antenna and ground leads mean that it won’t affect the phone. And (unless something goes wrong), they also make it possible to hook directly to the power wiring. (When inserting the copper strips in the outlet, he notes that the light should be turned off.)

He warns to be careful with the regeneration, and not let the set oscillate any longer than necessary. Not only will it distort the signal, but it will also disturb other nearby listeners.