Eighty years ago, the December 1936 issue of Popular Mechanics showed how to put together this two-tube shortwave set for beginners. It promised that any beginner could assemble it with ordinary tools. The set contained a band switch, which did away with the need to switch plug-in coils.

A type 38 tube served as the regenerative detector, with a type 39/44 providing audio amplification. In preliminary tests, the set pulled in signals with good volume from Spain, Germany, England, and South America. Power was provided by A and B batteries, or the constructor could also put together the battery eliminator described in the same issue.