Monthly Archives: October 2018

Happy Halloween!

1943NovPSFor Halloween this year, we offer this Halloween craft project from 75 years ago, courtesy of the November 1943 issue of Popular Science. Wartime shortages of Halloween decorations needn’t have put a damper on things, since you could just make these. They could be placed around the room for decorations, or serve as nut holders or place tag holders at the Halloween dinner table.

All that was needed were some walnuts, pipe cleaners, and a few miscellaneous bits that could be found around the shop. The main cuts were done with a coping saw, with the nut held in a vice. The magazine provided instructions on how to finish up the tiny goblins.



1938 Mobile Generator

IMG_20180929_231546_690

From the October 1938 issue of Popular Science, this photo is self-explanatory: For a convenient source of electric power, all you need is a generator on the rear bumper, hooked to the drive wheel with a belt and pulley. It can be used in motion, or when stopped, simply by jacking up the rear wheel.



Ramsey County War Dead, World War I

free-vector-poppy-remembrance-day-clip-art_106032_Poppy_Remembrance_Day_clip_art_smallThe following residents of the City of St. Paul and Ramsey County, Minnesota, gave their lives in the First World War. These names are taken from Volume 2 of Soldiers of the Great War, published in 1920.

If I’ve been able to locate the serviceman’s grave or other information, it is linked below.  Please let me know if you have any additions or corrections to clem.law@usa.net.

  • Pvt. George Abdalla
  • Pvt. Louis Ackerman
  • Pvt. Alfred W. Anderson
  • Pvt. Clarence J. Anderson
  • Pvt. John G. Anderson
  • Pvt. Oscar Nels Anderson
  • Pvt. Charles Aussant
  • Pvt. Frank J. Bannick
  • Pvt. John Belland
  • Pvt. Leonard Bergren
  • Pvt. John Binder
  • Pvt. Tomas L. Blacik
  • Pvt. Albert J. Blaschka
  • Pvt. Alfred H. Bornemann
  • Pvt. Arthur Lindsay Broderick
  • Cpl. A.L. Brown
  • Pvt. Fred T. Carlson
  • Pvt. John Chartter
  • Sgt. Charles H. Chatterton
  • Pvt. Arnold F. Christenson
  • Sgt. John S. Christie
  • Cpl. Dean C. Clark
  • Pvt. Frank W. Cochrane
  • Pvt. John M. Connelly
  • Pvt. William F. Connelly
  • Lt. William Cowper
  • Pvt. Wilbert W. Crocker
  • Pvt. Claude Curry
  • Pvt. John Daley
  • PVt. Henry De Loy
  • Pvt. Adolph Demel
  • Pvt. Richard W. Dingle
  • Pvt. Bernard Dittman
  • Lt. John Nealls Donohue
  • Pvt. John Dordan
  • Pvt. Frederick C. Duberge
  • Pvt. John Eischens
  • Pvt. Joseph A. Erwin
  • Pvt. Chrles J. Eue
  • Pvt. Hubert Fallon
  • Pvt. Humbert Fallon
  • Pvt. Patrick J. Feeney
  • Pvt. Edward Flaherty
  • Pvt. Michael J. Ford
  • Pvt. Joseph C. Francois
  • Sgt. Eugene Frankel
  • Pvt. Clarence R. Gatrell
  • Pvt. Thomas Gaughn
  • Pvt. Alfred Edward Gieson
  • Pvt. Raymond A. Goeke
  • Pvt. Nathan Goldstein
  • Sgt. Jacob J. Gorgoschilitz
  • Pvt. Louis F. Graff
  • Sgt. Alfred C. Hainlin
  • Pvt. Harry J. Haessly
  • Pvt. James G. Hewins
  • Pvt. Glenn L. Howard
  • Pvt. John Hanson
  • Cpl. Robert B. Hess
  • Pvt. George Jackson
  • Pvt. John Arnold Jelm
  • Pvt. Conrad G. Jensen
  • Pvt. Carl E. Johnson
  • Pvt. Ferdie Mild Johnson
  • Pvt. George H. Johnson
  • Pvt. Herman Johnson
  • Lt. Scott M. Johnson
  • Pvt. James Allen King
  • Pvt. Maurice Kerr
  • Pvt. Lewis N. Kiesel
  • Pvt. Joseph H. Kipp
  • Pvt. Frederick Klanska
  • Pvt. Ward L Knoder
  • Pvt. George C. Koernig
  • Pvt. Edward J. Kunz
  • Pvt. William Laidlaw
  • Pvt. Charles W. Langerdorf
  • Pvt. Axel Larson
  • Pvt. Leslie Lawrence
  • Pvt. Edward F. Lundholm
  • Pvt. James F. McCann
  • Pvt. Len R. Machovec
  • Pvt. Clarence S. Manthe
  • Cpl. Alphonse J. Meidinger
  • Pvt. Clarence M. Merrill
  • Pvt. Walter Metz
  • Pvt. Lorenz Milli
  • Pvt. Oscar M Moline
  • Pvt. Eco H. Mullier
  • Cpl. David W. Neary
  • Pvt. Carl E. Neilson
  • Pvt. William A. Nelson
  • Pvt. Emil F. Neuman
  • Pvt. Gustaf A. Newman
  • Pvt. Peter Niemczyk
  • Pvt. Johan Nilsson
  • Pvt. Thomas Collins O’Leary
  • Pvt. Bernard J. Paddock
  • Pvt. George J. Panuska
  • Pvt. Albert E. Peterson
  • Pvt. Axil Jullus Peterson
  • Pvt. Nick M. Phillips
  • Pvt. Frank Podgerski
  • Pvt. John W. Richardson
  • Sgt. Paul W. Robinson
  • Cpl. Arthur W. Rock
  • Pvt. John Roddewig
  • Cpl. Elmer A. Roessler
  • Pvt. John Romocky
  • Pvt. George E. Root
  • Pvt. Frank Sager
  • Pvt. Frank J. Scharfbillig
  • Pvt. John R. Schillo
  • Pvt. Lawrence O. Schmidt
  • Cpl. Rudolph R. Shockey
  • Pvt. Charles T. Smith
  • Pvt. Charles S. Skweres
  • Pvt. Frank L. Steiner
  • Pvt. Isidore J. Stameshkin
  • Pvt. Louis F Steber
  • Pvt. George Stewart
  • Pvt. George W. Stocking
  • Pvt. Paul E. Swanson
  • Pvt. Oscar M.L. Thorson
  • Pvt. Ruben O. Tibbling
  • Cpl. Thomas J. Tierney
  • Pvt. Luke Toner
  • Pvt. Emil Truhler
  • Pvt. Benjamin H. Warner
  • Sgt. Fred H. Warwick
  • Pvt. Louis Weiner
  • Pvt. Tomas J. Wilkins
  • Pvt. Stanley B. Zabroki



1948 Homemade Transistor

1948OctRadioNewsShown here is a crude but functional homemade transistor from 1948, from the October 1948 issue of Radio News.  While the author had not yet used the fragile device in a working circuit, he did note that he achieved amplification by a factor of up to 50.  The transistor was very unstable at that high amplification, but it did work reliably amplifying by a factor of 15.

The transistor was made of a 1N34 germanium diode carefully broken open.  One lead was kept intact, and the other two contacts were made by making cat whiskers out of filaments of old tubes.

The article cites some 1920s articles where the authors made “amplifying crystals” by a similar means.  By applying the techniques in this article, the advanced student could prepare a science fair project that his or her teacher would probably declare impossible–making a homemade transistor.



Science Fair Idea: Trajectory of Moving Object

1943OctPS2If Junior needs to quickly put together a science fair project, this idea from the October 1943 issue of Popular Science will demonstrate some meaningful science with minimal preparation.  It makes use of two marbles and an old hacksaw blade, although with a bit of ingenuity, substitutions can be made to take advantage of available materials.

The two marbles are placed at the edge of a table and whacked as shown in the illustration.  Obviously, one of them flies off the table much faster and further than the other one.  But by listening to the sound of them hitting the floor simultaneously, it is clear that they are traveling downward at an identical rate.

If the teacher requires a question to be answered by the experiment, it can be something along the lines of:  “Does horizontal velocity of a projectile affect the rate of descent due to gravity?”

Junior will walk away with the blue ribbon, and the teacher will be none the wiser that he waited until the last minute.



Distilling Water

1928OctRadioNewsIf you need some distilled water, it’s usually a pretty easy matter to go to the local supermarket and buy a convenient gallon jug. Or, if you’re willing to pay for the convenience, you can even order it on Amazon.

But it’s also easy to whip up a small batch at home, as shown in this self-explanatory photo from Radio News, October 1928.  The hanging container is filled with cold water, preferably ice water.  It should be as thin as possible.  The spout of the kettle is directed at this container, and the distilled water drips onto a plate below.

The idea was sent in to the magazine by  one C.A. Oldroyd.

If the aspiring young scientist needs distilled water for a science fair project, adding this method to the project will almost guarantee the elusive blue ribbon.



Catch the Parachute: 1918

1918OctPSAt first glance, this toy idea from a hundred years ago looks like a really bad idea. This adult is shooting an arrow straight up into the air right next to this group of children. And, of course, what goes up must come down. Since it’s going straight up, it will come straight down.

Upon closer examination, however, it’s clear that it’s just a fun toy. What at first appears to be a large arrowhead is actually a parachute. The toy is called “Catch the Parachute.” The parachute and arrow float harmlessly back to the ground, “whereupon there is a mad scramble to reach it.”

The picture appeared in the October 1918 issue of Popular Science, which points out that “bows and arrows in all forms, provided the arrow-points are dull, always make good playthings for children. They develop steadiness of nerve, precision of eyesight, and a certain amount of sturdy muscle.

Surprisingly, this toy doesn’t seem to be available, but we are confident that our readers can work out the details.

 

1943 112 MHz Transceiver

1943OctQSTcoverThe cover of the October 1943 issue of QST showed the  transceiver dubbed the “Handy Andy,” a two-tube handie talkie for use on the 112 MHz WERS band. The author notes that strictly speaking, the set is not a transceiver. Even though the same tube is used for both the transmitter and superregenerative receiver, different tank networks are used for each, allowing the frequencies to be adjusted separately. Switching was taken care of with a homemade switch, since both the audio and RF sections needed to be switched over.

B batteries could be used, but the author noted that it was being used with a 130 volt vibrator power supply running from the car battery, which provided about 6.5 watts input power. Range was said to be between a quarter and half mile, which could possibly be extended with larger tubes and higher plate voltage. The RF section could use a 6J5, 6C5, 6F6, or 6V6GT. The audio tube could be a 6F6 or 6V6GT.

1943OctQSTschematic



1958 “Stolen Power” Receiver

1958OctPESixty years ago this month, the October 1968 issue of Popular Electronics carried a project, many variations of which have appeared over the years. It’s a “stolen power” receiver.  It consists of two crystal sets, one to tune in the desired station and another to supply power to the one-stage audio amplifier.

The “power” section is tuned to the strongest local station, which provides a DC voltage of a few hundred milliwatts, enough to power the CK721 transistor audio amplifier. The other crystal set tunes in the station, whose audio is amplified for listening.

To operate, a station is tuned in, and the power section is tuned until maximum volume is achieved. This tuning is then left alone.

According to the article, with a good ground and strong enough local station, the set could come to life with just a metal lamp serving as antenna. For optimum reception, a 50-100 foot outdoor antenna was recommended.

1958OctPEschematic