Ninety years ago this month, the October 1928 issue of Popular Science tackled the vexing question of whether you should buy or build your radio receiver. The magazine noted that as between building and buying, the magazine championed neither option. It viewed its function as assisting with a wise purchase for those who so desired, or to help solve home construction problems for those who decided to build.

The gentleman shown in the illustration opted to build, and the magazine noted that if you enjoyed working with tools, then assembling your own set would yield good results.

It noted, however, that building a radio was really a misnomer. It was really a matter of assembling factory-built parts.

Either way, the magazine stressed that it was important to identify your needs. Was bringing in distant stations the main appeal, or did you put tone quality first?  By first answering these kinds of questions, the radio consumer would wind up with a suitable set, whether they decided to buy or build.