Eighty years ago this month, the March 1939 issue of Radio Retailing magazine carried this ad for an interesting looking mobile shortwave converter.

From ABC Radio Laboratories of 3334 N. New Jersety St., Indianapolis, IN, the Model 600 covered the 49-16 meter bands. It noted that the unit was “especially adapted to use in tropical countries and the more remote parts of the world.” The set retailed for $24.95.

Also shown was a converter that tuned 1500-2600 kHz to pull in police calls “for use of police and other law enforcement officers.”

The unit is a bit reminiscent of the Gonset shortwave converter, which came out in the late 1940’s.  I actually had one of the Gonsets installed in a vehicle in the late 1970’s, and it was a fairly sensitive receiver until one day when the magic smoke leaked out.  Since the solid-state car radio wasn’t capable of supplying B+, I used a separate vibrator power supply.