Eighty years ago, the young man (or woman) with an interest in radio couldn’t go wrong with this one-tube kit from the 1940 Lafayette catalog. The set was a “baby in size but a giant in performance,” and pulled in the stations with a single type 30 tube. The kit went for $3.95, but also required the tube for 33 cents, an A battery for 33 cents, and a 22.5 volt B battery for 74 cents.

Headphones were also required, which would set the builder back at least another 66 cents. The set came with a plug-in coil covering the broadcast band, but the young radio buff would almost certainly want to start pulling in the short waves. This was accomplished by ordering a set of four coils for only 74 cents.

The catalog noted that this was the type of set that most hams started with.