This gentleman has found marital bliss, thanks to a personal radio receiver he put together according to the plans in the February 1946 issue of Popular Science.

As the magazine pointed out, “instead of thinking harsh thoughts about members of your family who frown on your radio listening when they want to read or sleep, try one of these compact personal radios that make the entertainment of the airwaves your private business.” The wife is undoubtedly in that category, but he made the radio his private business by listening with headphones while she slumbers in peace. Presumably, there were harsh thoughts prior to making this set, and it probably saved the marriage.

The circuit is a three-tube regenerative set. One tube serves as a rectifier to supply the B+ voltage in the AC-DC “hot chassis” design. To run the filaments, multiple “curtain burner” line cords, adding up to 600 ohms are used. While the set is designed for headphones, it’s powerful enough to drive a speaker, and the optional hookup for a speaker is shown.