If you had a small apartment 70 years ago and were in the market for a television, you might find this idea useful, from the July 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics. The magazine billed it as perhaps one of the most unusual TV cabinets. It was an ottoman on rollers and could take care of your sitting needs. But when opened up, it turned into a 20-inch television.
It was available from the Walter Weber Co. of 1106 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA.
Ninety years ago, the humble crystal set was already regarded by many as obsolete. But it still had its uses, and one of those was for use by kids, who could tune in their own programs while the family listened on the big set in the parlor.
The July 1933 issue of Popular Mechanics shows everything you need to know about making one. If you had a broken down radio, the tuning capacitor and coil could be salvaged, meaning that you already had most of the necessary parts. The simple design here was said to work well if you had a station within 25 miles. For a larger version of the article, click on the image above.
Sixty years ago this month, the July 1963 issue of the British publication Radio Constructor carried this ad for the Sinclair “Slimline” micro-radio receiver kit. It was reportedly “acclaimed as the most amazing receiver ever,” and the set, measuring 2-3/4 x 1-5/8x 5/8 inches, would pull in both British and European stations with staggeringly good quality.
The parts were sold by Sinclair Radionics Ltd. of Cambridge. If the name, and the general style of the advertisement, look familiar, it’s because the proprietor was the same Sir Clive Sinclair who went on to market the Sinclair ZX80 computer, a version of which was sold on this side of the Atlantic as the Timex Sinclair.
This young man, Joseph Guy, from somewhere in the midwestern United States, has been collecting Social Security for a few years now, but sixty years ago, his mother gave him this CB handheld radio to stay in touch on his way to school.
This photo was taken on a 22-below-zero day, and immediately after the picture was taken, young Joey was camouflaged with a heavy scarf, hat, and mittens. While his mom stayed at the 5-watt base station at home, he walked to school, and mom reminded him to look both ways before crossing busy intersections. When he reached school, he called to report his safe arrival.
The only downside was his occasionally failing to turn it off when he reached school. But rechargeable batteries partially solved that problem. Other mothers, whose children were following him, would often call to see if their children reached school safely.
The photo and story appeared in the July 1963 issue of Popular Electronics.
Shown here, on the cover of Radio News for July 1938, is Annette King, a radio personality with NBC Chicago. She appeared on programs including Club Matinee.
Of note here, she is speaking into the network’s “Beer Mug,” a portable transmitter designed for use in remotes. The crystal controlled transmitter operated on 30-41 MHz, and its 200 mW output was said to have a range of up to a mile. Batteries would last for up to ten hours, and the transmitter met all of the strict FCC requirements.
It contained an automatic modulation control which was frequently referred to as a “built-in studio engineer.” The original version weighed 13 pounds, but the one shown here was only 7 pounds. It was standard equipment at all NBC offices.
This young man is about 90 years old today, but in the July 1938 issue of Popular Mechanics, he was demonstrating how to get good radio reception aboard your boat. The antenna was, of course, important. But putting a copper sheet below the water line ensured an excellent ground connection.
Seventy years ago, this young man is enlivening the family picnic by trying his voice on the mike of this project from the July 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics. The project is billed as a “just for fun” audio amplifier, but it’s actually quite a bit more. In addition to the two-tube battery operated audio amplifier, the project contains provisions for a crystal microphone and phonograph input from a spring-wound record player. It’s not an early prototype karaoke machine, because you can use only one at a time. But the magazine notes that it’s a lot of fun in a group for everyone to try their voice on the mike. It notes that almost everyone talks too fast, some get mike fright, and others use an unnaturally high pitch. It noted that placing the mike was an art, and the set provides a good opportunity to learn a lot about PA systems.
And in addition, the circuit included a built-in germanium diode crystal set which would pull in clear signals from local stations.
A hundred years ago, the radio was becoming a reality on the farm, as shown by this article appearing in the July 18, 1923, issue of the Cody, WY, Northern Wyoming Herald. The article appears to be a press release taken directly from GE, extolling the virtues of the Radiola II receiver. At a mere 18 pounds, the battery set could pull in stations as well as larger sets.
Eighty years ago this month, these two young women were learning the finer points of voltage indicators under the tutelage of this Purdue University engineering professor. They were “Radio Engineering Cadettes,” and were paid trainees at RCA.
As you can read here, 86 women from 17 states began the 44 week program in 1943. Because of wartime labor shortages, they were the first women to attend the engineering school. The picture above appeared in the July 1943 issue of Radio Retailing.
Getting QSL cards in the mail has traditionally been an exciting part of Amateur Radio, as immortalized here on the cover of QST 100 years ago this month, July 1923.
The artist is Clyde Darr, 8ZZ, who provided at least 69 such illustrations for the magazine prior to his death in 1929 at the age of 50.