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.