Fifty years ago this month, the November 1974 issue of Radio Constructor showed how to put together this simple one-transistor regenerative receiver. The transistor was “reflexed” to allow a bit more gain, but it still required a crystal earphone. For a bit more volume, an optional AF amplifier using an additional transistor was recommended, but the set could be built either way.
Using plug-in coils, it covered 1.5 to 36 MHz, and was said to be simple to operate.
Seventy years ago, you couldn’t go wrong giving a radio as a gift, and GE’s colorful two-page ad in the November 29, 1954 issue of Life Magazine gives you ideas for the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
And, of course, for that person whose spelling needs a little help, the same issue contained this ad:
This 40 and 15 meter transmitter designed especially for the novice appeared on the cover of QST for November 1954. The construction article for how to build it, however, didn’t appear until the December 1954 issue.
The set was designed by Lew McCoy, W1ICP, and was billed a stable transmitter especially for the novice. It was pointed out that a 40 meter dipole would work well on both bands, so only a single antenna was necessary, and the article included details for how to make it.
A shielded enclosure was deemed a necessity, because of the possibility of TV interference while using 15 meters. The set employed a 6CL6 oscillator, 6BQ6-GA amplifier, and a 5Y3 rectifier in the built-in power supply.
Sixty years ago this month, the cover of the British magazine Radio Constructor, November 1964, showed a photograph of this handsome, but ambitious, six-transistor portable, that could be run off either 7.5 or 9 volts. An artist’s conception is shown at the left.
The set pulled in both longwave and medium wave broadcasts (200 to 500 meters and 1250 to 1750 meters). Any suitable cabinet could be used. This one was made of wood, “and covered with one of the various materials which can be purchased for such purposes.”
Shown here from fifty years ago, in the November 1974 issue of Radio-Electronics, is an ad for an industry that probably had about ten more years of life. These ads were surprisingly common. They offered re-built (or brand new) tuners from Televisions. If the old tuner went bad, rather than the local serviceman fix it, they could send it in for a replacement, and the one they sent would be re-built. It simplified the repair, and put it in the hands of someone who specialized in that task.
Almost every magazine had one of these ads once a month, so it must have been a profitable industry. But in a few years, solid-state sets, especially with digital tuners, would put an end to the industry.
We’ve previously written about the School Time program on WLS Chicago, which started in 1937. Every day at 1:00 PM, the station carried a program especially for school children, which was played in many schools in the region.
Eighty years ago, the station boasts in this ad on the cover of Broadcasting magazine, November 20, 1944, about how successful it was. The station reports that a single announcement offering a color map of the Brookfield Zoo. 5,629 letters flooded the station asking for a copy of the map. While the ad noted that the School Time program wasn’t for sale, they had plenty of programs that were, and an ad on the station promised to deliver results.
Eighty years ago, there was a war going on, and there were shortages of many things. And that included a new home telephone. You couldn’t get one right away–you had to wait weeks or months.
In this ad from Life Magazine, November 20, 1944, The Phone Company assures you that they feel your pain. But because of wartime shortages, there weren’t enough telephones or switchboards to go around, and everyone would just have to wait patiently.
Eighty years ago this month, the November 1944 issue of Practical Wireless showed how to put together this handsome one-tube receiver for the short waves. While the magazine pointed out that some treated the single-tube design with disdain, but it would pull in an amazing number of DX stations. It was said that it was capable of first-class results with headphones.
If Junior is looking for a fun science experiment involving some dangerous hazardous substances (both of which are readily available on Amazon or at almost any hardware store), then he or she can’t go wrong with this 1924 demonstration of how to make “smoke rings” from the November 1924 issue of Science and Invention.
You start by getting some ammonia (called “ammonia water” in this diagram) and some good ol’ Hydrochloric Acid (also known as muriatic acid). Arrange them in bottles and tubes as shown here. To avoid spillage, you need to make sure the ends of the tubes are level with the level of the liquid in the bottles. The fumes combine in the box to form ammonium chloride, and the tiny crystals form a thick white “smoke”. When you tap on the back of the box, a smoke ring emerges.
Note: These chemicals really are dangerous, so use great caution in carrying out the experiment. In particular, we recommend doing it outside, or in a room with lots of ventilation.
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Eighty years ago, the U.S. was still at war, but there would soon come a time when Johnny came marching home. And when he did, he would want a radio, a phonograph, and home appliances, things that were currently unavailable.
Admiral had already started advertising, and in this ad in the November 1944 issue of Radio Retailing, it reminded dealers about those ads, and encouraged them to get ready to start selling Admiral products.