Eighty-five years ago this month, the May 1940 issue of Popular Science showed how to put together this four-tube (1A7GT, 1N5GT, 1H5GT, 1C5GT) portable receiver. As shown in these illustrations, it was guaranteed to enhance any activity at home or on vacation. Powered by a 1.5 volt A battery and 90 volt B battery, the superheterodyne design could pull in stations 100 miles away during the day, or 500 miles at night, with only the built-in loop antenna. For greater DX, an outside antenna could be connected.

The magazine provided proof, in the photo at left, that the set weighed in at a mere eleven pounds.