Eighty-five years ago this month, the June 1940 issue of Practical Wireless showed how to put together this basic crystal set for the beginning radio experimenter. Just because there was a war going on didn’t mean that one couldn’t get a start in radio with this simple receiver.

The magazine noted that in most areas of Britain, the set would be able to pick up the Home Service broadcasts on 449 meters (668 kHz). But because transmitter power varied, there was no set number of miles that the set would pull in. Therefore, it advised checking with experienced amateurs in the area before beginning construction.

It noted that buying commercial coils would be an easy way to make a compact set. But it encouraged winding your own, as that way, the beginner would be able to see the works.