A hundred years ago, this father-son duo were entertaining themselves on an otherwise slow afternoon by tuning in a radio program in some distant city. They are pictured in the July, 1924, issue of Radio Age, which notes that no camping trip was complete without its radio equipment. No matter where you went, you couldn’t be so far as to not be able to pull in a broadcasting station.
Seventy years ago this month, the July 1954 issue of the British publication Radio Constructor carried the plans for this one-tube regenerative receiver for the “veriest beginner” to radio. The magazine noted that such a beginner may not yet know how to read schematics, and the the magazine thus carried Heathkit-style step-by-step instructions for wiring it up.
Future issues of the magazine would add improvements, which would ultimately result in a three-tube set.
Seventy five years ago, this lucky young woman (now about 92 years old) was the new owner of her very own radio, the Arvin Model 242T “Keen-Teen” radio. It was aimed at the nation’s eight million teen girls, who saw it prominently advertised in the “Back to School” issue of Seventeen magazine.
This ad, in the July 1949 issue of Radio & Television Retailing, reminded dealers that this issue of the magazine was the “Style Bible” of the school and college crowd. In addition to the magazine ad, there would be a point of sale display featuring the actual ad. They were urged to be ready when the magazine hit the newsstands on August 1. The four-tube set retailed for $14.95, which works out to $197 in 2024 dollars. But mom and dad probably cashed in a war bond, which was keen.
Shown here is some key station in the Emergency Broadcast System, after it was equipped to stay on the air after a nuclear attack. The diagram appears in a 1984 FEMA publication, Broadcast Station Protection Program, which outlined the program. Much of the hardening would be paid for by the government, such as construction of fallout shelters for station personnel, emergency generators, and remote pickup equipment to link the station back to the EOC.
The cost of stocking the station with food and supplies for the staff was the responsibility of the station owner and licensee. Facilities were designed to be adequate, although austere.
Sixty years ago this month, the July 1964 issue of Popular Mechanics showed how to add Marine Band (1600-3600 kHz) coverage to a standard AM radio. You simply added a switch to swap out the antenna and oscillator coils. The magazine recommended using a short wire antenna, and careful tuning. It noted that the band was alive at all hours, so you wouldn’t want for a signal.
Eighty years ago this month, the July 1944 issue of Radio News featured on its cover this U.S. Army Signal Corps photo of a radio operator reporting troop movements from his concealed position. It noted that his radio was a late model FM transmitter-receiver designed for armored vehicles. The magazine noted that the set was de-mountable and occasionally set up as shown here for field service.
Fifty years ago, this duo were among the first Britons to enjoy playing a video game, thanks to the project shown in two issues of Practical Wireless, starting in July 1974. The game, dubbed Tele-Tennis, appears to be a clone of Pong, which first hit arcades in 1972. The home version didn’t hit American Sears stores until 1975, so these two were way ahead of the curve. The construction article was careful, however, to avoid the “Pong” name.
The magazine noted that the television, the most sophisticated instrument in most homes, wasn’t living up to its potential being used only to watch Bugs Bunny or Coronation Street. It noted that the game was sweeping pubs and clubs in America, and that the British experimenter could duplicate it.
Initially, the author was afraid that the circuit might be too complex for the amateur constructor. But thanks to a careful design, the use of IC’s, and a printed circuit board, the project could be undertaken by anyone with reasonable soldering ability. Both the circuit boards and cabinet were available for purchase.
The plans for this handsome four-tube set appeared sixty years ago this month, in the July 1964 issue of Electronics Illustrated. The four tube (19EA8, 12EQ7, 35DZ8, and 50C4) set was a souped-up version of the “all-American five.” Since two of the tubes were dual tubes, it outperformed five tube sets, since it had separate oscillator and mixer.
It was handsomely built into this book holder, with the radio chassis on one side, and the speaker on the other side.
Some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning that this site earns a small commission if you make a purchase after following the link.
A hundred years ago this month, these young patients were having the cheer of the outside world brought to their weary bedsides thanks to a radio. The July 1924 issue of Electrical Retailing reminded readers that hospital committees, “well-to-do patronesses” and individual families were buying radio for sick rooms and wards. The magazine noted that headphones were best if other patients needed sleep, but that sets with speakers could give joy wholesale to the children’s ward.
A great market–and a great humane service–awaited every dealer who sold radio.
Between canoe trips and swims, this young radio fan is pulling in a program from a nearby hotel as she relaxes at the beach in Atlantic City. The picture appeared in the July, 1924, issue of Radio Age, which asks readers whether they wished they were in Atlantic City.