Category Archives: Scouting

Radio Scouting 1976

We were unaware that Pedro, the longtime mascot of Boys’ Life magazine until his retirement in 2022, apparently had his ham ticket, although he had become somewhat inactive in the 1970s. But when he read in Boys’ Life that there was going to be a Scout radio net, he decided to get back on the air, as documented here, in the February 1976 issue of Boys’ Life.

Elsewhere in the magazine, it was noted that the suggested time was 8:00 – 10:00 PM local time on Wednesdays, and 10:00 AM to noon Saturdays on 3940, 7290, and 14290 kHz. Scouts were encouraged to call CQ SCOUT RADIO NET.



Putting Up An Antenna: 1951

Seventy-five years ago, it was kind of a given that a scout might have a crystal set or a one or two-tube radio. So it was only logical that the January 1956 issue of Boys’ Life would contain pointers on putting up an outdoor antenna.



1965 General Electric Radios

Sixty years ago, as today, a Scout is Thrifty, and General Electric provided some advice for Scouts looking to buy a new radio, in the December 1965 issue of Boys’ Life.

The ad pointed out that getting a new radio wasn’t easy, and entailed a lot of saving and waiting. So when you spent all of the money, you wouldn’t want to wind up with one that sounded tinny or burned through batteries. Fortunately, GE made radios that weren’t expensive, and they are shown here.

The Model P1800 Personal Size portable could be had for less than $11 and featured big sound. For those who liked classical music or jazz, the P1820 gave both AM and FM for less than $28.

The C-545 clock radio would put you to sleep and wake you to music. Finally, if you had less than $8 to spend, the P1710 pocket portable had big clear GE sound.



1955 Arvin Radios

Seventy years ago this month, the December 1955 issue of Boys’ Life carried this ad encouraging boys to drop hints for an Arvin radio for Christmas.  The ad featured the model 952P four-tube portable, the 848T four-tube clock radio, and the “unbreakable”  and economical 840T, available in six sharp colors with, you guessed it, four tubes.



It’s The Ham In Them, 1955

Seventy years ago this month, the November 1955 issue of Boys’ Life carried this feature, “It’s The Ham in Them,” giving an overview of Amateur Radio. It noted that there were 120,000 hams in the U.S., with another 50,000 around the world, and that Uncle Sam had gone out of his way to make the hobby enticing to youth.

Among other topics, the article detailed the potential for hams in an emergency, some of which are depicted here. For example, when Hurricane Diane hit the Northeast, three hundred trembling youngsters were stranded in ankle-deep water on an island of the Delaware River. Little attention was given to a car stopped on the far bank. Even had it been noticed, it wouldn’t have been capable of rescue, or so it appeared. But a squadron of helicopters soon appeared. The driver of the car had been a ham, and had put in the call to Civil Defense officials. (The incident appears to be detailed at this link.

In another case, a truck had plunged off a mountain in Arizona, a a rancher brought them to Camp Geronimo, a scout camp. The camp director was a ham (Ed Burkhart, W7SUI) who put in an emergency call to Phoenix, resulting in the dispatch of an ambulance plane.

As in 1955, Amateur Radio is primarily a hobby.  But it can be a source of information and connection with the outside world in case of an emergency.  An excellent example is when Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina in 2024.  Hams, and their neighbors, were in a position to provide vital information, because an ad-hoc network quickly formed, mostly using a repeater just outside the disaster area.  There might have been a few people “rescued” as a result of this communication.  But more importantly, residents had access to current information, such as whether certain roads were open, where stores and gas stations were operating, etc.  Radio also provided the ability to notify friends and family members that someone was safe.  An excellent recounting of these events can be found at this article by K4SWL, who provided this vital communication for his neighbors.



Adding a Bulb to a Crystal Set: 1925

One hundred years ago, in the November 1925 issue of Boys’ Life, radio editor Zeh Bouck apparently realized that many scouts already owned a crystal set, and were thinking of upgrading by adding a “bulb”. His column details two methods of doing exactly that. First, he discusses how to replace the crystal detector with a tube, and notes that this option is somewhat less expensive. However, his preference is the second method, namely, keeping the crystal detector as-is and adding one tube as an audio amplifier.  Parts lists are included, and the first method, replacing the detector, would set the scout back $5.80. Adding an audio amplifier would require a transformer, which could cost an additional $1.50 to $5.

He assures that both methods are just about as easy as the A, B, C’s, and he gives detailed instructions.



Electronics Merit Badge, 1965

As shown in this announcement in the October 1965 issue of Boys’ Life magazine, the Electronics Merit Badge (along with Space Exploration) is sixty years old. Metallurgy was also new that year, but was renamed Metals Engineering in 1972 and then discontinued in 1995.

Radio Merit Badge (originally named Wireless) was one of the original merit badges.  It continues (we happen to be a counselor for that merit badge), but Electronics covers some distinct material.  The design of the badge (a PNP transistor) remains the same today.

For an interesting story about the Space Exploration Merit Badge, read this account of an Ohio scout who earned it,



1925 Boys’ Life Crystal Set

One hundred years ago this month, the September 1925 issue of Boys’ Life showed Scouts how to build this radio receiver for a total outlay of $5.52, including headphone and antenna wire. Of course, that works out to over $100 in 2025 dollars, so the Scout would have to be thrifty and save up his money.

While an indoor antenna might work, for best results, an outdoor antenna of 75 feet was called for. The article was penned by Zeh Bouck, who regularly wrote radio articles for the magazine.

The full plans appear here.  You can click on the image below for the full-size version.



Swellest Tent in Camp: 1925

One hundred years ago, these young men had the swellest tent in camp, that’s to a little bit of ingenuity and some Eveready dry cells.  In addition to the batteries, they just needed a little bit of wire, a switch, a socket, a bulb, and maybe a discarded reflector from a car.

They kept giving reliable light, night after night, and that was swell.  The ad appeared in the August 1925 issue of Boys’ Life.



1945 Scouting

In his column in the July 1945 issue of Boys’ Life, William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt offers this illustration of some rustic features and camp gadgets that a scout could use to make himself comfortable in camp. The illustration originally appeared in the Swedish Scout magazine Scouten.