Category Archives: Scouting

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.



1955 GE Portable

1955MayBLSeventy years ago, this scout, named Scott, had just received his very own portable radio, a gift from his father after earning First Class. It’s the envy of his friend, and Scott recounts how he can listen at camp, on family picnics, or plugged in in his room. The set had three-way power, meaning that it could run on AC, DC, or from the battery.

We don’t recognize the model, but perhaps one of our readers can enlighten us. The ad appeared in the May 1955 issue of Boys’ Life.



1940: Learning Code for Scouts

1940AprBLEighty-five years ago this month, the April 1940 issue of Boys’ Life contained some pointers from William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt for Scouts to learn the Morse Code, which was then a requirement for First Class.  The best way was to sit down with a buddy and learn the letters with a buzzer telegraph set, and the simple instructions for making such an instrument are shown below.  Then, you could continue your signaling in the great out-of-doors.

1940AprBL2



Telling Directions with the Sun

1965MarBLSixty years ago this month, the March 1966 issue of Boys’ Life carried a feature by William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt showing a number of methods to determine the points of the compass. The method shown above, if you had the time, was exact.

1965MarBL2A faster but less accurate method was shown at the left. You place a straight stick in the ground so that it casts no shadow. You wait, and the inevitable shadow will be pointing approximately west. How close the method worked depended on how close you were to noon, and how close you were to the equinoxes.



Scouts Build Radio, 1925

1925MarBLOne hundred years ago this month, the March 1925 issue of Boys’ Life showed Eagle Scouts Andrew S. Bostwick and H.I. Swanson, both of Troop 711, Brooklyn, at the controls of the radio they had built.  The magazine reported that they picked up 150 stations during the course of one evening.

Perhaps the duo inspired some scouts to build the two-tube receiver described in the same issue of the magazine:

1925MarBL2