Sixty years ago, the Boy Scout with an interest in radio could get everything he needed to get started from the BSA National Supply Division at his local official BSA dealer, as shown here in the January 1961 issue of Boys’ Life.

He would very likely be the first on his block to own a transistor radio by putting together one of three kits. The simplest one, which probably required an outdoor antenna, was a fixed diode plus one transistor, which would set him back $4.50. The two transistor model would pull in more stations for $8.95. And everyone would be impressed if he put together the $14.95 three-transistor set, which would give loudspeaker volume.

The beginner could put together the crystal set for only $2.96, complete with cardboard base. And to pull in the shortwaves, the tube set for $15.95 wouild get both broadcast and shortwave.

For code practice, there was a signal set for $1.95 each or $3.95 for two. If the Scout was good at math, he would realize he was paying a nickel more if he bought two, but that’s explained by the fact that it came with 30 feet of wire. And to get started, a code record could be had for $2.95.

Seventy years ago, it was a pretty good bet that a Boy Scout would have an interest in radio, so the “Hobby Corner” feature of Boys’ Life, January 1951, offered some pointers for a Scout on how to up an aerial.

The magazine noted that if you had a crystal set or a one-tube radio, then a good antenna would ensure good reception. It recommended a run of about 50-100 feet of copper wire, with glass insulators carefully placed at either end. Because the wire would contract in cold weather, some slack was called for. To avoid noise, the antenna should not be parallel to power lines, “and don’t throw antenna wire over power lines–it’s dangerous.”

Sixty years ago, this New York scout made the front cover of the November 1960 issue of Electronics Illustrated by demonstrating this one-transistor superregenerative receiver for the 11 meter Citizen’s Band.

According to the accompanying article, a pair of CB transceivers would set you back about $150. But for many uses, one-way communication was sufficient. The example shown on the cover was “the Boy Scout out on a hiking expedition who wants to tune in home camp.” In addition, the article suggested that a physician might carry a small receiver on a large hospital campus to be paged. Or a TV serviceman working on a roof antenna could hear instructions from the ground.

This simple circuit would satisfy all of those needs. According to the article, the set would provide clear reception up to three miles without fading.

A hundred years ago this month, the November 1920 issue of Boys’ Life asked scouts to ponder the question of whether they should pursue a career in radio.

The article was an excerpt from the merit badge pamphlet for “Wireless Electricity.”  I’ve never run across this name before, but it’s used throughout the article.  According to Wikipedia, Wireless merit badge was discontinued in 1923 and replaced by Radio, and I didn’t find any reference to the name Wireless Electricity.

The article talks about the advantages of a career in radio, such as the possibility of traveling the world as a shipboard radio operator.  It also points out that there was a demand for persons to fill these lucrative positions.  While the article pointed out that there were a number of good schools, it also made clear that most in the profession were self-trained as amateurs, and that this was one of the rare cases where one could get a good job based on such self-education.

The magazine also included some pointers for building a detector, shown at the bottom of the page.

Sixty years ago this month, the October 1960 issue of Boys’ Life carried two signaling devices. The first was a buzzer-type code practice set. The other, useful for stealthy communications at close range, was this visual signaler, made from a discarded razor blade container. With either one, the scout could get to work on his Morse code, possibly in preparation for Jamboree on the Air, which was announced in the same issue.

One hundred years ago this month, the March 1920 issue of Boys’ Life carried this ad from the Deforest Radio Telephone and Telegraph Company, 1397 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, New York.

Interestingly, I’ve noticed that some ads from this era, like this one, don’t make a distinction between a licensed amateur radio operator, who could transmit, and someone who was just operating a radio receiver as an amateur.  The ad invites boys to write in for a catalog of radio equipment to get the news from everywhere by wireless.  It told them that they could “be an Amateur Radio Operator with your own Receiving Station.”  The ad made clear that the company didn’t sell toys, but instead “practical, scientific Radio Apparatus like that used by Government and Commercial Stations.”  One could start out inexpensively and then build up the station.

A hundred years ago this month, the February 1920 issue of Boys’ Life asked the boys of America if they had a wireless station, and offered these two receivers. Both tuned 200 – 2500 meters (120 – 1500 kHz). Each included the loose coupler, radiometer, headphones, and hardware for the antenna and ground. The Moded 4007, selling for 28.00, included a crystal detector. Model 4008 was identical, but used an audion tube for the detector. It sold for $48.

The ad promised that the set could be up and running within hours. The crystal set was said to have a range of 300 miles under ordinary conditions, with the audion set being capable of pulling in stations up to a thousand miles away.

The manufacturer, the A.C. Gilbert Company, is the same one which is famous for erector sets, chemistry sets, and other tools for young scientists.  While the company no longer exists, the brand name is still in use.  The set in operation here is similar to, or possibly the same, as the one we previously featured,  delivered by Santa Claus in 1919.