Seventy-five years ago this month, the February 1944 issue of Boys’ Life gave some pointers on how to keep warm on a budget. The burlap foot coverings are the same general idea as what we previously offered for expedient winter footwear. And if your jacket isn’t quite warm enough, then lining it with a few layers of newspaper will surely do the trick.
Sixty years ago this month, amateur radio made the cover of Boys’ Life magazine’s January 1959 issue, which featured an article entitled “Hamming is Fun” by long time ARRL staffer Perry Williams, W1UED.
The article featured the radio adventures of a number of young hams, including Jules Madey, K2KGJ, of Clark, NJ, who apparently inspired the cover. Madey, a high school student, put in as many as 49 hours a week running phone patches for men at the McMurdo base in Antarctica. Since the best conditions were in the middle of the night, Madey made a habit of going to bed right after supper and setting the alarm for 10:30 PM.
The magazine contains two more radio features. First of all, the Tracy Twins comic shows the boys receiving a radio control airplane that Grandpa insists on operating without a license. Of course, he gets busted as an FCC helicopter and car swoop in. Fortunately, he gets off with a warning.
Finally, the Boys’ Life Radio Club had three offerings. For just 20 cents, they would send out the Radio reprint book containing reprints of earlier articles, along with a free log book. One dollar would get 60 QSL cards. And for no cost, the club would send any licensed ham operator scout or scouter a card identifying the bearer as an emergency service ham.
Seventy years ago this month, the January 1949 issue of Boys’ Life carried this article by William “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt on the subject of Morse Code.
He points out that in addition to being a requirement for First Class, the skill was part of a Scout’s wilderness adventure. Through the use of Morse, Scouts have been called into action in hurricane, earthquake, and flood.
The article focuses solely on the use of wig-wag flags for sending messages. For relatively short distances, a team consisting of signaler and scribe was ideal. For longer distances, an additional reader was called for, since he would be watching through field glasses.
Ninety years ago this month, the December 1928 issue of Boys’ Life carried this picture of Nat Pomeranz, 2APD, of Brooklyn, New York. When a September hurricane devastated Puerto Rico, the Navy’s station was destroyed, but a hasty emergency setup was made. Pomeranz was the first to pull in their weak signal and establish a communications link with the mainland.
The accompanying article noted that the Boy Scouts were in the process of setting up a radio network which could be of service not only in times of emergency, but in establishing closer contact between various troops.
Sixty years ago this month, the December 1958 issue of Boys’ Life magazine ran the rules for the 1959 annual Boys’ Life radio contest. The contest was set for February 15-28. To make sure scouts got their sleep, contest time was limited to 12 hours per week.
The contest featured separate categories for hams and SWL’s. In the Ham category, the top prize was a National NC303 receiver. The SWL top prize was a Hallicrafters S-85.
This ad for the American Basic Scientific Club appeared inside the back cover of Boys’ Life 60 years ago this month, November 1958. For only $3.45 each, the club would send one scientific kit per month for eight months, each containing an interesting project on subject such as radio, meteorology, atomic energy, and photography. At the end of eight months, the student would have a working regenerative receiver, signal tracer, code practice oscillator, darkroom (including enlarger), and many other scientific instruments.
I don’t recall hearing about this club, which was apparently in decline by the 1970s when I would have been interested. There’s an interesting history of the club at this website, written by the son of the founder. And a picture of the three-tube regenerative receiver, along with a partial schematic, can be found at this link. The set appears to be mounted on a chassis made of a single piece of metal, mounted on the cardboard box in which the kit arrived. It does have a power transformer, making it relatively safe for the young experimenter.
One of the books included with the kits was a guide to obtaining a ham radio license. It appears that the receiver could be built for either the AM broadcast band or 80 meters, meaning that it probably made a workable receiver for a new novice.
For anyone desiring to see around corners, the periscope is the ideal solution to the problem. 70 years ago this month, the October 1948 issue of Boys’ Life showed how to make this simple but effective model.
In addition to a small wood block, only two parts were necessary. And if you can’t find them locally, you can order them on Amazon: Two two-inch mirrors and an 18 inch, 2 inch diameter mailing tube. For making the precise 45 degree cuts, a miter saw was recommended. Rounding out the bill of materials was some glue, and black shoe polish to paint the interior angles to reduce glare.
For older scouts, the completed periscope could be a useful tool for any number of purposes. And for younger students, the project could serve as the basis for an interesting science fair project.
Forty years ago this month, the August 1978 issue of Boys’ Life carried these plans for a solar oven. According to the magazine, the oven would reach 200 degrees, “hot enough to cook a meat loaf or bake breads in several hours.” The inner and outer boxes were insulated with fiberglass insulation and sealed air tight. The inside of the inner box was painted black with a “non-lead” paint. Four shiny aluminum panels could be used to direct heat into the oven.
A suggested improvement to increase efficiency was to use a double layer of glass with an air gap between the two panes.
This self-explanatory helpful hint appeared in Popular Mechanics 75 years ago this month, June 1943.
If you need to make a tripod to cook over the fire, you can, of course, lash the three poles together. But if you have an empty can, you may as well make use of it. The can has the added advantage of providing a spot to hook the kettle: By leaving the lid partially attached to the can when opening, you can cut a hole in it and hang the pot from that.
Memorial Day 75 years ago, 1943, was the second since America had entered the war. This photo was taken at Arlington National Cemetery by Office of War Information photographer Esther Bubley. The scout, who was serving as one of the color bearers, listens to the ceremony.
