Eighty years ago, there was still a war going on, but people were itching for things to get back to normal. For example, civilian radios were still out of production, but this dealer guessed (correctly, it turns out) that there would be new ones rolling off the assembly line come fall. The picture appears on the cover of the July 1945 issue of Radio Service Dealer, and that issue gives no clues as to exactly where the sign is located.

But with a little bit of detective work, we found the location, and we also determined that the picture shown above was Photoshopped! The sign above reads “This Fall! New Radios.” The magazine doesn’t say where the sign is located. The magazine states only “dealer looks forward.”

But the identical photo appeared in the December 1943 issue of the magazine.  Well, we should say that it was almost identical.  Because the sign really said, “Wanted-Used Radios.”  I bet they still wanted them in 1945, but a graphic artist (if not the dealer) guessed that the end of the shortage was in sight.

The 1943 issue reveals that the shop was Kimbark Electric Appliance Co., 1309 E. 53rd St., Chicago.  The owner was Harold E. Wollenhaupt, who died in 1989.

Eighty-five years ago, this British family was taking refuge in their air-raid shelter, and had the luxury of information and entertainment courtesy of their radio. The July 13, 1940, issue of of Practical Wireless gave some pointers on the best way to equip the shelter with radio. The magazine acknowledged that there was no single solution for every case, but the provided food for thought.

One option was to employ a remote speaker with the normal family radio. Somewhat counter-intuitively, it suggested that the best option might be to place the radio in the shelter, and put the speaker in the house. This was because they would have access to the radio while in the shelter, and could change stations if the need arises. And, of course, if the set was turned off, it could be turned on without delay getting to the shelter.

The magazine also discussed the possibility of a portable. Here, it cautioned that if the shelter had a damp environment, it might be best to store the set outside. Finally, it discussed the possibility of using a car radio, particularly if a battery were in place for lighting.

Eighty-five years ago, there were few private automobiles on British roads due to the war. But for those that were still in use, a restriction went into place on June 1, 1940. According to the July 1940 issue of Practical Wireless, as of that date, it was illegal to have any radio apparatus in a motor vehicle after that date. According to the magazine, the order applied to both built-in sets as well as portables. It also applied to the antenna, which had to be removed as well.

Since you had to take the radio inside anyway, the magazine showed this rather self-explanatory diagram of how to hook it up at home. It discussed options such as the best way to keep the battery charged.

As we previously reported, the ban was lifted in 1944, and the magazine showed how to re-install the radio.

Eighty-five years ago this month, the June 1940 issue of Practical Wireless showed how to put together this basic crystal set for the beginning radio experimenter. Just because there was a war going on didn’t mean that one couldn’t get a start in radio with this simple receiver.

The magazine noted that in most areas of Britain, the set would be able to pick up the Home Service broadcasts on 449 meters (668 kHz). But because transmitter power varied, there was no set number of miles that the set would pull in. Therefore, it advised checking with experienced amateurs in the area before beginning construction.

It noted that buying commercial coils would be an easy way to make a compact set. But it encouraged winding your own, as that way, the beginner would be able to see the works.

Eighty years ago this month, this circuit for a one-tube broadcast radio appeared in the June 1945 issue of Radio Craft. It was sent in to the magazine by a soldier stationed in Florida, who assembled it in his barracks with various parts gathered around camp.

He reported that with a 45 volt battery, the set provided good loudspeaker volume. A 1D8GT tube served as both amplifier and detector, and all stations came in loud and clear.

Unfortunately, we don’t know the identity of the soldier, due to a typographical error by the magazine. He was stationed at Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida. Unfortunately, the author’s name was listed as “Camp Gordon” with a town of Johnston, Florida.

Eighty years ago this month, the May 1945 issue of Radio News showed this transmitter-receiver mounted in an “innocent-looking traveler’s suitcase,” and seized from a German spy by agents of the FCC Radio Intelligence Division.  It was said to be substantially built and of an up-to-date circuit design.  It included a tool set, vibrator power supply, and wire for erecting antennas.

You can see what appears to be the same model at the Imperial War Museum.

If you were in Britain 85 years ago and needed an enclosure in which to mount your radio, you needn’t look any further than the box in which your gas mask came! This set, shown in the May 11, 1940, issue of Practical Wireless shows exactly how to do it.

Apparently, the box was laced up with string, and the magazine explained how you could substitute wire, and use that for the antenna. The batteries would fit inside the enclosure.

Curiously, the article concluded by noting that the antenna wire and earpiece could be put away inside the box, allowing the box to be easily closed. “It then has the appearance of quite an ordinary gas-mask box.” I guess you wouldn’t want to alarm people by letting them know you had a radio, whereas the ordinary gas-mask box wouldn’t raise an eyebrow.