If you've read the little blurb in the sidebar of my blog, you know that the first electronics project I ever worked on was a radio that my father helped me build when I was about 8 years old. As I recall it, there was a book on electronics for boys (ok - they were sexist back then) that had the project in it. The radio was based on building an antenna from a coil of wire wound around a cardboard toilet paper tube.
Now, before you assume that I am making some sarcastic allusions to another antenna story that's been all over the news recently... I assure you that is not why I write this today. (Although I have to admit that more iPhone-4 jokes do come to mind).
Here's the story.
I was looking for some wire to use in order to hang yellow jacket traps today, when I recalled that I had a spool that's been in my toolbox as long as I can remember. I've used this wire for similar purposes many times in the past, although never (that I can remember) for its intended electrical application.
Except for one time.
Suddenly it struck me. This was the very same wire that my Dad bought for the antenna coil in that radio project so many years ago. I don't know why it never really struck me so vividly before today (faulty memory). My wife likes to tease me about holding on to things, but this has to be some sort of record for me. With my memory jogged I can even see my Dad taking me to the electronics parts store on Vulcan Street in Buffalo. I looked it up, and I think it's still there... Radio Equipment Corp.! How cool is that?!
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So, I had to do a web search to see if I could find that book. I physically looked for the book a few years ago shortly after my Dad died. I had the somber task of closing up my Dad's house when it was severely damaged after a burst water pipe went undetected in the middle of winter. Regrettably, the book was not to be found.
That's a little bit different than my memory of a book on electronics for boys, but it could make sense because my Dad did some part time TV repair when I was growing up. Google books also came up with a reference to a guide to books for school libraries, so maybe my memory is correct as well. Perhaps the article was copied in other forms.
As the story goes according to my internet search, soldiers in WWII were not allowed to have radios, for fear of detection by the enemy. So they improvised with this simple - unpowered - design. I may just have to go see if I can re-create one now.
In any event, I thought this was a great way to cap off the week that brought us "Antennagate". It also serves as a great reminder. Yes, The World is Analog!
p.s. if you happen to come across an original edition of All About Radio and Television, you can imagine how much I'd love to put my hands on one.
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