You asked for a ping when I told the story. Here it is.
Amazing and something I did not know!!! Thank You.
Wonderful post; and it’s still as magical today, when you build your own radio (the old way), and hear voices and music coming through it.
My father told me and my brother, back in the ‘sixties, about crystal radio sets. I think that my father, on the first one he built, heard a President’s inaugural address. So, my brother built one (with the help of the old Lafayette Electronics) and grounded it to the radiator in the bedroom. We heard things! It was amazing to me, and something I’ve never forgotten.
All of the modern technology that we have to play with now can’t touch the magic of learning to successfully manipulate the basic principles. I think every kid should build a little radio (and have an ant farm, and a kid’s chemistry set, rescue a baby bird, plant a little garden, and have access to all those other things that teach kids about science in engaging hands-on ways. Wouldn’t hurt if they still had to learn to use a slide-rule, either ;-)
It hurts me that I never see kinds roaming the creeks in my neighborhood, or even riding their bikes outside - they are all inside, glued to the TV or the computer...I’m sure they are learning things; but it isn’t ‘hands-on’ learning; it’s kind of a ‘sponge’ learning; and it doesn’t really give them capabilities.
(One of my retirement-years goals, is to learn Ham radio and become licensed.)
Thanks for pinging me!
-JT