At the Newark Hamfest last month there were old copies of Practical Wireless magazine going for £4 each. Having been a reader of the mag since about that time I could not resist.

It is more often the adverts that get me. I remember spending hours drooling over all the ex WWII radio equipment and wishing I had the money to buy some. It did happen a few years later when I was allowed a sol trip to London for the first time. It was a steam train of course.

I was looking for London Central radio Stores in Lisle Street, Soho and did what all kids were told to do and asked a policeman for directions. He looked down on me very suspiciously and asked “now what do you want to go there for lad”. I explained it was for the radio shops and he looked even more suspicious but eventually told me which way to go. I found the shop which obviously had other tenants upstairs who were eager to divert me but the radios were far more interesting!

Here are some adverts and nice little VFO project. I like the sub heading “frequency stability is always a valuable feature”.

PW-1960-002 Orientation: 1

There are many more copies available online at this site but you do not get the smell of old magazines.