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Old 11th Sep 2007, 9:25 am   #1
'LIVEWIRE?'
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Default Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Reading the recent posts about articles by Les Lawry-Johns, reminded me about other, possibly similar things, for example 'Practically Wireless' by 'Henry' (Who was 'Henry'), which used to appear in PW in the 60s & 70s, some of which were quite humourus. There were also the 'In Your Workshop' articles featuring 'Smithy', and his (sometimes) hapless assistant, Dick, which were a regular feature of Radio(and Electronics)Constructor and Radio & Electronics World for many years. If I ever get 'a RoundTuit!' I will post some of them on here!!
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 11:52 am   #2
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Don't forget Donald Bullock, in 'Television.'

Some of M G Scroggie's articles and books had quite a bit of humour injected into them, and were probably better understood and read than those whose prose was very 'dry' and staid, like W T Cocking.

'Thermion' aka F J Camm was a good read, as well.

I can still picture Smithy explaining something to Dick by drawing on the tablecloth in their local caff! Imagine how many times they could get away with that in the real world.
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 11:59 am   #3
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Chas E. Miller had a rare brand of humour, and early Steve Beeching was quite funny too.

Cheers,

Steve P
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 12:36 pm   #4
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Adding a humourous side to an article seems to make it more memorable. Perhaps that's why we remember with affection these writers.

I still remember a maths formula from school days because the maths teacher taught it in a humourous way.

David Gibson who wrote the Short Wave column for PW in the 60s also had a sense of humour.

I'll dig out some old PWs when I get home and post one or two of Henry's contributions.

Keith
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 12:59 pm   #5
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

What about the Fluxite quins. Does anyone remember them? Malc.
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 6:40 pm   #6
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Here's a couple of Henrys Practically Wireless from 1966 & 67.

Keith
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File Type: pdf Henry0167.PDF (110.6 KB, 182 views)
File Type: pdf Henry0666.PDF (117.2 KB, 152 views)
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 7:43 pm   #7
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Does anyone remember a Mr. Briggs ?

I believe he was with Goodmans or Wharfedale.

He used to write a delightful piece each Christmas in the "Wireless and Electrical TRADER", an otherwise fairly dull Radio & Television trade magazine whose only virtue, as I recall, was the Trader Service Sheets (our lifeline at the time), a bit of trade tittle-tattle (like the Mendlesham biscuits saga), and a monthly analysis of Droitwich's variation from exactly 200 kHz ?
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 8:11 pm   #8
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In Short Wave Magazine, the cartoons by G3COI (latterly GW3COI, I believe) used to make me smile.

Al / Skywave.
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 9:15 pm   #9
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Phelan View Post
Don't forget Donald Bullock, in 'Television.'


I can still picture Smithy explaining something to Dick by drawing on the tablecloth in their local caff! Imagine how many times they could get away with that in the real world.
Donald Bullock wrote some very funny pieces.

There are many 'Dick and Smithy' articles on this website

http://vintageradio.me.uk/radconnav/radcon.htm


Rich.
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Old 11th Sep 2007, 10:47 pm   #10
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Thanks for the reminder about <http;//vintageradio.me.uk/radconnav/radcon.htm> , Richard. Its' a very interesting & useful site.
Keith, didn't David Gibson(G3DJG if remember correctly) design and publish in PW sometime in the early 70s, a multiband SW receiver built around Denco plug in Coils, with a 1,6Mc IF stage. This set, a version of which I built, used the 'dreaded' AF117(OC170) transistors
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Old 12th Sep 2007, 10:42 pm   #11
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

At the risk of going OT I believe David Gibson did a receiver based on the Denco plug in coils but I don't have the article as my PW collection has several years missing in the early 70s. I did find a design by him from late 1969 for a Medium Wave DX receiver using Denco coils and a pre built IF strip but it used silicon transistors in the front end.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skywave View Post
In Short Wave Magazine, the cartoons by G3COI (latterly GW3COI, I believe) used to make me smile.
G3COI still writes and produces cartoons for Practical Wireless. According to the July 2007 issue he was 85 in April.

Keith

Last edited by Mike Phelan; 13th Sep 2007 at 8:41 am. Reason: Fixed quote
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Old 13th Sep 2007, 8:40 am   #12
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

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What about the Fluxite quins. Does anyone remember them? Malc.
"OO" yes, I do, Malc!
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Old 15th Sep 2007, 9:52 pm   #13
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Whilst hunting for LLJs Television articles came across this gem from Chas Miller.

Enjoy it

Keith
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Old 16th Sep 2007, 11:26 am   #14
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

SPCh asks
Quote:
Does anyone remember a Mr. Briggs ?
Yes. GA Briggs was an early Hi-Fi pioneer. I have in front of me his 'Sound Reproduction' book, published by Wharfedale, Bradford in 1949. My copy is the third edition of 1953 and it is dedicated - typically in his laconic style - to 'readers of previous editions who have written to ask for more'!
Chas Miller's sense of humour always enlivened his Television articles and now, in the 'Radiophile' days, if anything he's quirkier than ever!
-Tony
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Old 16th Sep 2007, 10:15 pm   #15
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerodyne View Post
SPCh asks
Yes. GA Briggs was an early Hi-Fi pioneer.
GA Briggs was the founder of Wharfedale Wireless Works (as it was called in the early days). I have two of his books 'Amplifiers' and 'Loudspeakers'. Although not humourus, his technical publications came across in a light and cheerful manner and are enjoyable to read

Greg
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Old 17th Sep 2007, 8:26 am   #16
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Default Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors

I remember reading about Gilbert Briggs looking for a name for his company, which was in Bradford.
Bradford is in Airedale, but GAB said that made it sound like something to do with dogs, so he called it "Wharfedale" - the next valley!
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