|
General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
11th Sep 2007, 9:25 am | #1 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton)
Posts: 7,306
|
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!!
|
11th Sep 2007, 11:52 am | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
|
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.
__________________
Mike. |
11th Sep 2007, 11:59 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 6,644
|
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
__________________
If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...? |
11th Sep 2007, 12:36 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,571
|
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 |
11th Sep 2007, 12:59 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Willington, County Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,498
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
What about the Fluxite quins. Does anyone remember them? Malc.
__________________
Malc Scott |
11th Sep 2007, 6:40 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,571
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
Here's a couple of Henrys Practically Wireless from 1966 & 67.
Keith |
11th Sep 2007, 7:43 pm | #7 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Posts: 345
|
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 ? |
11th Sep 2007, 8:11 pm | #8 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chard, South Somerset, UK.
Posts: 7,457
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
In Short Wave Magazine, the cartoons by G3COI (latterly GW3COI, I believe) used to make me smile.
Al / Skywave. |
11th Sep 2007, 9:15 pm | #9 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,549
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
Quote:
There are many 'Dick and Smithy' articles on this website http://vintageradio.me.uk/radconnav/radcon.htm Rich.
__________________
There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman..... |
|
11th Sep 2007, 10:47 pm | #10 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton)
Posts: 7,306
|
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 |
12th Sep 2007, 10:42 pm | #11 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,571
|
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:
Keith Last edited by Mike Phelan; 13th Sep 2007 at 8:41 am. Reason: Fixed quote |
|
13th Sep 2007, 8:40 am | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
"OO" yes, I do, Malc!
__________________
Mike. |
15th Sep 2007, 9:52 pm | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,571
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
Whilst hunting for LLJs Television articles came across this gem from Chas Miller.
Enjoy it Keith |
16th Sep 2007, 11:26 am | #14 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK.
Posts: 1,698
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
SPCh asks
Quote:
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 |
|
16th Sep 2007, 10:15 pm | #15 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, UK.
Posts: 816
|
Re: Other (Humourus?) Magazine Contributors
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
__________________
Greg BVWS committee chairman |
17th Sep 2007, 8:26 am | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
|
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!
__________________
Mike. |