July 1966 Popular Electronics
Table of Contents
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles
from
Popular Electronics,
published October 1954 - April 1985. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.
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In July 1966, Popular Electronics magazine invited its readers to submit
examples of ridiculous statements made by people supposedly "in-the-know" about
electronics and/or technical subjects. Space was allotted to it in four later
issues, all of which I will eventually post. This initial request included a
couple of the editor's favorite lines. Some of them seem to be more like the
speaker punking another person rather than not really knowing any better. See if
you agree.
See also the
first installment,
sequel 1,
sequel
2,
sequel 3, and
sequel 4.
Electronics Implausible Remarks
The
knowledgeable electronics experimenter is often aghast at the "explanations"
given ordinary electronic functions. Although most of these explanations are
made by the uninitiated, a fair number originate as off-the-cuff statements
by radio parts store countermen, surplus equipment salesmen, radio operators,
etc.
One of Popular Electronics' readers, Henry Rosenblatt, has suggested that
we run a contest of "explanations and questions," and he offers as the first
entries two statements overheard in an electronics surplus store:
"Oh, when you replace that resistor, be sure that the little color bands
go in the same way. Those resistors won't work if they're put in backwards."
"Heck, that doesn't need batteries, it's got transistors."
To these, your Editor can add his favorite Question from a serious reader:
"What's better - a superhet or a Williamson?"
Have you overheard any wild, implausible remark about anything electronic?
If so, send it in to: "Gun Contest:" Popular Electronics, One Park Avenue, New
York. N. Y. 10016. If your statement or question is published, we will send
you a soldering gun. Be sure to include a brief history on where and when your
contest submission was overheard.
Posted April 5, 2018
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