Comics with a High Tech Theme
November 1944 Radio-Craft

November 1944 Radio-Craft

November 1944 Radio Craft Cover - RF Cafe[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Craft, published 1929 - 1953. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

A wee bit of levity in the form of comics is good for the soul on a busy workday. Good humor, it is said, contains a degree of truth in it, and this group from vintage editions of Radio-Craft magazine is no exception. One of the comics in particular struck a chord with me - the one with the table model radio where the serviceman is speaking on the phone with his customer. The Tesslor R601S Vacuum Tube Radio w/Back Panel Removed - RF Cafe Cool Productfirst familiar feature is the shape of the radio and the removed rear cover; it reminds me of my Tesslor R-601S. The second thing is the dead bugs. Just like a stray cat will climb into your car's engine compartment on a bitter cold day in search of heat, so will bugs be drawn to a heat source such as that provided by an electronic appliance filled with warm, Snoopy Telephone (c 1976) - Airplanes and Rocketsglowing vacuum tubes - they might have liked the brightness as well. I remember well removing the backs of radios and TVs to find carcasses of bug colonies scattered around the electronics chassis. A couple years ago I bought a Snoopy and Woodstock telephone from the 1960s to restore. Although it was not a heat generator, the components were covered with tiny spots of bug excreta both on the outside and on the inside. It has since been thoroughly restored.

Comics with a High Tech Theme

Electronics comic from November 1944 Radio Craft - RF Cafe

"I know, Madame, you have no bedbugs in your house - they're all here in your radio!"

 

 - RF Cafe

"Even with all his money, he couldn't buy a new battery, so he had to get an electric eel." 

 

Note: During WWII, it was sometimes impossible to buy common items because resources were directed to the war supply line.

Futureistic comic from November 1944 Radio Craft - RF Cafe

"And you turn the dial to the right, press this middle valve down, and out come a slice of toast." 

 

Note: This was perceived as 'the way of the future' back then. Automat establishments came about as close as we will see to that reality for a long time - if ever.

 

 

Posted November 8, 2022
(updated from original post on 9/26/2014)


These Technically−Themed Comics Appeared in Vintage Electronics Magazines. I personally scanned and posted every one from copies I own (and even colorized some).