Electronics-Themed Comics
January & June 1948 Radio News

As is often the case with some of these vintage electronics-themed comics, you need to be privy to the mindset of the readership of the era. The 1948 Radio News magazine audience of electronics technicians and servicemen had a wide variety of experiences dealing with finicky customers and equipment. In-home service calls were as commonplace as family doctors making house calls (I'm old enough to remember both doctor and TV repair visits to our house in the 1960s). 1948 was only a couple years past the end of World War II, a time when the electronics field was burgeoning with new technology and domestic products that seemed magic and miraculous to the layman. High quality radios and the rapidly growing number of broadcasters gave anyone living near even a medium city a seemingly unlimited number of stations from which to choose. Many of the shows were still at least partly live, with music and entertainment shows conducted in the studio. Then, as now, listeners griped about the number and length of commercials interrupting programs. One of these comics addresses that topic. Another imply how reliable modern equipment was by expressing boredom even in the presence of what some guys would consider a benefit justifying the situation. I'm not sure how the toaster comic fits the electronics theme, other than maybe because a lot of TV and radio repair shops also serviced and sold household appliances.

Comics

January 1948 Radio News
January 1948 Radio News Cover - RF Cafe[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

Electronics-themed comic (p100) - RF Cafe

"We gotta qet it fixed by noon, Charlie, or we'll have to eat lunch without music!"
(January 1948, Page 100)

Electronics-themed comic (p106) - RF Cafe

June 1948 Radio News

June 1948 Radio & Television News Cover - RF Cafe[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

"We call this one our polite model!"
(June 1948, Page 106)

Electronics-themed comic (p150) - RF Cafe

"... and now a word from out sponsor!"
(June 1948, Page 150)

Electronics-themed comic (p158) - RF Cafe

"Sometimes I get so bored I wish I were back in radio servicing again!"
(June 1948, Page 158)

Electronics-themed comic (p159) - RF Cafe

"Ah! I see a signal from the control room!"
(June 1948, Page 159)

 

 

Posted January 7, 2022


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