Ziff-Davis Electronic Laboratories
January 1940 Radio News

January 1940 Radio News
January 1940 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.

Judging by some of the letters written to magazines by their readers, obtaining parts referenced in many construction articles proved difficult or impossible to procure. Ziff-Davis, a major publisher in 1940 as well as today, ran this notice in a 1940 issue of its Radio News magazine offering advice as to how one might go about getting everything needed. Unlike nowadays where nearly every available source worldwide can be found on the World Wide Web, back then searching could be - and too often was - a long, slow process. Just finding a phone number or mailing address for a potential supplier presented a major obstacle to anyone without a collection of catalogs and magazines - or at least knowing someone who did. Imagine needing ten non-standard parts and having to write letters to manufacturers and/or distributors trying to located critical components. The back-and-forth with postal mail could require weeks or even months. One notable omission from the list is to contact a local amateur radio club for assistance, where there is a chance one of the member might have the part you want, or at lease know of a good way to find it - possibly via wireless communications.

Ziff-Davis Electronic Laboratories Ad

Ziff-Davis Electronic Laboratories, January 1940 Radio News - RF CafeAt Your Service:

Mr. Jobber, Dealer, Manufacturer, and Reader!

During the past two years Radio News has presented transmitters, receivers, gadgets, and units designed by their staff of experts. Undoubtedly there have been times when you wanted to have this equipment built for you.

Here's how to do it! Take the issue of Radio News in which the unit appeared to your source of radio parts supply and have them write to us for information. If you do not have a regular source of supply, write any manufacturer of anyone part listed in unit in which you are interested and have them write us. As a last resort, if you can't do either of these, write directly to us.

Some of the Units Designed by or for Radio News Include:

• Radio News "VOX" System

• Radio News 56MC Preselector

• Radio News Control Console

• Radio News D. F. Loop

• Radio News Five-Band Portable Transmitter-Receiver

... and the Radio News 1940 All Purpose Transmitter-Receiver pictured at the left. We are prepared to quote on these.

Ziff-Davis Electronic Laboratories

608 S. Dearborn St. Chicago, Ill.

 

 

Posted April 23, 2021