February 1962 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.

In this adventure from a 1962 issue of Popular Electronics magazine, Carl and Jerry were once again called upon by law enforcement to apply their combined electronics expertise to help collar a perp. By this time, the boys were college students in the electrical engineering program at Parvoo U. (fabled to be a tribute to Perdue). A storied past in their high school days is well-documented in previous "Carl & Jerry" technodramas, from the hand of John T. Frye (see list below). Mr. Frye was always careful to provide a balanced mix of technical prowess and adventure into his stories. It is easy when reading these kinds of stories in today's world to ask what is so special about the feat pulled off here, but in fact access to materials and equipment was much more difficult in the pre-Internet and pre-cellphone days. There were no Arduino project kits available with a plethora of plug-in sensors, switches, microphones, speakers, logic processors, and other handy gizmos, all for not much more than the price of a couple large cups of designer coffee.

Carl & Jerry: Wrecked by a Wagon Train - A Carl and Jerry Adventure

By John T. Frye W9EGV

Carl and Jerry were sitting in the office of the Psi Kappa Psi fraternity house on the campus of Parvoo University listening to short, wiry Police Captain Dirkson seated behind the desk.

"Last week at an FBI school I was talking over a problem of mine with Police Chief Morton of your home town," the captain explained, "and he suggested that you two might be able to help me. Here's the deal.

"In the past few weeks the campus has been hit by a series of fraternity house thefts. Last weekend it was the Sigma Chi house; the week before it was the Sigma Phi Epsilon. All the thefts apparently are the work of one man young enough to pass for a college student and with plenty of savvy of fraternity house living. He only works on weekends when there are likely to be guests in the house and the presence of a strange face isn't noticed. He simply walks in, saunters around, and takes whatever cash he can find. Fraternity brothers trusting each other the way they do, that's likely to be plenty. He never takes watches, jewelry, billfolds, or anything else that can be identified.

"Obviously we can't keep a constant watch on all the fraternities ; so I've decided to do the next best thing and set a trap in a likely place. Sooner or later I figure he'll try it here at Psi Kappa Psi, and when he does I want to be ready for him. This house has been picked for a reason. I have a nephew here, and he has two buddies we can trust. They use this desk, and one of the three is in the house practically all the time.

"Now here's where you fellows come in. My men can't work here without arousing suspicion and talk, but you boys can. I want an alarm of some sort fixed up on this desk so that when an unauthorized person starts going through the drawers the alarm will be heard all over the house; yet it will have no significance except to those in the know. I want this done quickly, before this coming weekend. Also, keep in mind that we can't put too much money into such a long shot. I realize that's a tall order, but what do you say ?"

Before answering, Jerry pulled out a desk drawer and peered into the opening. Then he looked closely at the intercom unit resting on one corner of the desk. Finally he and Carl had a whispered colloquy in a corner of the room while Jerry did some sketching and figuring on the back of an envelope.

"Well," Jerry finally said, "if we can borrow that intercom unit for a few hours, if we can use your shop tonight, and if you will hold still for a cost of about twenty dollars, I think we can do it."

"The answer is 'yes' on all three counts; you have yourselves a deal!" Captain Dirkson said promptly.

"Okay. Suppose you have your nephew and his friends here tomorrow afternoon about this time so we can show them how the alarm works," Jerry suggested as he and Carl disconnected the transistorized paging unit and started for the door with it.

The two electronics enthusiasts went straight to a radio store and bought several items which they took with them to the police station workshop. They spent a couple of busy hours at the bench and then dashed back to their room in the residence hall and, before turning out the lights, put in four more hours at their number one job : studying.

The next afternoon they got to the Psi Kappa Psi house an hour before their appointment with the captain, and by the time he showed up with his nephew and the other two youths everything was ready. The desk looked just as it had the day before.

"Behind each drawer is a leaf-type micro switch held open by the closed drawer," Jerry began, as soon as the introductions were over. "When the drawer is pulled out, the switch closes. All drawer switches are in parallel and are in one side of a line running from a low-voltage power supply to a pair of war-surplus relays inside the case of the intercom unit. The power supply, fastened beneath the desk top, consists of a bell transformer, a silicon rectifier, and an electrolytic capacitor. It delivers about 25 volts filtered d.c. from the half-wave rectifier circuit. A switch just under the edge of the desk turns this power supply on and off.

"When a drawer is opened with the power on, it actuates a multi-pole relay in the intercom that takes over all functions of the push-to-talk switch and at the same time transfers the input circuit from the regular microphone to a tiny hearing-aid microphone also inside the case. Still another pair of contacts actuates a second relay. A heavy springy wire soldered to the armature of this relay strikes a little bell mounted beside the hearing-aid mike. The sound goes out over the paging system to any speakers connected to the output.

"When no one is at the desk, the power supply should be switched on and the intercom left in the 'Call All Stations' position. When anyone is using the desk, the power supply is switched off and the intercom is used normally. That's all there is to it. If you fellows will kind of scatter around over the building, Captain Dirkson can try it out."

After giving the three youths a couple of minutes to take up positions, Captain Dirkson walked over to the desk and gently eased open the long top drawer. Instantly a single musical note echoed throughout the building. He closed the drawer, reached under the edge of the desk and switched off the little power supply, and opened the drawer again. Nothing happened.

"Looks good to me, boys," he approved. "All we can do now is wait for our rat to take the bait. This is Wednesday; so we'll probably see no action at least until the weekend, but I'll keep in touch."

Carl and Jerry were sitting in their room after supper that evening preparing for a chemistry quiz the next day when the telephone buzzer sounded for Jerry. He went to the telephone booth in the hall and picked up the receiver.

"Get over to the fraternity house right away!" Captain Dirkson's voice urged. "The thief crossed us up and tried it this evening. I'll meet you there." The boys ran all the way to the fraternity house and arrived just as Captain Dirkson's car, its red light flashing, stopped at the curb. His nephew came running out the door and down the steps.

"I was up in my room studying when that bell sounded off like Big Ben," he explained excitedly. "I made a dash for the stairs and was just in time to see this guy running out the door. He must have gotten suspicious when he heard that bell. I didn't get a good enough look to be able to recognize him, but when I ran outside I saw him take off in a green Chevy coupe. As he went under the street light, I got his license number. It was SS7351. I was so rattled I forgot to tell you that when I called."

"How long after you saw him drive off did you call me?" the captain snapped.

"Just as long as it took me to run back inside and dial your number. I guess it couldn't have been more than a minute."

"Your call was logged in at 7:46; so he must have driven away at 7:45, give or take thirty seconds. It's straight up eight now; so he's had fifteen minutes." The captain picked up the mike of his car transmitter and ordered an all-points bulletin on the car. Then they all went inside to see if they could pick up any clues.

The detectives who had come with Captain Dirkson were still dusting the desk for fingerprints when the telephone rang. It was for the captain.

"Come on you two," he called over his shoulder to Carl and Jerry. "A cruiser has just found the car at a restaurant near here, and they are holding the owner of the car there. He denies having anything to do with the robbery attempt."

It took less than ten minutes of driving to reach the restaurant. Two uniformed officers were sitting in a booth with an angry-looking young man.

"If you're the big wheel of this outfit, I wish you'd tell me what this is all about," he demanded of the captain. "Your Little Boy Blues have been asking a lot of pretty personal questions. What am I supposed to have done, let the air out of the dean's tires or painted a mustache on the statue of John Parvoo?"

"I suppose you weren't anywhere near the Psi Kappa Psi house at 7:45, now were you, Buster?" one of the detectives who had come with the captain said sarcastically.

If looks were lethal, the one Captain Dirkson gave this detective would have dropped him in his tracks. The young suspect instantly gave an exaggerated sigh of relief and said, "I most certainly was not. I've been right here since 7:40. I had a date at 8:15 - which you've made me late for - and I remember glancing at my watch and noticing I had about 25 minutes to kill as I was driving by the restaurant; so I came in for a cup of coffee. The counterman may remember when I came in."

The captain glanced at the chubby man behind the counter. He shook a close-cropped head that looked as round as a bowling ball.

"Afraid not," he said. "I was interested in the "Wagon Train" story on the TV here in back of the counter, and it was getting real exciting when this fellow came in the door. A runaway wagon smashed into a boulder and upset at the very instant I heard the door close behind that guy. I remember because at first I thought the sound of the slamming door was the sound of the wagon wheel hitting the rock. Right after that a couple of out-of-towners stopped in to ask for directions on how to get out of here for Chicago. They were the stupid type, and it took me quite a while to straighten them out. I honestly couldn't tell you if that bird came in at 7:40 or eight o'clock. Sorry."

A dejected look started to spread over the captain's face, but when Carl leaned over and whispered in his ear he brightened up considerably.

"Take him down to the station and book him on suspicion of entry to commit a felony," he ordered the two officers who had located the car. "I'll be down as soon as I drop these boys off at their residence hall."

On the way Carl told Jerry what he had whispered to the captain: "You remember the counterman said the guy came in the door just as the wagon on the TV crashed into a rock. I suggested to the captain here that he call the TV station at Center City and ask them to hold a stopwatch on the Wagon Train tape as it ran through their monitor. Their log will show the exact second when the show started, and the timing of the tape is very precise. I'm confident they can fix the time that fellow entered the restaurant very closely."

"It's surely worth a try, anyway," Captain Dirkson said as he let them out in front of the H-3 building. "I'll put through a call to Center City as soon as I get back to the station, and I'll let you know if anything develops."

The boys went up to their room and started again on the chemistry. After all the excitement, it was a little hard to settle down to studying, but they had learned you had to keep beating the books no matter what happened if you expected to stay in school; so soon they were concentrating on the job at hand. It was almost midnight when the buzzer sounded for Carl.

"Just thought you'd like to know your idea did the trick," Captain Dirkson's voice reported on the telephone. "The TV station established that the wagon-upsetting incident was aired at precisely 7:54 and eleven seconds. That knocked the restaurant alibi for a loop. When we laid it on the line for the guy, he cracked and confessed to all the robberies, some of which hadn't even been reported.

"Actually the fellow was in school last year at the university down state, and he lived in a fraternity house there. That's why he was so familiar with fraternity life. He pulled some jobs at that school and got away with them, then decided to favor us with his talents. If it hadn't been for you two, he'd probably still be running loose. I'll certainly tell Chief Morton what a help you've been, and I want you to know we appreciate it. Now you'd better go to bed. That's where I'm heading."

It was a good suggestion, and the boys took it. For a few minutes after the light was turned off, they lay there silent in their beds thinking about the other young man their own age lying in a jail cell. Finally, Jerry said slowly:

"You know, electronics was a nemesis for that poor guy. Electronics put the finger on him in the first place, and then a TV wagon train wrecked his alibi. His second mistake was transferring his operations from a liberal arts university to one with a strong accent on electronics."

"Well, you wouldn't expect a guy dumb enough to make the first mistake of starting to steal to be very bright," Carl muttered sleepily.

Carl & Jerry, by John T. Frye Carl and Jerry Frye were fictional characters in a series of short stories that were published in Popular Electronics magazine from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. The stories were written by John T. Frye, who used the pseudonym "John T. Carroll," and they followed the adventures of two teenage boys, Carl Anderson and Jerry Bishop, who were interested in electronics and amateur radio. In each story, Carl and Jerry would encounter a problem or challenge related to electronics, and they would use their knowledge and ingenuity to solve it. The stories were notable for their accurate descriptions of electronic circuits and devices, and they were popular with both amateur radio enthusiasts and young people interested in science and technology. The Carl and Jerry stories were also notable for their emphasis on safety and responsible behavior when working with electronics. Each story included a cautionary note reminding readers to follow proper procedures and safety guidelines when handling electronic equipment. Although the Carl and Jerry stories were fictional, they were based on the experiences of the author and his own sons, who were also interested in electronics and amateur radio. The stories continue to be popular among amateur radio enthusiasts and electronics hobbyists, and they are considered an important part of the history of electronics and technology education. p.s. You might also want to check out my "Calvin & Phineas" story(ies), a modern day teenager advernture written in the spirit of "Carl & Jerry."
Wrecked by a Wagon Train - February 1962 Gold Is Where You Find It - April 1956 Little "Bug" with Big Ears - January 1959 Lie Detector Tells All - November 1955 The Educated Nursing Bottle - April 1964 Going Up - March 1955 Electrical Shock - September 1955 A Low Blow - March 1961 The Black Beast - May 1960 Vox Electronik, September 1958 Pi in the Sky and Big Twist, February 1964 The Bell Bull Session, December 1961 Cow-Cow Boogie, August 1958 TV Picture, June 1955 Electronic Trap, March 1956 Geniuses at Work, June 1956 Eeeeelectricity!, November 1956 Anchors Aweigh, July 1956 Bosco Has His Day, August 1956 The Hand of Selene, November 1960 Feedback, May 1956 Abetting or Not?, October 1956 Electronic Beach Buggy, September 1956 Extra Sensory Perception, December 1956 Trapped in a Chimney, January 1956 Command Performance, November 1958 Treachery of Judas, July 1961 The Sucker, May 1963 Stereotaped New Year, January 1963 The Snow Machine, December 1960 Extracurricular Education, July 1963 Slow Motion for Quick Action, April 1963 Sonar Sleuthing, August 1963 TV Antennas, August 1955 Succoring a Soroban, March 1963 "All's Fair --", September 1963 Operation Worm Warming, May 1961 Improvising - February 1960	Secret of Round Island - March 1957 The Electronic Bloodhound - November 1964 Great Bank Robbery or "Heroes All" - October 1955 Operation Startled Starling - January 1955 A Light Subject - November 1954 Dog Teaches Boy - February 1959 Too Lucky - August 1961 Joking and Jeopardy - December 1963 Santa's Little Helpers - December 1955 Two Tough Customers - June 1960 Transistor Pocket Radio, TV Receivers and Yagi Antennas, May 1955 Tunnel Stomping, March 1962 The Blubber Banisher, July 1959 The Sparkling Light, May 1962 Pure Research Rewarded, June 1962 A Hot Idea, March 1960 The Hot Dog Case, December 1954 A New Company is Launched, October 1954 Under the Mistletoe, December 1958 Electronic Eraser, August 1962 "BBI", May 1959 Ultrasonic Sound Waves, July 1955 The River Sniffer, July 1962 Ham Radio, April 1955 El Torero Electronico, April 1960 Wired Wireless, January 1962 Electronic Shadow, September 1957 Elementary Induction, June 1963 He Went That-a-Way, March1959 Electronic Detective, February 1958 Aiding an Instinct, December 1962 Two Detectors, February 1955 Tussle with a Tachometer, July 1960 Therry and the Pirates, April 1961 The Crazy Clock Caper, October 1960
Carl & Jerry: Their Complete Adventures is now available. "From 1954 through 1964, Popular Electronics published 119 adventures of Carl Anderson and Jerry Bishop, two teen boys with a passion for electronics and a knack for getting into and out of trouble with haywire lash-ups built in Jerry's basement. Better still, the boys explained how it all worked, and in doing so, launched countless young people into careers in science and technology. Now, for the first time ever, the full run of Carl and Jerry yarns by John T. Frye are available again, in five authorized anthologies that include the full text and all illustrations."

Posted September 9, 2021
(updated from original post on 8/5/2014)