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September 1953 Radio-Electronics
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics.
See articles from Radio-Electronics,
published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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As usual, "getting" the
message in some of these vintage electronics-themed comics requires at least a passing
familiarity with the state of technology and public mindset of the day. However,
in most cases appreciating the humor and/or irony is possible without it. This group
of six comics appeared in a 1953 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine. The
first comic is a good example of needing some insider information. Back when commercial
television was broadcast over the air from giant towers, multipath of the signal,
particularly in urban areas, often created a situation where the difference in arrival
time of the signal at the TV viewer's location caused more than one version of the
picture to be displayed, slightly offset from each other. Usually one signal was
much stronger that the other(s) so it dominated, and the others sort of trailed
behind the image movement, creating what came to be called a "ghost." Now you know.
BTW, the solution was not to take the television set in for repair because the problem
was caused by either non-optimal antenna location, improper antenna pointing, or
an antenna with not enough directionality to adequately reject signals arriving
from off-axis directions.
Comics
"I Keep Getting People!"
Suggested by Pfc. D. Holdsworth, Fort Monmouth,
N. J. " Page 41
"Don't mention fringe area again - Rodney is very sensitive!"
Page 44
"I'm afraid it's time we transferred you out of television,
Ferguson." Page 59
"It plays only when the plug is out!" Page 84
"Hmph! A man buys a radio, in good faith - and first thing
you know the company goes out of business!" Page 116
"I think I found the trouble lady." Page 123
Posted October 13, 2021
These Technically-Themed Comics Appeared in Vintage Electronics Magazines. I
personally scanned and posted every one from copies I own (and even colorized some).
275 pages as of 5/13/2026.
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