What's New?
December 1959 Radio-Electronics

December 1959 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.

The dawn of the "Space Race" was in the late 1950s, when the USA and USSR were vying to be the first to place a satellite in orbit around Earth, and then to see who could exploit the communications benefits of those platforms most advantageously. At the same time, radio astronomy was gaining ground quickly as gigantic new parabolic dishes were being constructed to "listen" to signals from stars and hot, nebulous gases deep in space. Early concepts for communications satellites did not very accurately predict what real-world satellites would look like, as can be seen in this 1959 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine's "What New?" feature. It looked more like something from a sci-fi book cover. The other inventions shown were of actual working products. I have to wonder how awful the in-dash record player/changer was when driving over the roads common of the era. The heavy tone arms with diamond-tipped styli must have wreaked havoc on records.

What's New?

Communications satellites like this one may orbit the earth as relay stations linking all major cities for TV and microwave networks. Slow rotation of the doughnut would maintain stability and create artificial gravity for personnel. RCA conception is similar to that suggested by Hugo Gernsback in Radio-Electronics, March, 1958 (pages 33 and 125).

Solderless breadboard has over 100 gold-plated eyelets with elastic rubber cores permitting instant connection or removal of two to six wires or component leads. Circuit Board is made by Plastic Associates, Laguna Beach, Calif.

Do-it-yourself transformer for laboratory bench has primary, core and binding posts arranged for rapid winding of secondary. This readily-adjustable source of ac voltage, made by the Superior Electric Co., Bristol, Conn., supplies up to 150 volt-amperes and can also be used as a current transformer.

600-foot radio telescope to be completed in 1962 will probe space up to 38,000,000,000 light years away for Naval Research Labs at Sugar Grove, W. Va. The more than 7 acre surface (600 feet in diameter) of this world's largest movable dish will dwarf the 250-footer at Jodrell Bank, England, presently the biggest known. The huge reflector will also aid communications with space vehicles and may be used in detecting ballistic missile launchings across the ocean. It is being designed by Grad, Urban & Steelye, New York architects-engineers.

Automobile phono changer takes standard 45-rpm records, plays stack of 14 discs with ceramic pickup through the car's regular radio. The 12-volt motor is governor-controlled. Engineered and manufactured by RCA for 1960 Plymouths and DeSotos.