The magazine cover at right is from the January 1959 issue of Boy’s Life, a magazine send to all Boy Scouts. Dave, W9OCM, shared this with members of the Glowbugs mailing list, a mailing for hams who enjoy working with vacuum tube circuits.
Of course, this unleashed a flood of memories and comments. Dave himself comments:
In February 1959, I was 13 and just beginning to figure out radio. In some ways, I’m still trying to figure out radio….just not 13. I wouldn’t be licensed until 2 years later 04/61 as KNØHSD.
Tom, N0JMY says,
If you go to http://tinyurl.com/7oqrezk you can read the article by W1UED (click on the appropriate line in the contents). Also, there’s a National ad on the contents page. [[All the ads are interesting to read…..Dan]] I was alive then, but it wasn’t until the late winter of ’67-68 that I picked up a Boy’s Life mag out of boredom and stumbled onto an article called “Hamming it Up”. And the rest is, as they say, “hay-seedery.”
Jon, K1NV, comments,
I’m getting a little teary, seeing a copy of “Boys Life” for the first time in about 50+ years. There was a ton of practical info to satisfy any American boy’s interests. I was torn between stamp collecting, astronomy, model airplanes, and, yes, radio. My stack of “Boys Life” magazines fed these interests.
We couldn’t afford the shortwave set kit but the official Boy Scout crystal set got things going for me until I graduated to the Philco console with two shortwave bands in the mid-fifties. After learning code with flags and flashlights as a Boy Scout, the novice ticket arrived early in 1959.
Bill, KU8H, says,
My experience with Boy’s Life is from the late 50s and early 60s. They did help set the hook for my interest in electronics in general – ham radio in particular. The oatmeal box with home made capacitor and a crystal detector was from Boy’s Life. I don’t remember which issue(s). That was more than two weeks ago! <evil grin>.
They also fed my interest in the outdoor life in the woods. When people want a campfire or a fireplace lit to this day…I’m their go-to man. One paper match no matter the wind. No gasoline, kerosene, nor other artificial accelerants.
People are sometimes critical of Boy Scouts, and I often joke about my very short career as a Scout, but you have to hand it to them in many respects. They exposed boys to a wide range of activities, many of which stick with them for a lifetime.
I’m a big fan of the Boys Life Radio Club..It was a driving force in my learning radio, electronics,computers,engineering all that led to a successful career that I recently retired from..Ive beenb collecting BLRC memorabilia as I find it. I’m trying to stir up interest among those who were members in the past to start a tribute club. Ive talked to the folks at Boys Life and they showed no interest in ressurrecting it.
Brian K9WIS
Cool idea. I had a very short-lived career as a Boy Scout, so I never was a member. Keep me informed as to your progress, and let me know what I can do to help you. Perhaps you’d like to write a blog post that I could publish here on the club and your efforts in trying to revive it.