F. Langford Smith - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

joebog1 · 27th Aug 2018, 2:09 am

A superb story!! and an excellent piece of writing.

http://messui.polygonal-moogle.com/valves/NW198908.pdf

This being obtained from a previous post by Ambientnoise.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=149212.

I think its nessesary reading for any person growing up in the valve era, even though I only just caught the last carriage!!
Neville Williams being one of the best engieers in Auistralia at the time.

Joe

boxdoctor · 27th Aug 2018, 10:53 am

Thanks for that, joebog, what a brilliant and inspiring story.
It must have been an exciting era for a young design engineer in any branch of electronics. Tony.

Hartley118 · 27th Aug 2018, 12:20 pm

Great to get to know more about F L-S the man, one of my electronics heroes. I admire his tour de force 'Radio Designer's Handbook' because it's not only comprehensive and interesting, but also authoritatively correct.

I've always been impressed by the independent electronics path forged by Australian engineers and their companies. I guess that there was great motivation to grow independently of the USA and Europe. Having once upon a time marketed UK studio electronics globally, one of the most demanding technical markets for us was Australia. Not only were Australian engineers profoundly knowledgable, but also back in the day AWA had set a criterion by producing professional equipment of great technical capability and integrity. I guess that AWA was following the technical tradition of F L-S!

Martin

dave walsh · 27th Aug 2018, 1:13 pm

Thanks Joe, that will go very well with my copy of the Handbook, even though I don't profess to understand a great deal of it

.

Dave W

kalee20 · 27th Aug 2018, 11:26 pm

Great article, thank you very much for this thread, Joe!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartley118

I admire his tour de force 'Radio Designer's Handbook' because it's not only comprehensive and interesting, but also authoritatively correct.

I have had a copy of the RDH since I was 16 - it was an inspiration then. Now, 40 years later, and working as a professional electronics designer (with valve technology as my hobby interest), I still have found no error in it. What an amazing book! It even has a chapter devoted to mathematics!

I'm impressed by the man's personality, and the closing sentence, "He was always so gentle, modest and self-effacing... a servant of the Lord Jesus and a good and faithful one." Looks like a lot of people owe him a debt of gratitude, and not just radio engineers!

Incidentally, the RDH was reprinted a few years ago - I bought a new copy (so now I have two copies). This, and Horowitz and Hill, 'The Art of Electronics' and for me the two must-haves.

27th Aug 2018, 2:09 am	#1
joebog1 Banned Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia Posts: 2,704	F. Langford Smith A superb story!! and an excellent piece of writing. http://messui.polygonal-moogle.com/valves/NW198908.pdf This being obtained from a previous post by Ambientnoise. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=149212. I think its nessesary reading for any person growing up in the valve era, even though I only just caught the last carriage!! Neville Williams being one of the best engieers in Auistralia at the time. Joe

27th Aug 2018, 10:53 am	#2
boxdoctor Rest in Peace Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ripley, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 785	Re: F. Langford Smith Thanks for that, joebog, what a brilliant and inspiring story. It must have been an exciting era for a young design engineer in any branch of electronics. Tony.

27th Aug 2018, 12:20 pm	#3
Hartley118 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 2,198	Re: F. Langford Smith Great to get to know more about F L-S the man, one of my electronics heroes. I admire his tour de force 'Radio Designer's Handbook' because it's not only comprehensive and interesting, but also authoritatively correct. I've always been impressed by the independent electronics path forged by Australian engineers and their companies. I guess that there was great motivation to grow independently of the USA and Europe. Having once upon a time marketed UK studio electronics globally, one of the most demanding technical markets for us was Australia. Not only were Australian engineers profoundly knowledgable, but also back in the day AWA had set a criterion by producing professional equipment of great technical capability and integrity. I guess that AWA was following the technical tradition of F L-S! Martin __________________ BVWS Member

27th Aug 2018, 1:13 pm	#4
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: F. Langford Smith Thanks Joe, that will go very well with my copy of the Handbook, even though I don't profess to understand a great deal of it. Dave W